clutch shuddering

[Rocky]

Yeah, its a familiar story. I likewise bought a 19000km '01 model in Sept '04 & reported the clutch shudder to the local dealer who pretended that they had never heard of the problem. The said they would get back to me and never did, although they have the effrontery to keep sending service reminders. I wouldnt get my car serviced there if they did it for free, and I certainly would'nt let these hicks replace my clutch, which is why I put up with the shudder. The whole thing has been very badly handled by Mazda and is serious enough that it should have been the subject of a recall. It reflects very badly on the company in my opinion and will certainly influence any future purchasing decisions.

[Caffeine]

The whole thing has been very badly handled by Mazda

Corrction, the whole thing has been badly handled by some dealers.

Others, including myself, have had no problems getting clutches replaced, even with 100000km on the car.

[Charlie Brown]

Had mine replaced at 11,000 and again 30,000 in my NB8C.
The second occasion the dealer didn't even bother to test drive the car, just booked it in and replaced it.
Rocky don't put up with it get it fixed.

[Garry]

If you're out of warranty and have a lot of km's on your car then I dont think u'll have much luck getting a new clutch seeing as a clutch is a wear item and not generally covered under the warranty.

However, if your car was in the range of VIN numbers deemed by Mazda to be fitted with the faulty clutch plate and you do not have the latest version of the clutch plate (part number ending in D or E, cant remember what they're up to) fitted you might have a chance.

Go and have a chat to your friendly Mazda Service Manager and present your case. You have nothing to loose and you may be lucky. Mazda has been very good with warranty claims relating to the clutch shudder so far.

[ducktape69]

has anyone actually had any luck with getting the faulty clutch changed OUT of warranty by mazda?

if so which dealers?

[suzi]

Hi - this is my first post so please be gentle with me?
I have just purchased my first MX5 - 12/2001 built (1st rego 4/2002) silver with 22750ks on it. It doesn't appear to have had much use or work done on it. I am starting to notice a clutch shudder when the car is cold - is this normal or is it something I should be concerned with?

i am also noticing hot air coming in throughthe vents (no the heater isn't on but the air coming thru the vents is hotter than the outside air.
Any suggestions??

Thanks in advance...

[Garry]

Welcome to the wonderful world of MX5 ownership.

The clutch shudder was a problem with the earlier NB's, 2001-2003ish. Due to changes in Govt legislation banning asbestos from clutch plates Mazda was experimenting with new formulations of friction material with varying degrees of success. It looks like they have finally got the right formulation, just pity it took them so long. Shuddering when cold, especially in reverse was the classic symptom. Eventually the shuddering gets worse until it does it all the time in both directions. The fix depends on what version of the clutch you had. On the very first clutch version (2000-2001) Mazda replaced the clutch and pressure plate and the flywheel was machined. On the later versions only the clutch plate was replaced. Go and talk to your friendly Mazda dealer about it. Depending on the service history, and with such low kilometres they may replace it under warranty. You may have to replicate the problem in front of them first though.

The heat thing is a known issue and has been with the MX5 from the first model in 1989. There's a chance that the heater flap isn't adjusted correctly but it's more likely from the air being heated by the engine as it passes through the ventilation system. I adjusted the heater flap and insulated the top part of the firewall where the windscreen wiper mechanism resides and it has improved things a bit but I still get warmish air through the air vents at anything over around 20deg. You will also notice the footweel heats up a bit from the heat generated by the exhaust and the gearbox. This is normal too.

[suzi]

Thanx Gary
I'm now off to see just how friendly the local Mazda guy is sometime next week. I drive past there everyday so I'll call in one morning on the way to work.
I guess living in sunny QLD I shouldn't bitch about the heat anyway should I?
If thats the worst I have to put up with I can manage.

Apart from that - the car is wonderful & lives up to all expectations -took me 7 months and a trip to Sydney to choose one - drove everyone I know crazy but we got there eventually and now they can understand why I was so particular.

Thanks again.

[ducktape69]

let us all know how you go suzi

[jules]

Yep, and come along on one of our runs.
We did one just yesterday!


Jules

[suzi]

Hi all
Thought I'd better drop in & let you know I haven't solved my problem nor have I been able to call into the dealer yet.
I have spent the last 3 weeks working in Brizzie unexpectedly. Appears I may be staying home for awhile now so hopefully will chat with dealer in next week or so. I have noticed tho the more frequently I drive the car the less the problem so I am still considering the fact that maybe its my driving skills which need attention more than the clutch?
Please let me know when the next run is & i'll see where I'm at. Also have a friend with a (I think maybe) 1990 Eunos who would probably love to come along too.
Will keep you updated...

[Amanda]

Hi Suzi,

My 01 also has the heat issue, Benny told me to actually change the air so it recirculates and not pulls air from outside. Its those little buttons near the heating dial... flick it over to recirculate in the car. Made a big difference to my car.

Now that its getting cold down here I am going to flick it back

Hope my lingo makes sense... someone might be nice enough to post a pic of what I am going on about

[ma64rk]

Go and talk to your friendly Mazda dealer about it. Depending on the service history, and with such low kilometres they may replace it under warranty. You may have to replicate the problem in front of them first though.

Garry, I had a go at this this week and had no success...
I was told by the Dealer that it's not a worn clutch so it ain't their warranty problem, and then told by Mazda Aust that it's out of warranty and probably worn so it's not their problem! Catch 22...
I was offered possible help if I authorised removal and inspection of the clutch at my expense. So for $700 they would maybe possibly if they felt like it help me How dumb do they think I am? I know that I could get it done for less than that and be done with the shudder and any bullshit arguments as well!
Oh well, we all know most guarantees aren't worth the paper they are written on...

[Garry]

Clutches are a hard thing to get replaced under warranty, let alone outside of it. Though I'm surprised Mazda weren't a bit more helpful than that considering the known problem of clutch shudder in MX5's.

I'm guessing that there's no history with Mazda of clutch shudder on your car while it was within the warranty period?

[ma64rk]

I'm guessing that there's no history with Mazda of clutch shudder on your car while it was within the warranty period?

Not sure Garry. I have tried to contact the original owner, but with no success. Mazda deny any clutch shudder problem with 2001 Nb8b's( ) and I do have to wonder how the original owner put up with it, but i've only had it for 5 months and 4000 km; looks like i'm out of luck.