2014 Nissan Versa, 115000, manual transmission.
I was cruising down the road without issue and stopped at a red light. I went to take off in 1st gear and heard a clunk as if I ran over something but the car didn’t move. I put it in neutral with e-brake on got outside to look under the car and saw nothing. I went to take off again and heard the clunk again so I tried to take off slower and let the clutch out slower and was able to move and shift into higher gears for about 1/4 mile but then the car slowed to a crawl. I towed it home and put a quart of transmission fluid in and it doesn’t make a clunk sound when shifting into first but the shifter feels like it wants to pop into neutral. I shift into 2nd gear and it doesn’t want to pop out but it makes a whirring sound when I rev it up a bit and the car starts to lose speed as if the transmission is not engaging. I also hear what sounds like a large exhaust leak after driving 100 feet up the block and turning around. I’m able to drive it across the street to avoid street sweeping ticket but that’s about it. When I added the quart of transmission fluid I noticed reverse worked better. Thank you!
Likely the clutch and throw out bearing broke. I had a t-bird and had the same kind of issue. It was the clutch and throw out bearing they weren't worn out, but physically broke from a mfg defect. I'd start there and hope that's what it is.
Why fluid would make a difference in a manual trans is beyond me, unless it was run empty for a while and caused all kinds of damage and adding the oil back is "helping" so to speak. Sounds more like clutch issues as others have stated.
It sounds like it can be the clutch. 115000 miles I wouldn't be surprised if it's worn. Lets hope it's that and not the transmission going out. Did you notice if your clutch felt softer, is the clutch engaging at the same height . When spot are you able to shift through the gears.
Forgot to mention the throw out bearing can be bad as well. I used to have a vq35de swap 2003 Nissan Sentra specv. Before the swap I started to have issues with gears not engaging, slipping and humming sound. The clutch was worn and throw out bearing started to go out.
I just moved the car back to my side of the street. I shifted as high as third gear, downshifted to second after about 1/8 mile to do a u-turn, shifted to 3rd again then heard the fluttering sound briefly similar to a massive exhaust leak then downshifted to second and then parked. The clutch seemed to be engaging at the normal pedal spot but I was letting it out slower than usual for fear of hearing a clank again. This is the most I’ve driven it since adding manual transmission fluid on Saturday purchased from the dealer for this model. I’ve had regular fluid service (oil, coolant, transmission fluid) done at dealership. I’ve had no warning sign of any transmission issues prior to clunk described in the initial post. Thank you for all your comments and help. I’m basically a monkey with wrenches and appreciate everyone!
Check the hydraulic lines from the clutch master cylinder to the internal release bearing at the trans for leaks or breaks. Check the fluid level. Although rare, sometimes, a spring finger on the pressure plate will break causing problems, necessitating the removal of the trans and a new clutch package (clutch disc, pressure plate, throwout bearing and pilot bearing) installation.
Nissan transmissions are built like crap - both automatics and manuals (that are manufactured by them)
A quart on these is like 1/2 - 1/3 of the fluid, it might have been running dry causing a lot of mechanical internal wear. you might want to check where that quart went.
Check if that's not an external issue, and if it's not - a lot of Nissan 5 speed owners end up needing the replace their manuals with a good junkyard unit. The strange thing about this whole thing is that their owner Renualt made a 5 speed that's actually very nice and it was used on the previous generation Versa (the model based on the European Tiida that was made until 2011 or 2013, sources are conflicting), why Nissan decided to use their own junk instead is beyond me.
They have brand new transmissions of this same model breakdown because the oil channels and get clogged from the manufacturing junk left inside. Here's a brand new 2020 gearbox begging to show oil supply / bearing issues at 500 miles.
https://www.nissanversaforums.com/threads/20-5-speed-rs5f91r-whine.44374/
Exactly what kind of "transmission fluid" did you put in your manual transmission, which you say was a quart low?
After thinking about I feel it might be your release bearing/slave cylinder assembly. That can explain everything going on.