Clutch Grinding

[colinchrisc]

Maybe I'm just getting paranoid now, but when I'm releasing the clutch while pressing on the gas, I hear and feel a grinding sound. Is this normal? I've noticed that it happens when I leave the clutch in for a little bit too long. I know I'm not supposed to do this but is there supposed to be a grinding motion/sound?

[colinchrisc]

Maybe I'm just getting paranoid now, but when I'm releasing the clutch while pressing on the gas, I hear and feel a grinding sound. Is this normal? I've noticed that it happens when I leave the clutch in for a little bit too long. I know I'm not supposed to do this but is there supposed to be a grinding motion/sound?

After searching I've found a number of people are experiencing the same thing they're referring to as vibrating or chatter but don't really have a solution.

[casperwonder]

Hi Colin, aren't you bring your ride to the dealership for the transimittion problem? You can have them look at your clutch as well.

[colinchrisc]

Hi Colin, aren't you bring your ride to the dealership for the transimittion problem? You can have them look at your clutch as well.

I did bring it in to the dealership and they said the gear shifting problem I was having was apparently a safety feature.
Regarding this clutch vibration/chatter issue, they said I'm releasing the clutch too slowly. Seems strange because this has never happened to me on any other standard car...

[casperwonder]

Colin, which dealer did you go to?

[colinchrisc]

Colin, which dealer did you go to?

Mazda of Toronto, why?

[em3]

I notice that our mazdas have a weird clutch feel, its hard to explain. But all the other brands I have driven feels better. you might have to live with it :(

[casperwonder]

you might want to try a different dealership like agincourt mazda or Oakville Mazda for 2nd opinion.

[colinchrisc]

I notice that our mazdas have a weird clutch feel, its hard to explain. But all the other brands I have driven feels better. you might have to live with it :(

Well I've changed how I disengaged the clutch and its fine now. I find that for my M3 I need to disengage the clutch more before applying the gas. Normally with my Civic i would disengage about 25% of the clutch before applying gas but with my M3 I find I have to apply the gas after about 40% of the clutch disengaged. Try it for yourself (if you already haven't). I'm already getting used to it.

[casperwonder]

Great, problem solve.

[Donutz]

It is hard to do given your experience, but don't try to drive your 3 to like you did your civic. They are completely different. For example, after I drive my bro's DC5 I have to get used to my 3 again. All aspects of shifting are different between the two cars; clutch engagement point; clutch feel; shifter feel; tq curve; etc.

[civuck]

Maybe I'm just getting paranoid now, but when I'm releasing the clutch while pressing on the gas, I hear and feel a grinding sound. Is this normal? I've noticed that it happens when I leave the clutch in for a little bit too long. I know I'm not supposed to do this but is there supposed to be a grinding motion/sound?Yah - I just got a 2010 GT-E and was noticing the same thing. Will have to work on my shifting method as you did.

[blankets3]

apparently my clutch is EXTREMELY stiff.. every other manual car ive been in it feels like the clutch is broken beacause of how stiff mine is... been like that since i got never worried about it

[2010M3Owner]

Noticed similar issues when I first got my 2010. I went from an 07 Focus to the 3 and the clutch feel is completely different. Had the same problems with the chatter. It is simply getting used to the different clutch characteristics. The feel is even different between different models of 3. My wife drives an 04, and my clutch is very different from hers as well. When I switch between the two, it takes a bit to get used to each.

[grex]

apparently my clutch is EXTREMELY stiff.. every other manual car ive been in it feels like the clutch is broken beacause of how stiff mine is... been like that since i got never worried about it

im surprised..when I got into my car I thought the clutch wasn't too bad..I drove a friends volvo and his pedal was stiff and was really annoying...my 3 felt so soft.

[koorick]

im surprised..when I got into my car I thought the clutch wasn't too bad..I drove a friends volvo and his pedal was stiff and was really annoying...my 3 felt so soft.

Can't agree better

[grex]

well im no expert so hopefully that doesn't mean something is wrong with it lol

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

well im no expert so hopefully that doesn't mean something is wrong with it lol

Nope. A light, easy clutch is a good thing. When the clutch pedal starts requiring more force to push down, it means the clutch is wearing down and on its way out. The 3, especially the 2008 and beyond, have a very, very light clutch pedal feel.

[MistaChin]

I just recently started feeling a grinding/chatter in my clutch pedal and it's really annoying considering it was never like that before. Should I take it in to have it looked at or would that be a waste of time?

[colinchrisc]

I just recently started feeling a grinding/chatter in my clutch pedal and it's really annoying considering it was never like that before. Should I take it in to have it looked at or would that be a waste of time?

Does it grind while releasing the clutching and applying the gas?
I've had this problem ever since I bought my 3 in December. I'm used to the Civic gear box so maybe it's significantly different for the Mazda. I noticed that I had to first let out the clutch more than I would normally in order to avoid the grinding/chatter. How long have you had your 3?

[MistaChin]

I've had my 3 since November 2008 and just this week it started happening.

It grinds/chatters while pushing in the clutch as well as letting it out. Just weird how it just started happening all of a sudden. The past year my clutch was smooth as butter. I think i'm going to take it in since I am still under warranty.

[taz4432]

I've had my 3 since November 2008 and just this week it started happening.

It grinds/chatters while pushing in the clutch as well as letting it out. Just weird how it just started happening all of a sudden. The past year my clutch was smooth as butter. I think i'm going to take it in since I am still under warranty.

Clutch won't be covered unless you can somehow prove there was a manufacturer defect. It's a wear & tear part so you're generally s.o.l. when it comes to stuff like the clutch, brakes (rotors/pads) etc.

[MistaChin]

Clutch won't be covered unless you can somehow prove there was a manufacturer defect. It's a wear & tear part so you're generally s.o.l. when it comes to stuff like the clutch, brakes (rotors/pads) etc.

Agreed. If it was the disc / flywheel then for sure it won't be covered. However, if this was the clutch pedal assembly or something that needed lubricating then they would do it, no?

[civuck]

Does it grind while releasing the clutching and applying the gas?
I've had this problem ever since I bought my 3 in December. I'm used to the Civic gear box so maybe it's significantly different for the Mazda. I noticed that I had to first let out the clutch more than I would normally in order to avoid the grinding/chatter. How long have you had your 3?Well my 2010 Mazda3 GT is still suffering from this. As described above, it's a grinding, rubbing, metal on metal sound that is very noticeable. My wife even said - as a passenger - that it "didn't sound right" as it is quite audible too. It seems to occur only when letting the clutch out in first gear and is inconsistent in feel - sometimes not very noticeable, other times very.

I noticed it way back during my test drive in November '09 and thought it just needed a break-in period. But after nearly 5000km now, it's exactly the same. I think I'm going to take it to the dealer this weekend - I've heard from too many other owners in different forums commenting.

Out of curiosity, what revs do you generally hold at when letting the clutch out in first gear?

[civuck]

The April 2010 Car & Driver magazine had this clutch comment about the 2010 Mazda3...

http://i.imgur.com/VuAG2.jpg

[r4BBiT]

I've noticed that lately that too. I mis-shifted and grinded 3rd gear like 3 times last week, all because I let go of the clutch too fast before the tranny pops into the gear. I'm really considering TWM short shifter to get rid of this issue.