Help me out here.

2013 GT, less than two years since manufacture. Clutch pedal is very stiff, and the engagement point is very low all a sudden and it's very hard to shift into gear. With the car not running, shifting from gear to gear is as effortless as the notchy MT-82 will allow. While running I have to try with all my effort to get it into first, and each subsequent gear.

I didn't notice it earlier when I drove the car, but the wife noticed it while grocery shopping and I was going to go for a drive this evening, but when I noticed this decided to not risk any issue.

The car rolled over 36,000 just today. as it sits, it has 36,036 on it. Thankfully the warranty is to 60k. Transmission is stock, down to the shifter.

HELP. before I take it in.

 

low engagement tells me the clutch disc is fried..hard shifting i cant comment

 

probably not the xmission, sounds like the clutch. May have burned it out. Do you ride it a lot?

 

I wouldn't say so. The factory clutch was still in my GTO at 7 years and 85k before I sold it, that was the car before the Mustang.

It has always been hard to shift into gear, and has grinded more times than I can count, whereas I might have ground gears on my old GTO a handful of times, and it was 3-4 shifts around town in the dead of winter with a cold trans.

I have never had what you'd say an "impressive" experience with the MT-82.

 

Hopefully Deysha sees this and chimes in so we know that it's handled properly with as little run-around as possible.

Funny, we were going to take it in soon anyway. The passenger pony projection light went out and there was a TPMS sensor failure a week ago.

 

Sounds like the pressure plate to me since you say the pedal is very stiff.

 

Hi Smurf 302,

Welcome to the forum! I’m not a technician or an engineer, so I can’t advise on the concern you’re experiencing with your vehicle. You should have it checked out at your dealer. Your service manager is in the best position to look into this for you and can check into any warranty, assistance, recalls, or customer satisfaction programs that may apply to your vehicle.

Also, remember most repairs done at a Ford Dealer come with a 24 months/unlimited miles warranty. You can schedule an appointment online here.

Deysha

 

I wouldn't take anything to the dealer for a non-warranty repair, way too expensive.

 

She's at the dealership now. Thanks, Deysha.

 

No problem, Smurf 302.

Deysha

 

Well now I'm worried.

One service adviser called me today and said that my car has been torn apart and they have verified that my clutch is worn out.

I found this curious as the last manual cars my wife and I have had went the entire time they were in our ownership on the original clutches. Given the fact that the clutch is holding strong, but is very hard to shift into gear, and the clutch has to be pumped up to provide enough let up on pressure for me to shift, I suspected the slave or pilot bearing freezing. I mean, I'm having to build up pressure, and shifts have forever been majorly notchy, like there's rocks in there.

So I called the dealership back to talk to the adviser, and got another one that was familiar with my car and told me that my car HAD NOT been taken apart like the other adviser stated, and that they couldn't find any obvious issues, so they're going to have to take the car apart to find out what's wrong. So my car hasn't been taken apart at all.

I had two totally different stories from two advisers, one telling me a new clutch is going to be $2700 all said and done. I feel this is the dealership possibly ramping up to take advantage of a girl who they don't realize probably knows just as much as her mechanics.

Nothing sounds right. Dealership is Koon's Ford in Silver Spring, MD. I know Deysha is good at wrangling people.

Thanks,

Danielle.

 

Hmmm. Ok so first let's break down the "clutch" into pressure plate and disk. Of course there are other pieces, forks, bearings etc. But it's possible when the advisor says "clutch" he is referring to one or more pieces that may or may not be the disk itself.

Now on to my thoughts. If it's hard to shift but smooth when the car is off that is plain and simple. The disk isn't fully disengaging from the flywheel. This could be pressure plate, but I don't think it is. Could be the disk but I think there is enough proof of your exp to be confident that you didn't fry your clutch disk in 36k.

You said engagement is low and stiff (oh, it would be easy here). That could be clutch master cylinder or maybe even simpler, low fluid. But I don't see that failing in 36k not do I see fluid being low.

So what would cause these symptoms, easily go out unannounced, and have nothing to do with your driving habits? Throw out bearing.

I'd also bet that the reality of your cars status is somewhere in the middle, a tech probably told the advisor he thinks it's the clutch. Maybe it wasn't apart when the one guy saw it last but now it's in some pieces. Advisors most of the time are idiots. I'd go see it tomorrow.

 

If you want Smurf I can look up book time for you at work tomorrow? Then you could request a exact parts total. Would allow you to calculate approximate labor hours being charged. Then you will know if it is a fair price...

 

It should only cost if it's the actual disk no? The other pieces I don't think are wear and tear. Again that darn word clutch and what that really is vs how it's used can lead to people getting screwed.

Either way Danielle, if they conclude that there will be a charge to replace it, take the car and go aftermarket. A new clutch assembly and install shouldn't cost more than $1k. I'm basing that off of the whole assembly (disk, plate and bearing) and install which is usually around $400. I'm pretty sure the dealer would want to charge you more than this. Don't forget to have the flywheel resurfaced if you don't do new.

 

i was told to even start, even if i leave the shop I'm getting nailed for 4 hours of diagnosis time which is $500

 

Heeeeyyy!!! It is you, Danielle!

Definitely keep me posted and let me know if you’d like this documented as well.

Deysha

 

Wow.

 

Even though it's under warranty they said that? I'd understand them saying that IF it was something not covered, then they would charge. But to automatically say there will be one sounds like they are determined to make sure it's not covered.

 

It was more of a warning that if it was something not covered. But four hours? Takes a whole 5 min to test and even toss it on a lift and look for obvious leaks.

 

Challenge them on that then. I'm still putting money on throw out bearing.