****clutch is gone**** need serious advice
Think clutch going out before 6k is bad? The clutch on my car went out before the car even had 500 miles. No launching. No agressive driving or track time. Just everyday stuff. No it wasn't 'bad driving' (okay - maybe a little, i let my dad drive it and he hasn't driven a stick in 20 years). Every time the car would park, the clutch would stink really bad, even when we got it out of the dealership. I wanted to doubt the fact that there was something wrong with the 32,000$ car i just bought, but one day the old clutch just gives out and most of the dealerships in the houston area refused to replace it under warranty claiming that i had abused it, and it cost almost 2k(anyone know any good shops around houston?) to do so. I did try pretty much everything i could including threatening to sue and whatnot and they still wouldn't budge, and mitsu corporate even told me the same. The new stock clutch i have now has been abused much, much more and has never smelled or given me any problems after 5000 miles, even after autocross and a few launches. There *has* to be some kind of defect coming straight from the factory clutch with these cars, or the people that drove it before me mistreated it very badly before i bought it with 28 miles on it. Overall it cost all my money for mods to replace a defective clutch =(
My car had 6 miles when new. But i want to know why was it smelling like burning clutch crazy right there when i bought it? Can the techs be abusing it rather doing a proper PDI or PDS??whatever
IS THERE A WAY TO FIND IF CAR WAS LAUNCHED > 6 MILES ON THE ODOMETER?
I'm not so sure what you guys are smoking, but a clutch, especially a new one or one with low miles on it, will not "fry" by a single driver driving it once. If they suck at driving stick, they might glaze the disc over and overheat it, but it will start working again. I had a stock clutch on my GSX and with 300whp, stock whp is 166 by the way, it lasted a full year. Actually it was fine until I got DSMlink and started to launch off a studder box. I too have noticed the clutch smell from my 5 day old X. I have a small feeling that the disc is dragging a tad.
I have some mods but my clutch lasted through 4700 miles with about 20 launches at the strip. Needless to say I was not surprised that it died. But the funny part is it died on a mountain run and not the drag strip....how odd 
I'm putting in an ACT sprung 6 puck and their pro light flywheel....hope it can take the abuse
I'm putting in an ACT sprung 6 puck and their pro light flywheel....hope it can take the abuse
Be careful with a lightened flywheel. The ecu can't always catch idle with a lightened flywheel. It honestly isn't even that necessary unless you have a crazy race car. If you must get one, don't get the lightest available.
16200 miles on mine before it went..ordered the clutch and will be putting in this weekend along with some lowering springs..after reading the forum i dont feel so bad my clutch lasted this long..i guess i got alot of use out of it..
Some of you guys really DRIVE!!! That is crazy mileage for less than a year.
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 791
Likes: 4
From: california, bay area
contrary to what people say, yes, it is very possible to fry a clutch in one day on a turbo car. especially awd. my friend let his girlfriend drive his dsm and she didnt tell him that she holds the clutch in halfway on hills. lol. smoked. 43000 miles on my stock clutch and it will probably go to 100000 no problem. the trick is to feel the engagement before you hit the gas. unless you launch. my 4 runner was the same way. 175000 on the stock clutch. i chalk it up to noob. and yes, the guy who said it may be a rear main could be right also. although you would see oil underneath on the trans/engine. only way to find out is to seprate the trans. may as well put a clutch on at the same time. good luck.
So first off, don't ever go to Max Madsen for anything let alone service. I recommend Grand Mitsu (Bensenville). AMS quoted you $1800 parts and labor? Did you check GRD, P&L, DEVO tuning, etc???
Mine smelled from day 1 and at 5000 miles and about 20 auto x launches it is gone. I drove my VIII much harder and it was fine for 13K. My advice is to just replace it yourself. It isn't hard at all...just time consuming. Take a 3 day weekend and take your time.
If you do not want to replace it with an aftermarket clutch, make the dealer warranty it. If your car is stock and you have 6K miles, they WILL warranty that. Maybe you need to try another dealer. Maybe come over here to Indiana for your service. Ray Skillman in Indianapolis is a good dealer and I'm sure they would be glad to have you as a customer.
If you do not want to replace it with an aftermarket clutch, make the dealer warranty it. If your car is stock and you have 6K miles, they WILL warranty that. Maybe you need to try another dealer. Maybe come over here to Indiana for your service. Ray Skillman in Indianapolis is a good dealer and I'm sure they would be glad to have you as a customer.
Same here, smelled clutch on day 1, car had 34 miles on her, assumed it was break in, but i still smell it every now and again in reverse and some hill starts. 1400 miles so far, only pushed it (130+ mph) a couple times hard, no launches or drag racong.
So first off, don't ever go to Max Madsen for anything let alone service. I recommend Grand Mitsu (Bensenville). AMS quoted you $1800 parts and labor? Did you check GRD, P&L, DEVO tuning, etc???
So first off, don't ever go to Max Madsen for anything let alone service. I recommend Grand Mitsu (Bensenville). AMS quoted you $1800 parts and labor? Did you check GRD, P&L, DEVO tuning, etc???
