[05yellowd20]

Ok so i've been dealing with this for a while. I'm not sure it's actually a problem or if it's just simply the way our clutches are.

After sitting for a long while my clutch seems VERY grabby untill it's warmed up. It makes pulling out and shifting (up till 3rd gear) VERY difficult. Most cars i've driven with stock clutches have a small warm up period but this seems like it is much more than that. Almost feels like a stg2 clutch before it's warmed up fully. I know that the trans fluid makes it harder to shift when it's extremely cold out but again this feels like the clutch just wants to grab no matter how slow i let it out. It does do it MORE when i'm parked at home but i think that may be due to the fact that i live on a dirt road and i think that dust is settling in and once it's "blown out" it seems better. After being parked anywhere else it is still noticable however. Any ideas? Or is this just normal duratec.

 

[arlenn]

has your hydro system maybe taken on some air? which is not good, they are not supposed to do this. does it feel like the clutch is maybe not releasing?

i have had the symptom after a very long sustained (no shifting) highway drive, often wet, the clutch is heavy for first 1-2-3 presses.

 

[05yellowd20]

The pedal doesn't seem any stiffer or anything like that. And it's definately releasing. The clutch engages in the same spot every time... about 1-2 inches from the top of the pedal is where it fully engages. Starts to engage about 1/2 inch off the floor. So the pedal travel is good. It just seems like it's a lot more grabby when it's cold... like ALOT.

No air in the lines that i can forsee. haven't cracked any lines open since i've owned the car. and no leaks.

 

[arlenn]

over time, esp with the master, due to the wear of the seals air is introduced into the system. it will feel normalish at the pedal when there is only a small amount of air but will not completely release the clutch.

 

[05yellowd20]

so bleed it and all should be well?

 

[arlenn]

its something to try... but if there is air its likely and indication of pending failure. most probably the master clutch cylinder

 

[05yellowd20]

its been like this for almost a year. Its just worse since i now live on a dirt road.