Clicking clutch?

[VertigoM]

Hey guys, I just noticed this but do you get a 'click' noise when you press in the clutch?

[McGuyver_3]

where and when would you hear this noise? do you hear it more from the outside? could be the release bearing(normal although would sound more like a clunk) do you hear it from the inside? could be the spring for the clutch pedal (it happens)

[VertigoM]

I hear it inside and it's coming from the clutch pedal. When i press the clutch down I hear a faint 'click'. Is that normal?

[McGuyver_3]

like i said it could be the spring making the noise and it is nothing out of the ordinary. Suggest you moniter it and if it gets worse have it looked at. Now i know everytime you take it to the dealer the problem always seems to dissapear. So my suggestion to you is to try and capture the noise on a voice recorder.

[Elusivellama]

I have the same click, it appears to be normal.

[SomeGuy]

It's probably when you're passing the sensor that tells the car the clutch is in...try putting your cruise control on, then press the clutch...chances are when you hear the click, the cruise will also shut off at the same time.

[Elusivellama]

Just tested on the highway, the cc disengages at the click point! Nice.

[WeatherB]

Yup, it's the clutch switch making that faint click noise. There are two switches, one when the clutch pedal is pressed in and one when you let off the clutch.

[VertigoM]

Ok good to know that it's normal! :)

[Tokay444]

That's your ignition lock switch disengaging to let the car start. A by product is also that our cruise shuts off.

[VertigoM]

I know I'm gonna sound extremely anal about my car but I've also noticed that the clutch is less "grabby" compared to when I first got the car. I guess I should explain why I suddenly have all these clutch questions...

I brought my car in over the weekend to have the winter tires swapped in. I noticed that the guy tried driving my car with the e-brake engaged and hence kept revving and stalling the car. I dont know how many times he did this but I heard my car revving from inside the shop and I came out to see what was going on. Anyway, another mechanic (who actually knew how to drive stick) took over and drove my car in without problems.

When I got my car back and started driving it I noticed that the clutch didnt seem quite as grabby as before. Prior to this, I seemed to remember that in order to get smooth shifts I had to release the clutch slowly to avoid jerky gear changes. But now I noticed I can pretty much just release the clutch as fast as I can and still get a smooth shift (hence the less "grabby" feeling). Ok, maybe this is entirely psychological because I dont know if anyone can actually screw up the clutch with a few e-brake stalls. But nonetheless it's still bugging me!

So... for all you MS3 guys, can you get smooth shift engagements by quickly releasing the clutch or does it grab instantly creating a jerk?

Or maybe I'm just super paranoid and the clutch has started to "break-in" and hence the less grabby on/off feel as before when I first drove the car off the dealership lot?

[Elusivellama]

I noticed that the guy tried driving my car with the e-brake engaged and hence kept revving and stalling the car.

wtf? So he had the e-brake on, then revved the car, but released the clutch too late and the car stalls because the revs are not high enough? Where was this at?

As for smooth shifts, I can get it smooth whether I release the clutch slowly or quickly, it all depends on my rev matching. If I'm driving it gently to warm it up, I release the clutch slowly and rev match (just enough) to avoid any jerky shifts. If I'm driving it spiritedly, I release the clutch quickly while rev matching... no jerky shifts. The only time I get a jerky shift is if I screw up on the rev matching from 1st to 2nd and sometimes from 2nd to 3rd.

[Tokay444]

He just broke it in for you. That's all.

[Tokay444]

Doesn't mean that dude isn't a complete idiot though.

[SomeGuy]

I'd bitch about it and get yourself a new clutch! If I caught a mechanic ****ing with my car in any way there would be hell to pay.

Chances are though it's just psychological, it would take a hell of a lot more than a couple bad stalls and high revs to make a difference in the feel of the clutch unless he dumped it from 7k a half dozen times.

[VertigoM]

I'd rather not name the shop yet because they're a sponsor on this forum...

I thought about calling the shop to complain but how am I going to prove anything?

Do you think the guy could've glazed the clutch? I really dont know how high he was revving but I guess it was high enough that I heard him from inside the shop. I dont know if he was slipping the clutch or not with the e-brake on either... :(

However I do not recall smelling anything burning when I went outside and stood by my car so maybe it's not too bad and he really just broke it in a little. :bang

[VertigoM]

As for smooth shifts, I can get it smooth whether I release the clutch slowly or quickly, it all depends on my rev matching.

That's the thing... I do not really need to worry about rev matching now because even if i'm off, the clutch doesnt seem to grab as instantly as before.... sh*T!!!

Will the clutch start grabbing better again after I drive it more?

[Elusivellama]

The only way to tell (and to put your mind at ease) is if another 2010 MS3 owner drives his car around for a bit, then drives your car right afterwards. I agree with Someguy though... it would take a lot more than what you described to hurt your clutch, I've heard that the clutches on the MS3 are built to handle even tougher abuse than that with no problems.

[VertigoM]

The only way to tell (and to put your mind at ease) is if another 2010 MS3 owner drives his car around for a bit, then drives your car right afterwards. I agree with Someguy though... it would take a lot more than what you described to hurt your clutch, I've heard that the clutches on the MS3 are built to handle even tougher abuse than that with no problems.

Good idea... I actually thought about doing that too. Do you want to drive my car? :)

[Elusivellama]

I'd happily volunteer but I live and work in Waterloo, I come up to Toronto on the weekends occasionally. Hmm.. any dealerships in your area with a demo MS3? lol.

[Sean80]

I wouldn't worry too much about it man. The guy obviously didn't know what he was doing, but stalling it a few times isn't going to hurt it. These cars have strong clutches and I find the 'feel' of mine changes with the temperature outside. Your car is brand new and is still in the process of breaking everything in. Mine is an '07 with 84,000 kms on it and the clutch still feels strong.

[SomeGuy]

I'd happily volunteer but I live and work in Waterloo, I come up to Toronto on the weekends occasionally. Hmm.. any dealerships in your area with a demo MS3? lol.

If you're in waterloo, why haven't you come out to any of our little local wing nights or anything?

[Cust0m]

so I was driving to work this morning and my clutch started making this 'click' noise too whenever I press it down fully. Just curious but if this is normal how come i'm hearing it for the first time all of a sudden? Car was picked up last March.

[CelestSpeed3]

Its normal, if its not the cluch switch as mentioned before you are hearing the diaphram spring. Its not big deal. My 6's did this for 5 years with no issues.

[ST3ALTH]

Mine just started to make the clicking noise, it never did before and just started today. What can i do to fix it? Lube the spring? etcc

[WeatherB]

Mine just started to make the clicking noise, it never did before and just started today. What can i do to fix it? Lube the spring? etcc

You need to try to figure out if the problem is the pedal itself, slave cylinder (that little plastic shaft thing that pokes through the firewall), or the various clutch switches underneath. Based on my experience simply lubing the spring doesn't do anything.

[ST3ALTH]

Yeah it sounds like a very loud click when you press the pedal in and when u release the pedal, both clicks are in the same spot. Also if i push the clutch in very very slow the clicking noise does not happen.

I had this happen to me while i was under warrenty and they replaced something and lubed the spring, now its back and more annoying than ever!

[WeatherB]

Yeah it sounds like a very loud click when you press the pedal in and when u release the pedal, both clicks are in the same spot. Also if i push the clutch in very very slow the clicking noise does not happen.

I had this happen to me while i was under warrenty and they replaced something and lubed the spring, now its back and more annoying than ever!

It seems like the clutch pedals on these cars aren't very durable. I had my clutch pedal replaced at 30,000km because it sounded like it was shrieking every time you pressed it.

Did you try looking underneath at the clutch pedal mechanism and then actuating the pedal with your hand to see if you can spot anything "weird"?

[ST3ALTH]

I was out there about to look at it started to snow and blizzard and got super cold! lmao so i came inside, ill go out later and check to see if i can hear or see where the clicking sound is coming from exactly.

[WeatherB]

I was out there about to look at it started to snow and blizzard and got super cold! lmao so i came inside, ill go out later and check to see if i can hear or see where the clicking sound is coming from exactly.

Ya, that was a crazy snow storm!

If you can't figure it out, an option may be to leave it for a week or two and see if it goes away. Sometimes these things come and go.

[ST3ALTH]

Ya, that was a crazy snow storm!

If you can't figure it out, an option may be to leave it for a week or two and see if it goes away. Sometimes these things come and go.

ok awesome, thanks for all your help WeatherB