Clutch / Transmission Question

[Imissmy3rdgen7]

I've been having a lot of bad luck with my clutch. My 03.5 Titanium MSP has 40,700 miles on it and the clutch just went out AGAIN. The first one died at 20k and now the 2nd one died at 40k. I don't drive very hard and never launch or race from a start.

Are there any TSB's, recalls, etc. on the clutch? Are there any known issues with it? Is there any kind of technical dirt I can dig up to bring to the service shop to get a break on this thing? I'm really getting frustrated about this.

 

[Prodigy]

It's the way you're driving it not the installation or the clutch itself.
Don't ride the clutch in traffic and don't make the habbit of pushing it in when you take corners.
That's the reason 95% of the time a clutch goes out when the person claims that they didn't abuse it.

 

[msp35]

Why not press the clutch in a turn? I don't, atleast not that I realize.
What does it do? Just curious

 

[B1GHAM]

Im curious about that as well? why engage the clutch in a turn?

speaking of clutches mine does this weird thing where it will slip EVERY ONCE in a while. the only thing I could say causes this issue is that when its really hot. It only acts up when Ive been in the car for about an hour or so constant driving. and even then, it RARELY happens... but it has happened

 

[dirtysouth_msp]

45,000 miles (give or take a few) on the stock clutch with no real problems to speak of and I have driven the hell out of this car, but rarely launch. The only gripe I have is that it likes to chatter every once in a while on cold mornings when I first get going, but only if I am really light on the throttle. I plan on upgrading the clutch/flywheel combo soon anyway though.

The reason not to press the clutch in a turn is the same reason you want to shift to nuetral and not keep the clutch pressed in at a stop-light. The more the clutch is held in, the quicker it will wear out the throw-out bearing. You will actually get much better handling through turns by downshifting and keeping the car in gear. We have LSDs. Of course, if you are turning and slowing to a stop at the same time, your gonna have to either put the car in nuetral or push in the clutch or it will not be happy, lol.

 

[B1GHAM]

oops I read wrong...

I already knew that dirtysouth lol... I misunderstood the original post on that.

yes my normal method (if driving "spirited") is downshift before turn, brake if needed, turn, and accelerate upon exit. I just thought he said have the clutch IN when turning, I was like WTF lol.

 

[M_PowerM3]

Premature clutch wear

45,000 miles (give or take a few) on the stock clutch with no real problems to speak of and I have driven the hell out of this car, but rarely launch. The only gripe I have is that it likes to chatter every once in a while on cold mornings when I first get going, but only if I am really light on the throttle. I plan on upgrading the clutch/flywheel combo soon anyway though.

QUOTE]

I almost bought a MS6 the other day, but could smell the clutch on TWO different cars (one with 150 miles and one with 3700). Glad to hear your clutch has held up. Given a few posts about premature clutch wear has me wary. Did you smell the clutch on your car when it was new? i want this car bad, but certainly don't want want to trade for a headache.

I have never worn out a clutch in my life, and have been driving sticks for over 20 years. I did not abuse the test drivers either. I did do some WOT accels of course, but no power shifting, no clutch dumping, etc. 280 ft-lb is a lot of torque to put through an "econobox" tranny. Please dispel my fears...

 

[dirtysouth_msp]

I almost bought a MS6 the other day, but could smell the clutch on TWO different cars (one with 150 miles and one with 3700). Glad to hear your clutch has held up. Given a few posts about premature clutch wear has me wary. Did you smell the clutch on your car when it was new? i want this car bad, but certainly don't want want to trade for a headache.

I have never worn out a clutch in my life, and have been driving sticks for over 20 years. I did not abuse the test drivers either. I did do some WOT accels of course, but no power shifting, no clutch dumping, etc. 280 ft-lb is a lot of torque to put through an "econobox" tranny. Please dispel my fears...

Well, I'm not sure about the MS6 clutch and tranny. My MSP clutch and tranny has been fine for the most part. My cousin just bought a brand new MS6, he has not mentioned anything about smelling the clutch though. You sure it was the clutch you were smelling?

 

[M_PowerM3]

clutch smell

Well, I'm not sure about the MS6 clutch and tranny. My MSP clutch and tranny has been fine for the most part. My cousin just bought a brand new MS6, he has not mentioned anything about smelling the clutch though. You sure it was the clutch you were smelling?

Well, not certain. i told the wife it was the "new" cooking off the car and that it would go away. She searched the forums and found a few disgruntled MS6 owners with premature clutch replacements. This convinced me we were smelling the clutch. A motorhead I work with said you could expect to smell clutch on a BRAND NEW car, but certainly not at 3700 miles unless it was slipping. Smells like hot brakes.

 

[dirtysouth_msp]

See if you can find one with almost no mileage (less than 50), maybe at a different dealership and see if it smells. There is no telling how people at that dealership "tested out" those cars before you saw them. I don't remember any smell when my car was new.

 

[msp35]

thanks for the explaination. Thats how I usually drive, brake, downshift, turn, GAS!.