Clutch Grinding - Warranty?

[Shadow]

I've got a 2002 P5 that I bought in July 2003 with a 4 year warranty.

For a while now I've had this problem where I'd be driving and when I'd shift i would grind the gears. I always blamed it on myself even though I was pretty sure I had the clutch in all the way.......

Today was when I realized 100% for sure that it wasn't just me being stupid. I started my car in neutral, pushed the clutch ALL the way in, then when I tried to put it into first the gears ground really badly.. Normally I'd only grind when shifting while driving, never stopped.

I took the car in for service about 2 weeks ago and mentioned the clutch, when I picked it up the guy said that it felt stiffer then it should but since it's under warranty there was no point in him taking it apart. I checked the clutch/brake fluid level and it's totally filled.

Anyone know what might be the issue here and if it would be covered under Mazda's warranty? This isn't my first standard car so it's not like I've abused the clutch or anything while learning. I'm going to call a dealership tomorrow and get a time to get them to check it out.

 

[MyZmZm]

Subscribing for further info. I have the same problem, and I'm an experienced 'shifter' myself... Does it happen in one gear more than another, or all of them equally??

 

[Shadow]

Hmmmmmm, I notice it mostly when shifting up from 1-> 2 or 2 -> 3. It doesnt happen often enough for me to notice a pattern.

Taking it into a dealer tomorrow, i'll reply when I've got some details.

 

[dsr70]

It's probably a clutch master or slave cylinder. Cheap enough to buy and replace on your own if you're handy.

Doug

 

[Shadow]

It's probably a clutch master or slave cylinder. Cheap enough to buy and replace on your own if you're handy.

Doug

Eh, not quite that handy I'm more of a wiring guy then a parts guy. Would it be warrantied if so? or just normal wear + tear?

 

[dsr70]

Eh, not quite that handy I'm more of a wiring guy then a parts guy. Would it be warrantied if so? or just normal wear + tear?

It would only fall under the bumper to bumper. The master clutch cylinder is what the clutch pedal operates on. The pedal depresses the piston, causing the fluid to move. The fluid in turn operates the piston on the slave clutch cylinder. The cylinders are at either end of the clutch hydraulic system. The master turns mechanical force into hydraulic force, and the slave turns hydraulic force back into mechanical force.

The pic below is not from a P5, but the idea is the same. It's a slave cylinder, located at the tranny as in the P5. Notice the steel clutch line coming in. The end of the cylinder in the P5, however, is not attached to a lever as shown in this pic. Instead, the P5 slave simply pushes on a paddle like lever sticking from the tranny, which actuates the clutch.

After thinking about this more, it's questionable if it's the cylinders. Usually the cylinders develop leaky seals, which shows in low fluid level. To test, have someone actuate the clutch pedal and observe under the hood if the slave is pushing the clutch paddle in a full stroke. If not, cylinders, line, pedal, etc. If so, clutch, tranny, etc.

Doug

 

[Shadow]

Just dropped it off, guy drove it aroudn with me for a few mins and he said it felt ok.

He also said its normal on the proteges to sometimes have to push the clutch in twice, wtf? That doesn't sound right to me.....

 

[Captain KRM P5]

that is not correct, it is not normal to push the clutch in twice

 

[Shadow]

Hmmmm, is it possible that I ****** up my clutch after only 30,000 km? (18k mi)

 

[Shadow]

Well, they say i ****** it up and quoted me $950 cdn to get it fixed................

 

[MyZmZm]

And how exactly did they say you ****** it up? And how could you when other people are experiencing exactly the same problem?? Must be that new "clone a driver" thing...

 

[AlbNYPR5]

Just dropped it off, guy drove it aroudn with me for a few mins and he said it felt ok.

He also said its normal on the proteges to sometimes have to push the clutch in twice, wtf? That doesn't sound right to me.....

That's as bad as my service guy telling me that Mazda said that you need to hold the clutch in for 5 seconds when shifting. This was their response to my complaint about grinding while shifting into third gear. TSB? What TSB? What's a TSB? That's mazda services for you.

 

[02kllrb]

could it be the gear syncros? not my personal suggestion, a friends.