Strange clutch issue - looking for help
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3rd Gear
Joined: Dec 2011
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From: 3rd Outhouse on the Left, Luxembourg
Small update: Strange clutch issue - looking for help
UPDATE: did some searching and my problem seems to be quite common on some Ford Mustangs. Seems it is likely to be related to the free play adjustment in either the slave or master cylinders. Since I had hydraulic work done, feasibly this could be the cause. Now my question is: how to adjust the free-play on the Mini? Anyone?
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I've got a 2009 Clubman with a strange clutch issue. I am the sole owner of the car and its only driver. I don't track it or abuse it and all equipment is stock. The car does essentially zero stop and go and all mileage is motorway. I know how to drive manual transmission cars and don't ride the clutch, etc...
The original clutch kit and flywheel were changed out at 50,000km under warranty due to a defect. New clutch kit and flywheel were installed. I broke it in gently for 500km and the new kit was fine for about 30,000km. Around that time, I had a leaking master cylinder and that was changed out after the warranty expired. Sometime shortly after that, I started getting strange behaviour from the clutch. Basically, the engagement is very, very soft so that you can't even feel the clutch engage. Normally you feel a bit of the friction of engagement, but I feel none of it. I have no problems changing gears. There are no noises in neutral with pedal engaged or disengaged. Clutch bites firm and is not slipping. I've done all the slippage tests and it this clutch is solid.
The problem is driving the car because I basically get no pedal feedback and have kind of memorized the engagement point. Suspecting air in the lines, I had the dealership change out the hydraulic fluid, but there was no improvement. Fluid level in the shared reservoir has not moved and there are no spots under the car so no leakage.
Dealership is telling me that since it's not slipping to live with it as just getting in there and dropping the transmission will be 700 euros minimum. I don't want to spend that kind of money for a clutch that bites strong. However, the car is a pain in the butt to drive and I don't know how much longer I can go on driving it like this. Been driving manual transmissions for over 20 years and this is the first time I've come across an issue like this.
Any input or advice would be most welcome.
Thanks.
--------------------------------------------------------
I've got a 2009 Clubman with a strange clutch issue. I am the sole owner of the car and its only driver. I don't track it or abuse it and all equipment is stock. The car does essentially zero stop and go and all mileage is motorway. I know how to drive manual transmission cars and don't ride the clutch, etc...
The original clutch kit and flywheel were changed out at 50,000km under warranty due to a defect. New clutch kit and flywheel were installed. I broke it in gently for 500km and the new kit was fine for about 30,000km. Around that time, I had a leaking master cylinder and that was changed out after the warranty expired. Sometime shortly after that, I started getting strange behaviour from the clutch. Basically, the engagement is very, very soft so that you can't even feel the clutch engage. Normally you feel a bit of the friction of engagement, but I feel none of it. I have no problems changing gears. There are no noises in neutral with pedal engaged or disengaged. Clutch bites firm and is not slipping. I've done all the slippage tests and it this clutch is solid.
The problem is driving the car because I basically get no pedal feedback and have kind of memorized the engagement point. Suspecting air in the lines, I had the dealership change out the hydraulic fluid, but there was no improvement. Fluid level in the shared reservoir has not moved and there are no spots under the car so no leakage.
Dealership is telling me that since it's not slipping to live with it as just getting in there and dropping the transmission will be 700 euros minimum. I don't want to spend that kind of money for a clutch that bites strong. However, the car is a pain in the butt to drive and I don't know how much longer I can go on driving it like this. Been driving manual transmissions for over 20 years and this is the first time I've come across an issue like this.
Any input or advice would be most welcome.
Thanks.
Last edited by MiniDeLux; Oct 8, 2013 at 02:39 AM.
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