EDIT: Manual mode stopped working now but working in super cold like it worked today at 27°F and as soon as car reached normal heating temperature, it sopped working.

Hello Infiniti family,
I recently bought 2006 Infiniti g35x with 183,000 miles on it. (I know its old). The car works great. nothing to complain about EXCEPT the manual mode. I have noticed that the manual mode works better in cold. Like in past 4 months when it was 95 degrees hot outside, manual mode would work only 2 out of 10 times but since last 15 days as the weather is getting colder like 45 degrees currently here in PA, it is working 8 out of 10 times.

What could be the reason? Please do not tell me that it's cluster issue coz I will die ; as it is an old car and I do not want to spend $2500 + labor on fixing the cluster.
One more thing, sometimes if I want to go from 3rd gear to 4th gear and I will push lever forward to make that happen, it puts me into 2nd

Your suggestions are much appreciated.

 

I don't have an answer to your problem. As I never had issues, I barely even use the Tiptronic. But I can answer the cost of cluster swap.

But I can say a cluster swap is not $2500. Like you said this is an old car. Get the correct part number of your cluster, I believe there were 5 versions. or there were 5 for a 2005 G35x. 2006 has BT and some other stuff. I know the X was harder to find but I was able to grab one off eBay for $150. Install takes like 1-2 hours with basic hand tools.

 

@TurTLe*
I am skeptical of changing cluster. Also, what makes you thing cluster is causing this? Can there be any other issue apart from cluster which can be an easy fix?

 

That definitely sounds like a circuit board issue with the instrument cluster, as the weather is hot/cold the components on the board expand/contract and can be the difference whether something that is loose is making contact or not making contact.

 

@cleric670 seems you are also suggesting that I need to change my cluster.

 

1. you originally mentioned it as a possible solution in your first post. I'm just saying it could be an answer.
2. While I never had this issue, I've read a few people fixing this issue with a replacement cluster.

I learned a lot of this stuff when I was troubleshooting my fuel gauge many moons ago. I recommend you spend some time reading wiring diagrams for the car and seeing what else is on the circuit. To me its a shot in the dark right now but a fairly cheap one. $150 and 2 hours of your time. If you take it to any shop to try and diagnose this, you are asking for probably $500.

I can't tell you what to do but those are my thoughts. Heck market might even be softer now and the clusters are $80-100. Just make sure its the right part number and the last letter does matter.

 

Now it has stopped completely working. Wouldn't even go to manual mode. If I move the lever to manual mode, cluster still shows "D".

 

I sent my cluster to get fixed and the manual mode on mine doesn't work anymore lol. It used to work before from time to time.
The issues I had on my cluster before the repair though were all fixed (list below)
- left blinker
- foot brake indicator light

I've read some people suggested cleaning the switches on the shifter with contact clean? but I have not tried it yet.

 

Yup…sounds like a bad cluster. I’ve replaced mine twice already.