Clutch is Slipping @ 65,000 km... WTF!!!

[RaiderMS3]

The local race shop I went to to get Redline said they had bad things happen to people using redline tranny fluid, and so he only sold Amsoil. I dunno though, I know there is a lot of people that use Redline with no problems.

 

[aMaff]

hmmm. I'm goin royal purple when I do mine.

 

[the tortoise]

The local race shop I went to to get Redline said they had bad things happen to people using redline tranny fluid, and so he only sold Amsoil. I dunno though, I know there is a lot of people that use Redline with no problems.

Oh-oh.

 

[the tortoise]

I had a look at the transmission and the housing around the input shaft is covered in oil and clutch fragments. The lower end of the engine (where flywheel's mounted) is SPOTLESSLY clean, so obviously the tranny is to blame.

The transmission is now at Carling Mazda. It looks like it is going to be a warranty repair. The car's being towed (well flatbedded) tomorrow so Mazda can re-install the tranny with a new clutch. I hope to sell the clutch I have to recoup some of the costs.

I've looked around other forums and it seems I'm a pretty rare case.

The biggest bummer is that my girlfriend and I were planning on going to Vermont for a week of skiing. She's a teacher so weeks off are rare... The second biggest bummer is that Mazda isn't gonna give me a loaner. Oh, how I wanted to drive a 3!

 

[NJP5Guy]

Really? How?

it wears out the throwout bearing(at least thats the part i think it wears out) but yes holding your foot on the clutch constantly will wear it out.

 

[the tortoise]

The dealership gave me a call tonight saying the car was done and good to go! The gasket around the input shaft was improperly installed at the factory. I've already picked it up and it's driving great. Third gear is easier to engage with no grinding and the clutch feels great.

As a bonus, they installed my AWR Front Motor Mount without me asking. I figured they wouldn't do it so I didn't bring it up. It's the 70 Durometer, and it feels FANTASTIC! Before I could feel the engine/tranny moving around as I shifted. Now it doesn't move at all, a major improvement. There are some vibrations at idle, but it seemed to smooth out as I drove. We'll see how it breaks in.

 

[herrherrlich]

This is great info. My MSP just clocked 35k and I was shocked to feel my clutch slipping!! I did notice a patch of oil on the ground so I checked my engine oil and naturally it was fine. Didn't put 2 + 2 together since other people park on the street and I assumed it was from somebody else....Now I gotta check that gasket! Anything in particular I should look for?

 

[the tortoise]

This is great info. My MSP just clocked 35k and I was shocked to feel my clutch slipping!! I did notice a patch of oil on the ground so I checked my engine oil and naturally it was fine. Didn't put 2 + 2 together since other people park on the street and I assumed it was from somebody else....Now I gotta check that gasket! Anything in particular I should look for?

I don't know if a failed gasket on the input shaft would cause a leak on the ground. I know I didn't see any indication, though I wasn't really looking. There's a gasket on the bell-housing that should provide a good seal between the engine and the transmission so water doesn't get onto the clutch.

If you drop the transmission from the car and the bell housing is covered in oil but the engine side of the clutch is dry, then your situation may be similar to mine.

I should add that the seal replaced on my transmission was located in the tranny itself. So, if this is your problem, you'll have to tear the tranny apart to get to it. But if it's your issue, then it should be covered under warranty.

Also, how is your clutch take up point? Is it higher than normal? Mine didn't change at all, it just started slipping.

Good Luck!