Can you pls help diagnose a clutch problem? My clutch pedal resists depression past the half-way down point. When I exert extra pressure on the pedal, it "pops" and goes to the floor allowing me to shift. Sounds and feels real bad. Hydraulic resevoir is full. My ITR has 50K miles on it. Clutch does not slip when engaged under throttle. Help?

 

pwrbyrl,
This problem came on sudden with no previous problems with clutch. I don't think problem is due to clutch wear - as I've had no slippage problems. Do you know of any clutch related issues that would cause this problem? Hydraulics, throw-out bearing, clutch springs? thx.

 

check under the dash and make sure nothing is physically in the way of the pedal's operation.

 

Aleph, I did a cursory examination under the dash when this problem started (yesterday) and I didn't find anything that would bind the pedal travel. I'll inspect again in more detail tomorrow. Thanks.

 

uh, no... sounds like your throwout bearing is dry. time to pull the tranny, remove pressure plate from flywheel, and inspect throwout bearing. lube and re-install... buy new if necessary.

70K on mine, starting to do the same type of thing. cept i also get clutch chatter here and there. seems to have subsided for now, but i've had instances where i can't get it through any gate.

ask B18CxR.... he'll point you in the right direction

D

 

dude, i don't know where you come up with some of your replies.... first you diagnose his problem with needing a new clutch... now you agree with me? i don't get it.

anyway, if you're doing the work yourself, you can check the flywheel to see if it's within spec... dial bore indicator will be able to give you runout on it... hopefully someone you know can lend you one... if it's within spec, you're fine. likewise with the friction plate... check out the springs and plate thickness.

of course, if you want to upgrade, now is the chance.....

D

 

Thanks for replies/ideas guys. I'll feed the diagnosis back to the board.

 

BTW, Honda reccommend special high-temp Urea grease to lube the release bearing snout and input shaft splines. It's expensive but one pot will last you the next 20 or 30 clutches...

I hope to be dead by the time my car is on its 20th clutch...

 

that is correct. B18cxR also has been trying to find a good anti-sieze with higher temps spec ..... no luck as of yet i believe.

copper based anit-sieze should be good in excess of 1900F. prolly what i'm gonna end up using soon as i feel spry enough to pull the tranny.

D

btw, aleph, that was a amazing diagnosis.... jacknob.


[Modified by D, 10:29 PM 9/5/2001]

 

fuQ j00, jacknob! Heh, it's the kind of thing that people often forget to check, my GS-R had a really weird clutch problem for a while, until i discovered the pedal was getting caught under the carpet. Just because your answer has all kinds of technical mumbo-jumbo and big engineering-y words, doesn't make it right

Although in this case it probably does. But yer still a ***. Cheers!

 

update - Thx for comments everyone. The problem turned out to be a dislodged clutch spring. Honda picked up the parts cost under warranty (clutch, pressure plate, throwout bearing) and I picked up the service fee. The dealer resisted honoring the warranty after seeing the mods but finally agreed to cover. Clutch grabs really nice now.


[Modified by Charged R, 7:18 PM 10/3/2001]

 

cool.

D