Ive been trying to narrow down a problem I have been having and a few other guys as well on here reltated to how our cars feel at slight throttle on, throttle off, and how the car reacts during shifts.

I have it kinda narrowed down to: Plugs, Coils (car idles and runs perfect), Balljoint problem, or a Flywheel Issue.

I have felt this same thing with my Fidanza/ACT setup and my New Fidanza/Exedy Setup that I am currently running...

There have not been one post from anyone owning a Lightened flywheel, ie. Stillen, UR, With a related problem, or in that case anyone stepping up and saying they have this problem with the Fidanza (other then guys posting in my preveious threads) So maybe I am thinking that the Fidanza is the perfect weight to screw the car up somehow ??

Please read the related threads

Related Posts:
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=299017
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=323104
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=316304

-matt

 

I need to figure this entire ordeal out....This is definetly not normal

-matt

 

Nobody has the same problem as me ?? Maybe Its not my flywheel then and its plugs or something else...any feedback is cool

-matt

 

Sorry i didnt see your post but i posted some of my problems. I have the fidanza/act setup and running into some problems between shifts.

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=324332

 

Matty,

I have Fidanza/ACT combo and I have noticed what you are describing but in a smaller degree. I just cleaned my TB and replaced my Fuel filter and things are a little better but I still feel a bog between shifts. It really irritates me. Maybe it's the tranny not holding up to the ACT????


Bruce

 

I have gotten some bog between shifts in the past after I had my findanza installed........have not really thought about it, but it has not happend for a while now. I don't think the aluminum surface of the findanza is the best for the friction disk to grab on to. Just a guess.

 

the lightened flywheel has had me confused for awhile, i finally decided to keep the stock one. good luck with the problem

 

Anyone else...I am tempted to pull the tranny and put in a stock flywheel...I drive anywhere and I feel it but I want to beleive its something else that is causing this...maybe plugs, coils...

bump..anyone ?

 

Rotational mass is critical in terms of load and no-load conditions. Why do you think a lightened flywheel is typically less driveable? It's because you've removed some of this mass, and now, the lessened rotational mass requires less of a disturbance in load, particularly in going from load to no load conditions, i.e. getting off and on the throttle, to affect the rotational mass's rotation. This is also why race drivetrains feel as racy as they do. The rotational mass is so low, that if you are not careful with the forces that act with and against the rotation, it directly has a greater affect the less the rotational mass. Couple that with the greater clutch clamping force, and this rotation disturbance increases even more. As much as the VQ is a great engine, and it is, it's pretty big, and as a street car, has quite a bit of mass in the rotating mass. Thus when you remove some of it, and increase the clamping force of the clutch, you are going to lose some of that smoothness if your driving is not accurate.

There could definetly be mitigating factors, but the mere fact of lessening rotational forces itself, and the increased clamping force, can easily account for some of this effect, if not all of it.

 

Where's that bravo smilie?

 

So most likely the flywheel is to blame...So how come more people dont complain even with really really light flywheels ie. UR and the Stillen?? I have the Fidanza and its really effecting my driving to point I wanna take it out...I cant stand that hesitation..it feels like something is lose

-matt

 

Yes and no. Yes, the flywheel is partly to blame. Don't forget the clutch that is without a doubt, adding to this lack of driveability, and the possibility of other problems. You have now changed two components absolutely critical to driveability. Most aftermarket components have not received the R&D that oe components have. Also, the majority are designed do be used on an otherwise stock car. And let's not forget, most aftermarket parts are made to increase performance, often at the cost of driveability.

The fact that more people haven't posted more about problems with the fidanza may be the result relative few people running it. Also, let's face it, many people on the org have more testosterone than brains. They'd rather deny a loss of driveability for a "mod" that's simply the best mod in the world, then admit they've purchased something that's made their car ****tier or atleast less driveable. Just look at the ridiculous amount of misinformation from guys purporting to be experts for whatever reasons, sometimes made up, so they can post something, correct or incorrect, and even defend themselves after it's obvious they are wrong.

That also comes back to you. You can't always rely on other people's opinion. Don't take this as preaching, but rather a suggestion that you can give whatever weight/value you desire, be it none at all. Do your own research. Educate yourself on the physics/engineering of things. That way, you know full well what you are getting yourself into. As opposed to relying on opinions that you can't really trust.

Again, if you are not absolutely sure the components were installed correctly, for whatever reason, go do that first. Make sure everything is as it should be. If it is, then you'll be a lot further along then you are now.

 

I also have experenced this however, this also happened when I had a stock clutch and stock flywheel (although when the mechanic changed my clutch, he said it was in pretty bad shape, so that could have contributed to the probelm). So basically with my fidanza/exedy setup, it neither fix nor worsen the "boggyness" that I had. Another thing is this boggy feeling only happens to me when I am doing partial throttle shifts i.e. 50%-75% throttle shifting anywhere from 3.5k to 5k, instead of wot redline shift. When I wot to redline then shifts it doesn't bog on me, this is quite confusing...

Overtime, I learned not to "short" shift to avoid getting this effect and when I do "short", I wait about a sec or two in between gears which also eliminates the bog.

 

so you ^^^^redline every gear before you shift?...thats awsome if you do...I would love to see you drive in bumper to bumper traffic

I was having similiar problems with what I call shuttering after I put the fidanza and act in. And in my opinion, my issues have pretty much gone away. It just took longer than what people were saying is the normal break in period of 500-1000 miles....Mine is not shuttering noticibly at this point and it too about 2000 miles to get to this point.

 

jcy, again, as you say, your clutch/flywheel was in "pretty bad shape", so it's difficult to say how much of the condition was due to this.

cardana, what you are talking about is clutch chatter, and not this bogging. BTW, if you haven't already, get stiffer engine mounts. It almost entirely eliminates the clutch chatter with ACT applications.

 

I have Stillen/ACT combo and I have that stuttering at light throttle and release! I hate it, but what can i do! I am happy to see this thread because I would hate to think thats how maximas where designed to operate.

 

Come on now use some common sense. I meant when I race, I only take it to redline then or when theres no traffic occaisonally.
No need to flame me for not making it clear for u (apparently) the problem that I have which sounds awfully close to what others have experienced.

 

I was just screwin' with you...it was just funny to read, but yes I did know what you meant

I may try replacing on filling in my motor mounts like the guy above suggested

 

lol alright, it was late so prolly half my post sounds funny. I need to stop posting so late so I make more sense.

 

Oh well I guess its normal...

 

Wow, this really sucks to hear about, cause i just bought a fidanza flywheel and act clutch as well. Hopefully im gonna get one of my friends to help me install it right cause hes done several, but ill just have to hope i dont run into the same problems as you guys. Ive been running on a junk clutch for a long time though and i swear learning how to drive that thing without slipping and chatter is an art form, so maybe ill manage.

 

I have the Fidanza/act on my VE30DE 5-sp. Since the VE is rated at 190ftlbs torque stock vs the stock VQ 205ftlbs, the problem should be more pronounced. But I experiene absolutely none of these problems you describe.
I've also driven a 4-gen with a fidanza/act. Again no problems. Since this was the first time I drove teh 4 gen, the problem(if any) should have occured right away. But none did.

I would look into some type of pre-existing engine tuning problem

 

Good God this guy is good

 

has the spacer question ever been answered? Every time I ask no one responds. I need to know if the stock flywheel spacer is used when putting in the fidanza? I did not put mine back in because there was no cut out for it like there is with the stock fly wheel....does anyone know the definate answer on this?

-I also say give it a little more time...as I stated before mine has seemed to do away with the chatter after about 2k miles

 

I have this problem as well. when I did my 5 speed conversion, I put in a fidanza flywheel and a spec stage 1 clutch. After the 500 mile breakin period I immediatly noticed a chattering/bogging feeling in 5th gear under light throttle applications. I thought it was the clutch needing more break-in time, because it was chattering on takeoff. after awhile I realized that the problem wasn't going to go away. so I bought a stock clutch and decided to put that in. Even during the break-in period I could feel the weird 5th gear pulsation at low rpm's. I have also come to the conclusion that the flywheel is to blame. What i'm going to do is pull the tranny again and put the stock flywheel in. Then i'm going to take my fidanza and have it checked for runout and such. I'll probably also get a new steel friction insert and see if any of this helps with the problem. I was thinking that I got my hands on a defective flywheel, but maybe not.


Jake

 

Dear god, this really does not sound cool at all. From what i can tell, this souind like a serious issue with fidanza flywheels. Before i get to far into this, do you think i should just get rid of the fidanza and get a stillen or some other flywheel? I really dont want to deal with all the bs of taking the thing apart and putting new things in after i find out they dont work. It would really be great if someone could get a hold of an expert on the subject, or call up fidanza or something and find out if they are running across this problem. Most likely they wouldnt give you a straight answer anyway, but it might be worth a try.

 

I have a feeling the flywheel isnt to blame since some guys arent having the problem (well say they dont have the problme) and some do..I drove my car alot today and its a shuddy within the car witch is so hard to explain..

I had the friction plate on the flywheel replaced by fidanza and its still there..I had it replaced when I had my Exedy put it to replace the ACT...

could say a bad ball joint cause this as the power is being transfered down its getting knocked around casue its lose ?? maybe. ? Im just at a lost for words now that some people arent having the problem...could the MEVI be causing the problem due to the midrange loss ?

-matt

 

i have the fidanza flywheel and i get a 'stuttering' on occasion. i havent figured out when and what circumstance it occurs under. but it is in the 2000-4000 rpm range and under light/mid throttle usually after a shift. it is nothing that bothers me to an extreme degree and i am very picky with the car.

weird thing is that is doesnt happen on every shift and when i try to replicate a shift or throttle movement after it occurs i can never get it to come back. one of those strange things i guess.

--Paul

 

What boggles my mind is the civic si and rsx have a 14 lb flywheel stock with meager torqe and hp and ive driven them and they feel good on a take off at a 1000rpm. But how can a max with alot more juicy torqe have the driving experence be destroyed with a 11 lb flywheel?

It sounds like the heavier the car the heavier the flywheel you would want,so i would think that my car weighing 2500-2600 lbs it would be very rewarding to drive with a lightened flywheel.

What are your views on this if you guys think at that weight it would still be **** ill forget it to like ceasar.

 

dont get me wrong, the driving experience is not 'destroyed' in my car. the fidanza is a great mod in my opinion. the revs are quick and light. to me the stutter is not an 'issue'.

--Paul

 

What you guys are describing has been noted by many guys that have gone with slightly overly flywheels. I don't know what exactly causes the stuttering, but I do know that many BMW/Honda/Ford Mustang/F-Body owners have complained about this very issue. It's the flywheel.

 

It must be something in addition to the flywheel because the shuttering it just not momentary like Paul's problem..I have had this flywheel for over 2 years now and it definetly has gotten worse...Im thinking something in the front driveline ie. ball joint

-matt

 

I'm not sure if you guys know this or not, but if the Fidanza weight(11 lbs.) is without the ring gear(and I'm pretty sure it is) it's only 1.5 pounds lighter than the stock flywheel(12.5 lbs) without the ring gear. As far a lighter weight flywheel, Y2KSESteve has the UR 5lb. flywheel and as far as I know he hasn't had any problems.

 

Thats my point...this has to be a deaper problem..possibly something to do with the ball joint or something to with the front driveline of the car...when I accelerate the car bog's bog's bog's...not normal...

-matt

 

I weighed the stock flywheel it was between 18-19 lbs.


Hows your cams doing id like to know if you dont mind pm'ing me .
thanks

 

Strange, I weighed Steve's 97 flywheel w/o the ring gear and it was 12.5. and the ur was just under 6. PM sent.

 

the weight im refurring to is complete with ring gear.

 

I did not weigh my findanza or my stock flywheel, but there is no way it's only a pound less. The rpm's drop and rise dramtically faster. Neal drove my car once and noticed it right away.

 

Just saying what the DPS scale for ship outs at SWA read. Should be pretty accurate.

 

could this probably air temp sensor, plugs, coils...

-matt