**IF ANYONE HERE HAS THIS SAME ISSUE, I ADVISE YOU TO TAKE IT TO YOUR DEALER ASAP!**

Since day one that i have purchased this car NEW, i have noticed a strange sound from my tranny/bell housing area & sticky shifting.
Starting the car, it would clunk, and then a raspy sound all of within 1 second, and the engine would start fine. Even when turning the car off, the last few rotations of the crank would clunk-down. i kept visiting the dealer and unfortunately it wouldn't redo the sounds as loudly, (but the engine start/kill would be replicated perfectly) they all kept telling me im crazy, and that this car sounds all the same, and they all are loud like this.
Then the rattle would start intermittently when on idle as the car was warming up, or just parked. (its not an exhaust rattle, trust me.) this sounds like an input-shaft/throw out bearing gone bad. finally, i got the car into the dealer on time and replicated the rattle. the manager stated that this is in fact abnormal. they kept the car for the day, and called me back and told me they are ordering me a new tranny. Mine has 11k now, and im thankfully getting the tranny replaced under warranty.

(took some effort buy finally they admitted an issue. the manager took another car for a test drive, and said he couldn't get it to make any sounds, and sounds like mine are abnormal, and shouldn't happen. i also had some service adviser tell me all of these cars make these noises, its because they are the same tranny as in the mustang)

 

Really low rpm shifts are smooth to. Basically get moving with first then switch to second. You could practically dump the clutch and its still smooth. But yea higher RPM is a lot more fun, and you get to hear that nice beautiful exhaust note, just turn off the MPG gauge so you don't feel bad lol.

 

Yes higher RPM will smooth things out out but it'll Kill the gas mileage.

 

I started having a similar problem shifting from 1st to 2nd, around november 2010. It first started feeling really notchy, then started getting worse in december to the point where it sometimes grinded as I shifted from 1st to 2nd. At first I thought I was not depressing the clutch fully during my shift throw, but even when I was sure that the clutch pedal is depressed all the way, I still had grinding. I've even noticed that I have to put more force in my shift throw to get it into 2nd. But once I've been driving for a few miles, it seems to go away.

I thought maybe my clutch was going, so I tested the grab by putting it in a high gear and going up a hill to see if there was any slipping, but the clutch feels strong. So then I thought it was related to the clutch hydraulics. I changed my clutch fluid, but the problem was still there.

So in early Jan 2011 I went to the dealer (quite a drive from my house). They had a technician drive the car with me in the passenger seat, and he said there was some slight binding, but nothing to worry about and suggested a tranny fluid change. Got home that day and noticed a little improvement with the shift. Went to work the next morning, and what do you know, the problem isn't gone. The tech did drive the car when it was hot, so maybe my problem is thermally related.

I've always let my car warm up once I start it, but since I went to the dealer, I've been more careful to let my tranny warm up before I do too much shifting, usually by starting from a dead stop in 2nd gear and driving a few minutes. I didn’t used to do this before, but I have always been gentle with my G when it comes off a cold start. Doesn't seem to happen as much when I do this, although this seems like an additional unnecessary step.

I have also noticed difficulty downshifting from 2nd to 1st as I come to a stop and sometimes from 3rd to 2nd. it feels like it does not want to go into gear. Never had this problem before.

Thinking about another trip to the dealer soon. Something is def. wrong. I'll see if I can leave it overnight there because the problem seems to be most observable when the car is coming off a cold start.



2008 Black G37s - Love my G, just hit 48,000 miles, but this problem is disappointing.

 

Is it normal to downshift into first? I've always stayed in 2nd gear going slow but sometimes i feel as though i should be in first?

 

NO. Don't downshift to first unless you're racing the car and need to go round a hairpin on the track... Way too much stress on the car.

I love to match revs and down shift but I always stop at second gear.

 

Downshifting to 1st gear puts a tremendous strain on the synchro.

 

I do a lot of downshifting as I come to a stop, but I guess what I meant to say is that as I come to a stop sign (going around 10 mph or below), I'll push the clutch, and while holding it in, shift into first (still holding the clutch) and get ready to start going again after I pass the stop sign, but it doesn't want to go into gear. Almost like the synchro isn't lining up right as I go from 2nd to 1st.
Had the car for a year so far, but I'll also admit that this is my first M/T vehicle, so being a newbie maybe I inadvertently did something to the tranny.

Anyhow, I have an update. I went to the dealer and updated them on the symptoms as I described in my post. I dropped my car off and asked them to have the Technician test drive it coming from a cold start (the problem seems to be most pertinent when the tranny is cold). Got a call back in about 3 hours from the dealer and the tech agreed that there was definitely a problem, said that they would replace my tranny under warranty (Woo Hoo!). They didn't give a technical description on what the problem was, they just said they were going to replace the tranny.

Takes 2 weeks for the new tranny to ship, but I'll have my baby back soon!

 

Wow, congrats on the new tranny! I'm sort of surprised they gave on out so easily

 

:-0 Super suprised too! Congrats I guess. I will be complaining of the same problem soon. haha

 

Yea, what the others said. Never downshift into first gear unless you are completely stopped or barely moving at all. You are trying to shift into first before the synchros mesh. First gear is only for getting the car moving from a stop, if you're going faster than about 2mph just use 2nd gear.

 

dont mean to take this in another direction, but how many miles should we expect out of the original clutch...just bought 08 G37S 6mt with 45k on it.

my uncle had this same exact car a few years ago and i would drive it for a few months while he was away, 5k miles on it when i drove it and he put 20 on in 3 years.

i cant really tell that much of a difference b/w the clutch on that one and the one i had purchased tuesday night....sorry for the long post, btw im enjoying the hell out of this car!

 

Have this problem also. Took to the dealer and they said they couldn't replicate. It's quite blatant when I drive, so I'll take it in again soon and hope they have time to ride with me.

 

I'm having some clunks from 1st to 2nd and it seems like it's worse when cold... Sometimes it's hard to put it in 2nd.. I'm keeping my eye on it.. I'll bring it up next time I'm in for service if it's still happening.

 

replacing the trans will not fix this issue. I got the trans replaced 2 months ago and still having this problem. i feel like i'm hitting something along the way when i shift from 1st to 2nd.