Clutch failure days after clutch and flywheel change
Discussion
Hi all,
First post here. I own a Mazda 3 2.2D skyactiv which I purchased 1.5 years ago and have had problems since having it, I’m slowly getting through them. Had injectors replaced, intake cleaned, new battery and finally I have an issue with the clutch where one day I found the acceleration in first gear went really bad, also struggled to get in 2nd gear which is impossible at low revs, I have to either keep the foot down on clutch or accelerate hard to get it in at any kind of reasonable speed, or I double clutch. Also had same with 5th but to a lesser degree. Both improved once the car warmed up. However when in traffic the acceleration gets really bad in first, I could also feel it slightly in the other gears like the clutch was dragging. Have a whining in gears 1-3 that goes up and down with revs. Third gear acceleration and second gear are fine once into gear. With engine off the shifter works fine and second feels like it used to. This progressed over a year of use which got worse and less intermittent.
Garage diagnosed as clutch and dual mass flywheel and were replaced. It didn’t feel right as soon as I got in it, with more judder in first than before and a groan as I came off the biting point in first gear, however the pick-up and acceleration were better. Clutch felt very soft and vague. As I got the car back home I could hear a throbbing noise with clutch down and reversing into parking space, and once in neutral a knocking sound like a rubber ball bouncing off of two walls very close together. The second gear change had improved but was still there slightly but worse from cold still.
Anyway I thought maybe I was experiencing the brake in period, or just wasn’t used to a new clutch, however, it steadily got worse, the vibration improved (which was initially shaking the whole car), however, the performance in first gear and the second gear change went bad again maybe worse than before. I started noticing when coming up to roundabouts with the foot on the clutch that the clutch was fighting against my brakes trying to pull me out onto the roundabout. Also noticed the car would carry me a considerable way at low speed with clutch down. Another thing which I’m not sure if I’m imaginIng but Im beginning to think I’m right, is that it felt better in wet weather, before and after the change, almost like the moist air is lubricating something. Also feels like the clutch pedal pressure is changing but I have no leaks. At idle I can feel/hear something spinning which is vibrating, kind of feels like I’ve got a small helicopter attached to the underside of my car.
Anyway I took it back to them after three weeks (I’d already phoned after 5 days and they assured me it was the break in period) and they’ve held their hands up that either the part or the work is faulty and they are going to call me once they’ve contacted the supplier.
I also noticed that on the repair sheet they provided, they put 80/90 oil in my gearbox, mine takes 75/80. It doesn’t state whether it’s a gl4 or gl5. I’ve done 1000 miles and it’s been about one month now. How likely is it this has already done damage? Second gear feels much worse now and I almost can’t get it in second without double clutching, however, I’m not sure how much is being caused by the clutch and how much by the gearbox.
Is it likely my second gear synchro is also shot now or is there an issue with the clutch assembly which could resemble. It almost feels like I can’t get enough speed in first to get to second gear, or as if the revs drop too slowly for me to rev match. Could this be caused by a bad/sticking pilot bearing? Downshifting is much easier, although still not great and sometimes get a lurch.
Could it be that because I have the clutch down for longer in first, the clutch is dragging more on the second gear change? Or because of the lack of momentum from a stop, the clutch slipping is preventing me getting to the correct revs to change.
Apologies for the long and poorly grammatical writing, any help any one can provide would be great.
Many thanks
Christian
First post here. I own a Mazda 3 2.2D skyactiv which I purchased 1.5 years ago and have had problems since having it, I’m slowly getting through them. Had injectors replaced, intake cleaned, new battery and finally I have an issue with the clutch where one day I found the acceleration in first gear went really bad, also struggled to get in 2nd gear which is impossible at low revs, I have to either keep the foot down on clutch or accelerate hard to get it in at any kind of reasonable speed, or I double clutch. Also had same with 5th but to a lesser degree. Both improved once the car warmed up. However when in traffic the acceleration gets really bad in first, I could also feel it slightly in the other gears like the clutch was dragging. Have a whining in gears 1-3 that goes up and down with revs. Third gear acceleration and second gear are fine once into gear. With engine off the shifter works fine and second feels like it used to. This progressed over a year of use which got worse and less intermittent.
Garage diagnosed as clutch and dual mass flywheel and were replaced. It didn’t feel right as soon as I got in it, with more judder in first than before and a groan as I came off the biting point in first gear, however the pick-up and acceleration were better. Clutch felt very soft and vague. As I got the car back home I could hear a throbbing noise with clutch down and reversing into parking space, and once in neutral a knocking sound like a rubber ball bouncing off of two walls very close together. The second gear change had improved but was still there slightly but worse from cold still.
Anyway I thought maybe I was experiencing the brake in period, or just wasn’t used to a new clutch, however, it steadily got worse, the vibration improved (which was initially shaking the whole car), however, the performance in first gear and the second gear change went bad again maybe worse than before. I started noticing when coming up to roundabouts with the foot on the clutch that the clutch was fighting against my brakes trying to pull me out onto the roundabout. Also noticed the car would carry me a considerable way at low speed with clutch down. Another thing which I’m not sure if I’m imaginIng but Im beginning to think I’m right, is that it felt better in wet weather, before and after the change, almost like the moist air is lubricating something. Also feels like the clutch pedal pressure is changing but I have no leaks. At idle I can feel/hear something spinning which is vibrating, kind of feels like I’ve got a small helicopter attached to the underside of my car.
Anyway I took it back to them after three weeks (I’d already phoned after 5 days and they assured me it was the break in period) and they’ve held their hands up that either the part or the work is faulty and they are going to call me once they’ve contacted the supplier.
I also noticed that on the repair sheet they provided, they put 80/90 oil in my gearbox, mine takes 75/80. It doesn’t state whether it’s a gl4 or gl5. I’ve done 1000 miles and it’s been about one month now. How likely is it this has already done damage? Second gear feels much worse now and I almost can’t get it in second without double clutching, however, I’m not sure how much is being caused by the clutch and how much by the gearbox.
Is it likely my second gear synchro is also shot now or is there an issue with the clutch assembly which could resemble. It almost feels like I can’t get enough speed in first to get to second gear, or as if the revs drop too slowly for me to rev match. Could this be caused by a bad/sticking pilot bearing? Downshifting is much easier, although still not great and sometimes get a lurch.
Could it be that because I have the clutch down for longer in first, the clutch is dragging more on the second gear change? Or because of the lack of momentum from a stop, the clutch slipping is preventing me getting to the correct revs to change.
Apologies for the long and poorly grammatical writing, any help any one can provide would be great.
Many thanks
Christian
Gear oil being incorrect is unlikely to have caused any real damage, but needs correcting before it does.
This happens sometimes because garages buy in their oils in large quantities & so are sometimes reticent to use the exact oil, they just use what they have already in stock.
When you say there is no performance (at various points in your post) do you mean the car doesn't accelerate but the revs rise when accelerating?
Trouble changing gear could be the slave cylinder not being bled properly, however the noises you describe do not sound good, I would personally recommend taking it back to them now & leaving it with them with a concise list of issues to sort out & not driving it.
This happens sometimes because garages buy in their oils in large quantities & so are sometimes reticent to use the exact oil, they just use what they have already in stock.
When you say there is no performance (at various points in your post) do you mean the car doesn't accelerate but the revs rise when accelerating?
Trouble changing gear could be the slave cylinder not being bled properly, however the noises you describe do not sound good, I would personally recommend taking it back to them now & leaving it with them with a concise list of issues to sort out & not driving it.
Christian89 said:
I’ve had slippage in first where the speed doesn’t increase with the revs,
That is the clutch slippingChristian89 said:
I have this feeling where it bogs down, for example my revs have increased and then I feel a resistance and it’s pulled the revs back down.
That is the slipping clutch then biting again.Gassing Station | Engines & Drivetrain | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff