I just took delivery of my new GT and have put about 200mi on it the past week. I am concerned about the clutch take up and engagement as the driveline shudders as i engae the clutch and it slips. Only happens in 1st gear, and not in reverse or when changing gears. Dealer said it is normal since it is a 2 stage clutch, but then again, how many GT's can he have delivered to be an authority. I have driven a manual all my life by many foreign makes. I just find it hard to roll off smoothly in this car. Can anybody shed any light on this? Otherwise car runs great. If it had more storage, it would be perfect.
New GT owner has question re: Clutch
- Thread starter MIAMI GT7
- Start date
B O N Y
MODERATOR & FGT OWNER
Not normal, dealer is wrong, the hot servicing dealer in South Florida is Marrone (sp) they have techs that post here.
TEXAS GT
2006 Twin Turbo
Did the car have any miles on it when you got it? My clutch was smooth as silk when I bought it but after I smoked the clutch it shuddered too badly to drive. Maybe the dealer had a little too much fun before delivery.
MiamiGT7,
A very, very serious question - and please don't be offended. Are you sure you're starting off in first? Both the physical appearance of the shifter lever along with the torque of the motor, makes 3rd gear starts something that every owner has done at least once - and likely more. Although do-able, it is hard on the clutch AND would be act like what you describe.
A very, very serious question - and please don't be offended. Are you sure you're starting off in first? Both the physical appearance of the shifter lever along with the torque of the motor, makes 3rd gear starts something that every owner has done at least once - and likely more. Although do-able, it is hard on the clutch AND would be act like what you describe.
Thxs for the response. No offense taken. Car had 3.1 miles on it when I picked it up. Im definetly starting off in 1st gear. Question is now, thxs to everyones responses, there is something wrong with the clutch. What to do now? I bought it at Gus Machado Ford. They were extremely nice and eager to please, but obviously do not know the car since they said its normal.
Not that I'd recommend it, but AtomicGT had the same problem (a slight 1st gear shudder) but it was "cured" when he accidentally smoked the clutch (literally) starting in 3rd gear on an incline. Any hint of his first gear shudder is now gone.
That said, and assuming you have the same cause of your shudder, the problem is likely a slightly uneven clutch disk surface. So, maybe you do want to do a 3rd gear start - not to the point of smoking the clutch but enough to let it have to slip. Only do this once or twice and see if it helps. It may cure your problem, and doesn't have much downside as long as you are careful.
That said, and assuming you have the same cause of your shudder, the problem is likely a slightly uneven clutch disk surface. So, maybe you do want to do a 3rd gear start - not to the point of smoking the clutch but enough to let it have to slip. Only do this once or twice and see if it helps. It may cure your problem, and doesn't have much downside as long as you are careful.
Took the car back to the Ford dealer and they had a transmission specialist look at it. Turns out not to be the clutch, but a "idle" problem. Basically the revs drop to low at takeoff. Bringing it back Wednesday for a Ford factory guy to look at it. Thxs for the help everyone. Probabl just needs an electronic adjustment or something, which is much better than a clutch.
glord
GT Owner
Same issues . . .
I have had the same clutch shudder. Intermittant however. I've also had the idle stall problem. While the dealer has told me the clutch shudder is normal, they have worked with Ford to determine that the idle issue is the engine control module. Originally we thought the stalling problem to be the filler neck issue, but it tested OK. So, now an ECM is on the way. Hopefully it addresses both the idle/stalling issue, as well as the shudder issue.
MIAMI GT7 said:
I have had the same clutch shudder. Intermittant however. I've also had the idle stall problem. While the dealer has told me the clutch shudder is normal, they have worked with Ford to determine that the idle issue is the engine control module. Originally we thought the stalling problem to be the filler neck issue, but it tested OK. So, now an ECM is on the way. Hopefully it addresses both the idle/stalling issue, as well as the shudder issue.
Have you been able to solve the idle stall and clutch shudder problem?
My new 06 Heritage also has the shudder and the dealer tech told me it is the only one he has driven with this much shudder. He has driven 6 total and taken out 2 trannys and clutches.
Service Mgr said that Ford probably will not cover the clutch replacement unless they see something very obvious in material defects. $3200 to replace the clutch. Clutch had shudder problem from day one. AND I HAVE NEVER STARTED IN 3RD. 200 miles on car now. Shudder very obvious when starting out on slight uphill grade. Not sure what to do now.
My new 06 Heritage also has the shudder and the dealer tech told me it is the only one he has driven with this much shudder. He has driven 6 total and taken out 2 trannys and clutches.
Service Mgr said that Ford probably will not cover the clutch replacement unless they see something very obvious in material defects. $3200 to replace the clutch. Clutch had shudder problem from day one. AND I HAVE NEVER STARTED IN 3RD. 200 miles on car now. Shudder very obvious when starting out on slight uphill grade. Not sure what to do now.
I still have the shutter too
With almost 1300 miles on the clock there has been no change in my car from day one (1.2 miles on odometer). There are too many of us out there with this problem for it not to be a design defect of some sort. Mine is slight but it bugs me as I have driven too many standard transmission cars , know what I am doing and am convinced it is not normal. Maybe we should take a count of owners with this problem?
With almost 1300 miles on the clock there has been no change in my car from day one (1.2 miles on odometer). There are too many of us out there with this problem for it not to be a design defect of some sort. Mine is slight but it bugs me as I have driven too many standard transmission cars , know what I am doing and am convinced it is not normal. Maybe we should take a count of owners with this problem?
My car is still at the dealer waiting for a Ford SVT guy to check it out cause the dealer is not sure what it is and they dont wanna do any work to the car unless they are certian. They think its a warped flywheel cause the problem is only in 1st gear and not in any other gears or reverse. will know 4 sure by end of this week. Un fortunate 2 have this happen to a brand new car. Ive had mine 2 weeks, half of which has been spent sitting at the dealer. If it is the flywheel, they would have to pull the whole tranny to fix it. Sounds like a big job.
Clutch releaseoint
My clutch does not seem to shudder, but it sure seems to let out late. Almost at the end of the let-up travel as I release the peddle. My new ZO6 is quit different and let's up much sooner.
Does anyone else notice this late release timing/point??? :confused
Thanks, StuM
'06 #411, still under 1k miles.
My clutch does not seem to shudder, but it sure seems to let out late. Almost at the end of the let-up travel as I release the peddle. My new ZO6 is quit different and let's up much sooner.
Does anyone else notice this late release timing/point??? :confused
Thanks, StuM
'06 #411, still under 1k miles.
Rong, count my '06 Heritage as 1 with clutch shudder, chatter. When starting on a slight up hill grade, you can see the pulley of the supercharter jump up and down by at least 1/4 inch. No matter how I try, I can not get a smooth start on a slight grade. I have tried the following to see if I could wear the clutch plates in the opposite direction: In second or third gear, go up to 5k RPM, hold the clutch in, then let it out slowly so the clutch has to drive the engine back up to RPM.Rong said:
Don't know what to do at this point. Don't want to pay Ford $3200 to tear a new car apart.
Dwight
Well-known member
One thing we've come across is that the factory flywheel warps and has some weird issues. One is the clutch will not fully release, which makes it hard to get the car into first or reverse and makes it hard to speed shift also.
