I hope this is in my head...

Recently whenever I floor it, drop it into second and pop the clutch out real quick, the RPM's just stay up around 5k instead of dropping down like normal. I will shift into second and they will dip down to around 4k, then slightly rise back up to redline when I reach 2nd gears peak.

At first I thought I just got lazy with my left foot but I made sure I was popping it, and it still lagged up there.

What the heak is going on with my car??

 

Slipping clutch?
-hype

 

Are your tires slipping (low traction) at the top of first before you shift to 2nd?

 

Hmmm...I really don't think so. This is happening on paved roads. I am happy if I chirp 1-2, I highly doubt I am making the power to spin into second. And if I was, I would hear the tires squeeling especially on paved roads, correct? But what is happening to me is definatally similer to spinning into second.

Hype, there is no way my clutch is slipping, it has like 2,000 miles on it! I was hard on it occassionally during the break in period, but definatally not hard enough to cause any damage.

 

And the only time I am spinning at the top of first is when I drop the clutch on the launch (around 2700rpms). I am talking about when I gun it from a roll. I usually get a few squeeks when gunning it from a roll, but get fine traction.

 

Craig I know you just did you swap recently, but it really sounds like your clutch is slipping. I don't know why it would only do it after you launch in first, but once the clutch is engaged it should hold especially in low gears. When it "slips" see if it holds in 5th when you floor it.
-hype

 

yep that sounds like a slipping clutch. I remember you posting how about how you like to do mid to high rpm-drop-clutch-launches and downshifting into 1st at speed. Enough of this can toast a clutch pretty quickly.....

or maybe your clutch is just hot, some clutches can grip good for few launches then starts to get hot, (sorta like brake fade...i guess)
then it starts to slip..

Um...what clutch u have?

 

Well, what do you consider mid to high RPM launches? I only launch the Max on rare occasions. And when I want to roast the tires to impress people, I never drop past 2900rpms. I've only dropped it into first once when I was fooling with that SS. Could that be enough to kill it? I smelled a strong burning smell after I did it. I dropped it at 30mph too, probubly not too good for my transmission's first gear either. Could that one time be enough to ruin my clutch?? BTW, my clutch is called a dynomaxx or something like that. It's a generic OEM-like clutch that is said to be a little bit tougher.

 

sounds like your clutch is slipping to me. If I floor it in first I can completly break traction most times, and I can SPIN, not just chirp, into second gear, but I also have an ACT clutch... keep in mind, this is also with a VLSD tranny, not just one tire spinning...

 

Sure sounds like a slipping clutch to me. Early abuse without a proper break-in WILL result is shortened clutch life. If you abuse it a lot by dumping the clutch (doesn't really matter what rpm you're at) or ripping the 1-2 shift hard will glaze the friction surface over and can cause slipping. Hopefully all you've done is glazed the surface and the clutch will eventually return to it's normal grab IF you are nice to it for a while.

The clutch you have is also very questionable. There are only two good clutches on the market for the Maxima. That would be the OEM Nissan clutch (not the cheap "blue" Nissan clutch) or the ACT. A local Maxima had a 96 SE with just an intake and a relatively new Nissan "blue" clutch. That clutch slipped horribly all the time. At the track you could hear that thing slipping and it's not the first time I've heard of a Maxima having problems with the "blue" clutch. IMO, that the "Dynomaxx" clutch you have is no better than the Blue clutch. Every aftermarket clutch company swears their product "meets or exceeds factory spec". ACT is the only clutch that truely meets or exceeds OEM. Many Maxima owners have reported early failures with their JWT, Nissan Blue, and Centerforce clutches. The only problem people have with the ACTs is quick engagement and chattering into 1st.


Dave

 

...i'm going to kill chaz.


Dave, do you think this could be tranny-related? It sure doesn't seem logical to relate it to the ECU or any other device, and a slipping clutch fits the description perfect. Its exactly what a slipping clutch should feel like. I just have so little miles on it, but I guess you can f#ck it up with 1 downshift of pure bliss. I was in heaven when I spun those tires at 30mph. Now I am probubly paying for it.

Mtrai, It's your ACT that lets you rip into second and what not like that. That clutch grips like a ****...the only downside is it's less forgiving!

 

you dropped it at 30 to first? wow. that could roast a clutch up nice, it's not about how much you do it, but how hard, 30 dropped to first, wow.

i wouldnt call chaz out, he just installed it, he didnt slam it down

ACT or Vitek, not many people go with vitek because maxima owners are cheap and don't like to pay anything more than they absolutely have to so no one has a vitek, but I guess ACT would do fine... if you are on a tight budget and have to get a new clutch.

 

Dropping it in first @ 30mph = very dumb, and VERY fun. The car felt like a C5 Corvette.

Well I have been easy on it for the last 24 hours. I just went WOT, shifted at around 5k, and the RPM's dropped like normal. I probubly have a slight glaze over it that I am burning away hopefully.

 

Hehehe it only takes one time to ruin your clutch. I did it once with a 5000 RPM slip launch at the drag strip and it quickly put the end of the life to my OEM clutch. When I pulled it out, there was plenty of thickness left. Had I drove like a grandpa, this clutch probaly woulda lasted till 150k miles. But thats no fun. What had happened was the intensive heat glazed over the clutch causing the bonding materials to rise to the surface. Slip slip slip. Theres also a way to test the clutch by driving at 50 MPH in 5th gear and flooring the gas. If the RPM's rise you got a slipping clutch. Its annoying as *****.

 

Yea but I only got about 2400 miles on it Do you honestly think an otherwise perfect clutch could go to hell just by ONE 30mph 1st gear drop? Of course I drop the clutch on rare occasions, but otherwise I am pretty easy on her. I DO downshift on the highway into 3rd every now an then though. I am pretty hard on it regarding downshifts.

I went WOT again, and I was wrong - It STILL lags. When I go to redline and shift, it drops to around 5k and lags there until I reach the peak of 2nd gear. Is there any hope for me?

 

Convert it back to AUTO

 

 

Um, definately sounds like a slipping clutch.. but I am the king of "slipping clutches" .. haha, 6 of them in a year. dont ask its worked out now,

you maay want to check to see if your master cylinder is adjusted perfect, if it isnt you will have FITS (as i did for ayear.. and payed good $ for)....

easy way to know if the hydrolics are causing it to slip.. wait till the clutch was slipping, pull over and open the top bleed on the hydrolics and close it without letting air in real fast... if it squirts out, its under pressure - not good. get back in the car, slam the 1-2shift and see if it lags.. if it is "fixed" , it will only be temporarily till the pressure builds back up - but you now know your problem lies in the master cylidner adjustment being off and building up too much pressure in the lines, which acts like you are riding the clutch a little bit causing it to "slip" when you shift hard and such..

best of luck. hope its just a cylinder adjustment.

 

You know what, you may be right! Tonite when I went WOT, mostly it would "slip", but sometimes it would catch right on! You could be right! Thanks for that info dude. Now get your LSD @ss to the track w/slicks and bring back those 12 second ET's.