In the last two days I've felt two weird things, one of which I think can be attributed to the cold.

Thing 1. My whole morning commute (10ish miles) my clutch pedal was slow to come back after lifting my foot. This seems to have gone away but has been replaced with...

Thing 2. On both my commute to work and back home today the clutch pedal had a subtle "crunchy" feeling to it. I don't really know how to describe it... There was no noise, no "play," no extra resistance to the pedals motion in either direction. The SMOOTH feeling of the clutch pedal suddenly has some "texture" to it.

My car is an 06MCS with about 10,000 miles on it. I follow all the rules of driving a manual. I don't sit at lights with my foot on the pedal, I don't ride the clutch, etc.

Does anyone have any idea what this could be? Thowout bearing? Is this normal? Is it all in my head? Actually, I know it's not all in my head...

I'm afraid that if I take it to the dealer, some clod with his thick, heavy Timberlands will give it a kick and say they can't feel anything unusual.

Thanks for any help you can give!!!

 

The only time I've experienced something like that is if the carpet is catching the pedal!

 

Just ran out and checked... no carpet rubbing.

If it push the pedal in really slow, it wants to move in little bursts. Doing this with the car off and the door open, I can hear little "tick"s on the other side of the firewall...

It feels like there's friction in the clutch cylinder itself... I used to build suspension for bicycles and we called this "stiction." It was what you felt in a poorly lubed seal before you applied enough force to overcome the static friction.

 

I had that same feeling, around the same number of miles (12k)... turned out the pressure plate was on its way out. I had my service guy look at everything, because I didn't believe that a pressure plate would go before a clutch. But, I had it replaced, and everything went back to being smooth as butter.

 

You're saying you sit at lights holding in the clutch? That's certainly not good for the slave cylinder; it's hanging out there under pressure as you wait for the light. Drop that habit ASAP. Your slave cylinder, hydraulic line, and leg muscles will thank you.

As for the crunch, it might be the pedal bushings, or the slave cylinder crapping out. At only 10k miles, it's highly unlikely either are bad unless they are defective or you indeed do hold in the clutch 24/7.

 

He might get a copy of MC 2 issue 12 currently out which talks a bit about what your are telling him Ryephile.

 

i think thats what he meant that he leaves it in neutral at lights

 

no, no, no... I was saying I don't do that!

 

I had the same problem .. and it was from the release bearing..

 

...

 

thanks guys... I'll put a call in to the dealer this afternoon...

 

jeez all these clutch/flywheel threads lately, is this an epidemic?

 

I've been through 2 slave cyls in my first 30k miles. We had a rash of 'em go bad on my local MINI club board this summer... 4 or 5 went out in as many weeks.

I carry a spare now in the boot... it's a fairly inexpensive part and any mechanic with a smidge of knowledge can replace it, but not if you are in the middle of nowhere Arkansas with no access to parts.

 

Ah ok, whew that's good!

 

I had this happen twice, the first time was the release bearing melted and deformed. The second was caused by the clutch fork being bent on one side and pushing the release bearing at an angle causing it to rub. Both times it was the release bearing causing the feeling. I had a rubber on rubber sound too.

 

you know i notice some texture in my clutch too...i feel it in the release between 1st and 2nd...idk if this is normal (this is my first stick) but its not really anything crazy, its just like i can feel the slip of the clutch and the rubbing between 1st and 2nd

is that normal? (and just like the OP its nothing that has changed the clutch from any other time, just i can feel a little texture)

 

I don't think it is normal, but you probably don't have to worry unless it gets worse. Does it get worse after a long drive with lots of shifting?

 

no its nothing that gets crazy or anything...i haven't noticed it really changing vs driving time...it only seems that i can feel it when i let the clutch out semi slow between 1st and 2nd...usually around town under light acceleration

 

My issues are more pronounced when depressing the pedal... it just feels rough.

I noticed today that it only happens after the car has had a while to warm up. the clutch pedal feels normal (smooth) when the car is cold.

I've got an appointment with the dealer Monday afternoon. i'm trying to drive as little as possible until then.

I'll keep everyone posted.

 

She's at the Dealer.

I've recieved a diagnosis, but I'm not sure it's correct.

I'm told that my clutch has gone bad and my flywheel may need to be replaced... The technician was able to tell this based on the point at which my clutch engages.

Mind you, this is at 10,000ish miles. I have not noticed any clutch slippage at all. Wouldn't a leaky slave cylinder cause the clutch to engage at a different point? It's a closed hydraulic system right? And isn't the clutch self-adjusting, so it would adjust itself based on wear, but a loss of hydraulic fluid would be too much to compensate for?

I'm a little worked up. I was told the clutch would be covered by warrantee, but I may end up paying $870 for the flywheel if they are able to pin it on my driving habits. As stated above, my driving habits are generally quite tame and have been extremely lame since the cold weather came and sucked all the traction out of my tires.

I'm not at all familiar with the MINI flywheel. The service manager called it a dual, or two-piece something... Is the flywheel hydraulically dampened?

What could I have done to cause a flywheel failure?

 

After reading a few long threads on flywheel issues, I want to clarify that I do not have the flywheel noise problems that many have reported. There is no rattling, clunking, or squeeking coming from the clutch or the flywheel.

My only symptom was a crunchy feeling clutch pedal.

 

Nothing. Dont let yr dealer pull this U pay for the flywheel nonsense; if they do, immediatelly call MINI USA and protest vehemently. This is one of the most underhanded forms of cheapness and questionable Customer Service.

MCS DM flywheels are prone to glazing and slippage even as low as 5K, they're just generally sketchy construction. I just had mine replaced with my clutch at 24K (05 S) no arguments no BS because of the glazing issue (groaning sound when releasing the clutch 1st, under load).

Do a Google on >Dual Mass Flywheels MINI< and y'll get an education. But dont let them do that, esp if the FW is not glazed, that's just wrong. Id let loose a few choice ripe obscenties but the mods dont like that here...

PS and unlike conventional flywheels, DMF's cannot be turned and trued by a mill shop. They have to be replaced.

 

sequence,

thanks for another confirmation that this should be covered by warrantee.

The dealer still hasn't gotten to my car yet, so I have no idea what is actually wrong with it. My Dealer, Motor City MINI in MI, has always treated me very well. I hope they continue to do so.

 

I have had the crunchy sensation you describe on my 2004 MCS since almost new; I now have 67K. I complained while still under warranty and was told 'no problem.' Hasn't gotten any worse, but I completely agree with you; it is a mechanically unpleasant sensation.

 

My car has been at the dealership since Monday. They still haven't gotten to it... I'm trying to be patient. Will post updates when I can.