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Weirdest Clutch Problem

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Old 09-05-2010, 01:53 AM
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Weirdest Clutch Problem

Hey guys
I've been having a constant clutch battle with my car and though I absolutely love it, after around a thousand in repairs and no real results I'm here to beg for a solution!
(long story so head to the last paragraph for most current problem)

I left for the winter and left my car, it was undriven but was turned on from time to time.
I came back and felt that the cluth was engaging extremely high. I went to my a reputable mechanic in the area and was told it was the clutch. Okay, so the clutch was replaced with an oem one. It ran fine until i took a two hour drive out the next week and the pedal height started extending and the engagement point went back up until the point it was undriveable since the connection was at the tippy top. ( felt like i was going to break the car)

I went back to the mechanic and I had to replace the slave cylinder, he warned me it could also be my master. Replaced the slave cylinder, and the clutch felt much more solid. The engagement was just as good but the sweet spot was much larger than before. Same problem happened again.

So pretty much what im left with after a new clutch and slave cylinder is a car with a perfect clutch for the first 20-30 minutes of the ride. After that the texture change (it kicks hard at the bottom and theres a notch at the top were it completely engages).
If i let the car sit for an hour or two it fixes itself. The car has only 40k on it and im already experiencing some weird problems. Please help!!

other notes
- has pedal bracket welded (thought that was the problem but that solved nothing

hope you guys can solve this problem... i dont want to get a new master cylinder only find that it doesn't fix the problem... what else can it be!
Old 09-05-2010, 12:13 PM
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Sounds like they botched the clutch job maybe. Reputable mechanic? You mean a shop with a lift & great tools or shadetree? When doing a clutch job only a transmission shop or dealer should touch the car. Unless they are YOU or a mazda speciality shop. Otherwise shadetree like leave out part or misalign stuff, get grease on the clutch wheel, fail to check the flywheel etc.
Old 09-05-2010, 03:09 PM
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Originally Posted by VashGS
Sounds like they botched the clutch job maybe. Reputable mechanic? You mean a shop with a lift & great tools or shadetree? When doing a clutch job only a transmission shop or dealer should touch the car. Unless they are YOU or a mazda speciality shop. Otherwise shadetree like leave out part or misalign stuff, get grease on the clutch wheel, fail to check the flywheel etc.
My mechanic might be in his fifties but this japanese guys is the authority in rotary cras. He has his own 20b cosmo sitting in the back so I with positive intent assumed i doubt it could be a bad clutch install.

This problem is so weird I've never experienced anything like it before
Old 09-05-2010, 03:47 PM
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well what did he say about the current issue?
Old 09-05-2010, 07:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Charles R. Hill
Zoom, it might help to make a sticky thread regarding this issue as it is becoming more and more prevalent. Meanwhile, I will call around the clutch industry next week as I have a hunch about something.
the good guy/bad guy thread is right!
mr charles your a hero!
Old 09-05-2010, 07:14 PM
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Originally Posted by zoom44
well what did he say about the current issue?
hes on a honey moon in japan but before he left he said it could possibly be the slave cylinder. I didn't have time to leave the car with ihm since i had to leave for a business trip. =(
Old 09-05-2010, 07:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Charles R. Hill
Meanwhile, I will call around the clutch industry next week as I have a hunch about something.
Care to share what your hunch is?
Is this something I can test out on my end?
Old 09-05-2010, 07:59 PM
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Originally Posted by Charles R. Hill
No, and, no. Sorry, Dude.
Alrighty then... I'll just continue my own troubleshooting until we hear back...
Old 09-06-2010, 08:40 AM
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my hunch is several hunches
1- air in the clutch hydraulics/master cylinder. The slave is in a awkward position and most people do not bleed it. As the car and clutch etc warms up that air expands and causes the hydraulics to change.
2- I have found this also when the lock nut on the clutch adjustment is not properly tighten. Its weird but that engagement variable has happened to me because of that. I dont understand that one but it did happen to me. My symptoms we not as pronounced as what is being said by the op.
OD
Old 09-06-2010, 11:12 PM
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Originally Posted by olddragger
my hunch is several hunches
1- air in the clutch hydraulics/master cylinder. The slave is in a awkward position and most people do not bleed it. As the car and clutch etc warms up that air expands and causes the hydraulics to change.
2- I have found this also when the lock nut on the clutch adjustment is not properly tighten. Its weird but that engagement variable has happened to me because of that. I dont understand that one but it did happen to me. My symptoms we not as pronounced as what is being said by the op.
OD
Thanks man!
Ive tried bleeding the clutch but is that hte same thing as bleeding the master cylinder?
Old 09-06-2010, 11:16 PM
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Originally Posted by tasex
I've tried bleeding the clutch but is that hte same thing as bleeding the master cylinder?
Ummm... no.
The master clutch cylinder doesn't have a bleed valve... only the master brake cylinder.
Obviously, the brake cylinder has nothing to do with the clutch line.
Only way to bleed the clutch is through the slave cylinder.
Old 09-07-2010, 09:24 AM
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uhhhhh---bleeding the master cylinder is always a good idea. Later model rx8's do not have a bleed screw on the master cylinder but the 04 and 05 do.
I know the clutch is a different system--so to speak, but the master cylinder provides fluid to both clutch and brakes. Its simple to do and it never hurts to eliminate all sources of possible air.
OD
Old 09-08-2010, 12:54 AM
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Bled the brakes and master cylinder no luck =(
Old 09-15-2010, 12:04 PM
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Originally Posted by Charles R. Hill
There is a joke about girls in there, somewhere......
Hey mr charles any word? I'm sick of daily driving my Honda
Old 09-15-2010, 07:31 PM
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so I'm taking it this is something specific to a non oem pressure plate?
Old 09-15-2010, 07:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Charles R. Hill
The problem I am dealing with involves lessening pressure plate clamping force as RPMs rise, and it won't be something that is fixed with the tranny still installed. Won't have anything until next week, at the earliest.
Isn't that called "boost"?


Old 09-15-2010, 09:12 PM
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OT request; HITF does this thread end up tagged with "convert" and "Islam"?????

Old 09-17-2010, 08:46 AM
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Originally Posted by Charles R. Hill
I wtf you are talking about.

"involves lessening pressure plate clamping force as RPMs rise"

Add enough boost or nitrous and any clutch will slip.
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