Hi there,

I recently purchased an '03 G35 6 speed with the Brembo brakes, an upgrade from a 2001 CL Type S automatic. The G35 is an amazing car!

Even the first time I test drove the car I could hear the whining. I thought that I was being pickey and that it wouldn't bother me, but now it's starting to get on my nerves a bit! I'll describe it best I can:

Does it with engine hot or cold. Does it with outside temperature hot or cold. Only does it under partial throttle in first and second, very faintly in third. Does NOT make the sound coasting with the clutch pedal pressed in. The whine starts around 1,800 RPM and stays until about 3,200 RPM where I think the sound of the engine drowns it out.

If it's normal for these cars to make a bit of gear whine, that's OK! But before I drove the '03, I drove an '05 6MT sport and it didn't whine at all.

Also, after driving the car for 20-30 minutes, the clutch chatters a bit when starting out in first gear.

The car is going to Infiniti a week today to see what they say. I just wanted some ammo incase they say it's normal. It just seems a BIT loud to be normal and the chatter a bit too much to be normal. The car has 35 K on it now. The car has been serviced to death at Infiniti; never missed a service. The previous owner, a friend of mine, drove the car more like a Buick than a G35.

Thank you very much! Any help is greatly appreciated.

They will give you a new tranny...tranny issues on the 6mt are not uncommon at all, it's pretty crappy.

Lame! I bought this car to get away from tranny issues on my previous car, a 2001 Acura CL: AKA ticking timebomb!

Good thing I have 2.5+ years of powertrain warranty left I guess....

Mine makes the same sound (6k miles), I know exactly what you are talking about. In addition, another '03 6MT makes a very similar sound (18k miles). I always just thought it was the drivetrain doing its job!!? I dunno, I guess it doesn't bother me, but if it isn't supposed to make that sound, then I guess I need to know about it!

Either way, Please post back as to what the dealership tells you!
Does anyone else have experience with this noise? is it normal?

Mine also makes a slight whine. It used to have a clutch chatter problem as well but the dealer replaced the clutch for me.

One thing that I have noticed is that you do need to give these cars a bit more throttle for a smooth, easy launch (ie no bogging) than what I am used to. Try that approach and see if it cures anything.

I'm getting a bit of engine whine, or at least it sounds like it's coming from the engine. I've got about 20k miles on my '05 and it just started happening a few hundred miles back. It kind of sounds like an alternator going out.

Anyone have experience with this? Is it more than likely the transmission, as discussed in this thread?

THanks.

I also have the same rattle in the tranny while idle, once the clutch is pressed it goes away. Has anyone ever have this changed?

Ya that whine is common, ive had it ever since i had my car. Mine is an 03 also.

I've got the chatter and whine since first month I owned the car. Once awhile the gear grinds when it's still cold. However, 3.5 years later still no tranny slip or other problems. I hate to say it but I think that's just the way the first gen 6MT tranny works.

I never noticed it until I let my cousin drive my '04. I also think the whine sounds more like an alternator belt, than the transmission. I've had the car for over a year, and everything works great other than the notchy shifting, so it doesn't worry me nor does it bother me, I actually like that sound. I also have the transmission rattle but only when idling and in neutral, once I press the clutch it's quiet, and since this has been considered normal among many of us, I don't let it bother me.
Mention it to the dealer just in case something goes wrong in the future, but as long everything works great, enjoy the car man, and get used to its sounds.

Sorry to tell you the chatter and whine is "normal"

You think if there is enough complaints infinti will put out a recall on the clutches? wasnt there a website for this? like inside infiniti.com or something like that? arrgggh