Ok, so my gf just bought an '04 G35 (relax, she's got an RX vert too) and it hasn't even had 2 tanks of gas through it when the clutch started to chatter terribly. The clutch was replaced by the dealer when they first got it and apparently they used an ACT HDSS clutch kit w/ flywheel (from Stillen; part #451045), not the infiniti OEM parts. We talked to the service manager and they said they used the "Stillen" parts because those was cheaper. The car has had barely 2000 miles from when the clutch was installed to when she purchased the car and half of that was dealership mileage. The sales manager is telling us that since the car still drives, they don't need to replace the clutch. The car has less than 60K miles on it so it is still under the manufacturer's drivetrain warranty.

So I guess my question is, What can I/she do about this?

She'd either like to get the clutch/flywheel replaced or she'd like to return the car. She's a real estate agent and the car is very distracting to her clients. I've been told that the car can be returned in 30 days if something goes wrong, but I can't find anything online about that for WA state. Also, if the clutch is chattering, wouldn't that count as defective and fall under the drivetrain warranty? Plus, wouldn't they have voided the factory warranty by not disclosing that they used a non-OEM part for repairs before she purchased the car?

I'm lost and my head hurts... please help...

 

I would then call infiniti (manufacturer). They must have some kind of customer service line.

If it's under factory warranty take it to another dealership and tell them the clutch is acting funny. Good luck on that one

You could then write a letter to the owner of the dealership about how you feel if nothing is done!


AND if all else fells go postal

 

The clutch disc is probably a bit warped.

My father taught me this trick:

with the car in fifth (sixth if it has it) gear, rev the engine up to about 5K rpm and slowly engage the clutch 2-3 time in a row.

The point is to smoke the **** out of the clutch and heat it up allot.

immediately afterward let the car sit don't touch the clutch pedal for 10 minutes.

After 10 minutes test drive it.

If the clutch is not extremely warn this will usually fix it. This was something he claims they taught him when he went to a Porsche dealer sponsored class to become a Porsche certified mechanic (which he was in the 70s).

The idea is that the heat followed by the clamping pressure of the pressure plate will, bed in the clutch disc to the flywheel and straiten it out at the same time. I have done this with success in the past, on an old mitsu truck which I replaced the clutch in. The brand new clutch chattered from the get go and continued chattering for the first 600-700 miles till I did this.