Hey guys how's it goin? I'm posting here for my little brother as he doesn't know enough about cars to really diagnose this. A few days ago we noticed a slight whirling sound coming from the drivers side area, didn't think too much of it. On Wednesday night he gives me a call saying it's really hard to change gears and whenever he engages the clutch the trans makes a screeching sound. I told him to get home and stop driving the car til I get a chance to look it over. Well today's Friday and I just finished looking at it. While the car is off you can change gears just fine. While the car is running and you press the clutch it makes the loud screeching sound and no longer goes into any gear at all. With the car running the clutch pedal also becomes very sloppy and squishy. Right now I've ruled out a leaking slave cylinder as there's no fluid anywhere, but I think the slave is the culprit as that would keep you from engaging any gears. Last bit of info my little brother bought the car from carmax with their extended "maxcare" warranty. A new clutch was installed by them during their used car inspection. I'm going to call carmax tomorrow but I'm sure they'll throw in the normal wear and tear excuse which would be a shame. My brother's only had the car 3 months and put on 2,000 miles.

 

Well the best thing you could do is get under the car and look at the slave to see if its moving very far.
it sounds like a slave Cyl but it may not be.
Most of the time Carmax farms the work out to a dealer/or indipendant shop vs doing it themselves.
but it cant hurt to try. pull the boot back of course and look to see if theirs fluid.
but its very very very likely its the slave its a hugely common problem.
Nice user name.

 

Alright thanks, I'll check that first thing tomorrow morning. Ha yea that's a brand of clothing he likes, french connection.

 

Bump

 

Maybe the shop carmax farmed the clutch out to skipped the job....
An 8 hr clutch for a new mechanic not familar with a mini would not be uncommon....and i am sure carmax doesn't pay much.....
it sounds like it is under warrenty ...just bring it back, have it documented.

 

Alright that would be good. Im dreading the thought of a new clutch because being 21 and living on my own 2000 dollars is just not feesable. Its definitely a lesspn learned though always have a rainy day fund ready for these situations.