I was cruising along at ~85-90 with a 350Z on the 5 freeway on the Valley Floor about 8 miles south of Bakersfield, almost home from mt 115 mile commute, dodging the slower traffic and listening to music blasting. I glance behind me to see how the slow people live when I notice smoke...it took me a second, but I quickly surmised it was behind- coming from my car!
WTF?
I turned the radio off and glanced to the temp guage...which reported OK...WTF is that grinding sound?
I pop it out of gear, and the sound stopped. A stab at the accelerator confirmed that the engine was not the problem- it's the transmission.
OK...sh1t.
Still at least 5 miles from town, I back way off and put the car into 6th. The grinding noise continued, slowly starting to subside. Luckily, the dealership is on the south side of town just off the freeway, so I decide to limp her to the the dealership.
Getting off the freeway, the nasty sounds had almost fully subsided. I pulled into the closed service department (it was 8:15pm), and spotting a parking spot, tried to put her into reverse.
No joy. No reverse.
So, I pull on forward and found another spot.
I climb under the car...a small pool of gearcase fluid is forming under the bell housing...dripping pretty steadily.
Double sh1t.
I had installed a B&M shifter just last weekend. I was very careful to put plenty of RTV sealant on the base and to torque the bolts where they felt "right." These were instructions that did NOT give torque values nor did they instruct to Loctite the base / tranny cating attach bolts-- those instructions came out on Monday.
I have a feeling that I may have a serious non-warranty issue on my hands.
Tranny gurus-- do you think I've toasted my transmission?
WTF?
I turned the radio off and glanced to the temp guage...which reported OK...WTF is that grinding sound?
I pop it out of gear, and the sound stopped. A stab at the accelerator confirmed that the engine was not the problem- it's the transmission.
OK...sh1t.
Still at least 5 miles from town, I back way off and put the car into 6th. The grinding noise continued, slowly starting to subside. Luckily, the dealership is on the south side of town just off the freeway, so I decide to limp her to the the dealership.
Getting off the freeway, the nasty sounds had almost fully subsided. I pulled into the closed service department (it was 8:15pm), and spotting a parking spot, tried to put her into reverse.
No joy. No reverse.
So, I pull on forward and found another spot.
I climb under the car...a small pool of gearcase fluid is forming under the bell housing...dripping pretty steadily.
Double sh1t.
I had installed a B&M shifter just last weekend. I was very careful to put plenty of RTV sealant on the base and to torque the bolts where they felt "right." These were instructions that did NOT give torque values nor did they instruct to Loctite the base / tranny cating attach bolts-- those instructions came out on Monday.
I have a feeling that I may have a serious non-warranty issue on my hands.
Tranny gurus-- do you think I've toasted my transmission?