Clutch Chatter.
 

OKAY here goes,

Anyone out there still have any problems with clutch chatter (aka clutch stutter)?
This is where you feel a violent chattering/skipping/stuttering when rolling away from a stop, usually when it is a little bit cold outside. (Trust me this is not a driver's error) I remember talking about it with a few guys a couple of years ago on the board and I was wondering if anyone still has the same problem that I have.

The reason I am still dealing with it is due to the fact that I took my ' 02 p5 in about a year and a half ago to Roto Mazda in IL, and they told me that the clutch chatter that I had just started experiencing was due to a defective factory flywheel. They also told me that they had heard of similar problems with other pro's and even some imprezas.

Anyways, they told me that they would replace my clutch and flywheel under my clutch warantee...but there was a catch. You see the Mazda clutch warantee only covers to 12,000 miles...and I was quickly rolling past 24,000 miles at that point. So basically they told me that it would cost me around $1800 for a new clutch, flywheel, and labor, and that Mazda would NOT cover it. After picking my jaw up off the floor, I left the dealership a little bit unhappy. :fu: After that I figured I would just bite my tongue and deal with the occasional chatter and wait untill I needed to replace the clutch in the future, and then take care of the flywheel and all.

So now that you know my story...is anyone just starting to or still dealing with this pesky problem? I would like to know how others handled it...I know there are many of you out there that had the same problem that I had.

Thanks for the info...sorry my thread is so long!

-Brad.

I also have the Clutch chatter but it only happens when the car is cold and has not warmed up....it has nothing to do with the outside temperature but the engine temp (for some odd reason).

If you're wanting to fix this permanently and gain a little in the process I suggest you check out SRmotorsports for their 15lb flywheel and then whoever can get you a nice aftermarket clutch. Don't put that weak stock crap back in. I saw the 15lb flywheel (3lbs lighter than stock) for $145.

That is exactly what I was planning on doing when I am replacing my clutch. I was looking at a 15lb flywheel a while ago, but I forget the brand name. I definetly will not replace the stocker with another OEM part.

Yeah I have exactly that problem that you described and yeah it sucks. I am rolling over 43,000 miles right now and it has gotten a little worse since it started at around 23,000 miles.

Thanks for the imput, Brad.

Anyone else still have this problem?

http://web2.airmail.net/theman/prote...000003848.html

Sound like you?
When unhappy with the BS answer you get in a local service department, call Mazda directly. They will help you out. I've had a "discussion" with a service rep.
Called Mazda and they said I was right and told me to go back and they would clear up the problem before I ever got there. And they did. Service manager apologized and made excuses for the service rep (who was never seen again in subsequent visits)

I tried this prior to ANY mods on my vehicle and they told me it didn't apply to me because I had an 03 P5 and the TSB only indicated it was for an 02. I have just had to accept that fact that no warranty is good until you actually get your car fixed for free....which will never happen with me!

So those terms state that I can have my clutch and flywheel replaced under factory recall or what? I am a little bit confused...and shocked. If this is possible, please tell me more, I would LOVE to get rid of this pesky problem.

Thank you VERY much, Brad.

A TSB is a RECCOMENDED dealer fix. They are problems that Mazda corporate acknowledges and advise dealers to fix. They do not however HAVE to do anything.

I would print off the TSB info take your car to the dealership, point out the problem and the TSB and ask them when you can pick the car back up. If they give you any lip drop your pants and take a huge dump on their service floor. Go to the next dealership and repeat the process.

Remember the dealership is there to earn your business AFTER the sale also. Don't be afraid to fight for what you're paying for.

I see, I will give that a try (minus the crapping on the floor part) and let you know what happens. I really hope they arent a-holes about this.

Thanks again, Brad.

I took a metal baseball bat into my dealership when my msp blew....maybe thats why I was escorted away by police....

I think pooping would've been better in hindsight.

i use the jdm flywheel (15lb) with a stock clutch, it works great

how much (if any) improvement did you feel with the 15lb flywheel? is it worth the $145 investment or should I just save up for the 8lb-er??

it was pretty hard to tell the diff. , i did a few other things at the same time, it is better for drag racing than the 8lb

My '02 P5 does it. I'm at 47k miles and plan to take it in for other minor warranty work and talk to them about it then. I accidentally cleared out my favorites folder with the URL to the TSB. I can search it out unless someone is kind enough to drop it in a quick reply.

I'll let y'all know what happens when I tell them to replace the clutch. I guess the flywheel and pressure plate are involved too.

What do you think...?
 

Hi, I have a 2001 LX (2.0L) and I experience exactly what is described here. I did not bother for the last 3 years because it went away quickly. But it is getting worse since 4-5 months.

Today I called the local dealer here in montreal (mazda 2-20) and left a message. After 5 hours I called back since I diden't get any news. I talked to the first guy I told me there was nothing on bad cluches on proteges. I asked him to check the TSBs just to make sure, he told me there was nothing on this subject (in about 5 seconds). I asked him if he knew them all on the top of his head and told me yeah!

Then, I got put on hold and another adviser took the call. This second guy was calm and seemed a bit more cooperative... But he told me he could not check the TSB because it is only the technicians who have it and it could take hours to find because it is a big book with all the models on the last 10 years (this stuff is not on computer??? It is not classified by vehicule???). He never heard of a cluch chatter problem on any proteges. He suggested me to call mazda canada, they might know.

The guy at mazda canada was really nice and told me he had heard of this. He also told me the name of the guy at my local dealer who is supposed to know these things. But he also said he had no access to the TSB so he could not give me a number and confirmed that the US TSB # is not the same one as the canadian TSB#. Also, he explained that it would be hard to get it fixed since my car is 3 years and 2 months and 86000km.

After another aswering machine game I talked to this person at my dealership. He told me there was no TSB about this (again without checking) but he knew this problem. He said it could be grease from the center bearing that splashed on the flywheel or a "blue spot". In any case, I would have to bring the car, they would have to re-produce the problem, take the thing apart and check. If it is the center bearing grease, maybe mazda would cover (maybe). If it is a blue spot, well, the entire job was on me (4.5 hours...)

Also, both guys at the dealership explained that the flywheel is not a part of the drive train (5 years waranty), it is part of the clutch (3 years). How can a solid metal part that nearly does not wear and sits between the transmission and the engine not be part of the engine/transmission waranty...

Anyways, I'm pretty digusted, specially since I did not even change the cluch once on my old car (380 000 km '87 jetta) even after 25 000 km of towing a 15' trailer.

So, what do you guys thing and/or recommend?

Thanks

^