I notice that when I first start off in the morning for the first few stops the clutch engagement is juddery. I ease up on the clutch pedal and I get this "bump-bump-bump" when the clutch engages. It feels like the clutch is not engaging smoothly. Now once the car has had a few pull away from lights its mostly fine, even though it can still happen almost anytime, but much less noticable. I also notice that if I engage the clutch quickly this isn't a problem.

Anyone else have this problem.

 

Are you referring to your clutch "shuttering"...?

 

You know, I've had that same thing before, but I'm starting to be more convinced it's actually coming from my Rear Differential. Really lame though because its a definite shutter when letting out on the clutch in 1st gear. Car didn't used to do it, started around 5000 miles.

 

YES, thats it "shuttering" but it only happens with first.

 

Check your tire pressure. I thought my car shuttered to but I found out that my tire pressure was low because there was a nail stuck in it and the air was low. So I had to give it more gas when I started from a stop and in first because it need more power but after I got my tire fixed and the tire pressure was normal it didn't do it anymore.

 

lol i dont think its the tire pressure.

 

try warming up your car first. i had the same issue before.

 

I accidentally burned my clutch a little bit due to the floor mat getting stuck on my foot, that was a mess, anyways. For about 2 weeks after that, I had a shutter when starting off in 1st but it went away and drives just as smooth as when I drove it off the lot. If it only does it when you first start driving and goes down after it's warmed up, I'd guess it's some thing to do with the clutch pressure plate and maybe the flywheel surface. Have you been driving it hard? Lots of shifting with high RPMs and dropping the clutch?

 

^ +1. I can never drive my car smoothly right after a cold start. It takes me about 5 minutes of driving before the 1st gear engagement smooths out. And my 1st-2nd shift is usually a bit jerkier than normal right after a cold start as well. But if I start the car in my garage and let it warm up for 5 or 10 minutes, then it's not a problem.

 

i always let my car warm up...at least till the needle starts moving.

but sometimes it's still pretty cold...and when its cold it drives off fine in first. I don't even touch the gas...since the rev's are already slightly higher i just play around with the clutch to move back and forth and then give it gas after the clutch is fully let out.

edit: this is on a flat surface of course lol or gas would be necessary

 

Same thing happened to me at a stoplight. Revved the engine to IDK how high. The yellow 350Z besides me must've thought I was revving him/her. LOL. But yeah, after that incident, I had the shutter starting off in 1st gear. Went to Japan for 4 days the day after worried about my cutch. When I came back. it was all ok. wheww!

 

I dont like how our 1st gear engages either, its very jerky and makes a bunch of noises. I take off in 2nd more often than 1st now, its much more smoother and quieter.

 

You might have problems because mine is not jerky and doesn't make any noises at all.

 

Guys, I drive an AT but asked my local garage about a transmission oil change and when to do my first one. First of all the guy would not do it - refused to - told me to get it done but at the dealership since they use a very specific oil.

Reagardless, the minute I mentioned a teransmission oil change, the first thing he said was, "having problems getting into first when the car is cold huh?" Told him I had the AT, but know of some folks having this issue. I did not press for too much info since I was at work and this is not why i was calling.

He says a known issue with Nissan/Infiniti - says he is blown away that everyone does a break in Engine oil change, but never a break in tranny oil change. hmmm...

I am not going to say this will fix/help but judging from the conversation and uncoerced info he gave me, first and least expensive thing you could try to "help" is to change the tranny oil.

I have 18K on mine and apparently now is a good time to change it. I am taking her in on Monday - appointment set.