Clutch "knock"

3390 Views 22 Replies 15 Participants Last post by agirltrucker, Jun 4, 2006

Angelqute1

Discussion Starter · Apr 23, 2006 (Edited)

I apologize to everyone for not being around too much. Ever since I got the car, I practically drive til I sleep and work til I drive and then drive til I sleep. That has been the routine.

However, last night, my husband and I both noticed something. We were heading down Ventura Blvd. here in Los Angeles (which is a very busy street) and there was a lot of traffic. I noticed that when I was going very slow (rolling) and in "stop-and-go" traffic, when I put my foot on the clutch, I heard a knocking sound. After dinner, I told my husband to drive and see if he was experiencing the same thing. I wanted him to confirm that I wasn't shifting incorrectly. My last car was also manual, so although I am comfortable with a stick shift, I thought he would just assure me it was the car and NOT me. Low and behold, he too, noticed the "knock".

I called my dealership this morning and left a very detailed message on the service department voicemail. It couldn't have been more than 15 minutes before the guy called me back and alerted me to a recent GM Bulletin that came out stating exactly what my concerns are. Apparently a design flaw, but nothing dangerous or unsafe.

Here's my question. Is it a design flaw that can be corrected? The knock doesn't bother me too much so I was fine letting it go, because I am so happy with the car. But when I told my dad and husband, they said that I should call back and see if it can't be fixed, in case it becomes annoying.

Have any of you experienced this? What were you told? Should I call them back and see if they can fix it or just let it be? Either way, I am very happy to announce that my dealership was very receptive and responsive to my concerns.

Thoughts and suggestions welcome!!!

1 - 20 of 23 Posts

eldeeko

· #2 · Apr 23, 2006 (Edited)

Hi Angelqute1
From my experience with manual transmissions (having blow out more than 10 of them in the past). I would have them fix the problem. A sound such as that is something that isn't meshing properly in the box and possibly a chipped gear (not totally broken, but chipped). On each revolution of the gear it comes to the bad one and there is a knock and the knock varies with the speed you are going. If you are accelerating it increases and the reverse if you are decelerating. I could also be one of the sycromesh rings with a similar problem.
All inside the transmission of course. There are a few other things in the drivetrain that can produce similar symptoms including the rear differential but the sound would be somewhat different.
That's another reason I got the automatic..I can't trust myself not to speed shift (even at my age). That's how I blew my transmissions, I'm sure you weren't doing that with your baby..Ventura Blvd isn't a good place for that anyway (too many signals)
One more thing..It could be the clutch throwout bearing or pressure plate, but those should last a long time.
Not to worry though, it's probably just a screw loose.

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Angelqute1

Discussion Starter · #3 · Apr 23, 2006 (Edited)

Thanks Eldeeko-

After reading your post to my husband, he states that I should have said that the clutch "clunks" when I push the clutch down, not a constant noise that occurs when accelerating or decelerating, only when we push the clutch in at low speeds and in gear. Doesn't happen while pushing the clutch in neutral. He does agree that it might be when the throwout bearing is being engaged.

I will follow up with Saturn on Monday to see what they think.

I do appreciate your feedback. I'm going to near LAX tomorrow, maybe we can do a quickie meet? Dinah's? Let me know.

Skip

· #4 · Apr 23, 2006

Do you have LSD? Not the drug, duh but sometimes the Lsd can make clunk. Skip.....Early to think....:thumbs: :thumbs:

eldeeko

· #5 · Apr 23, 2006

Angelqute1 said:
Thanks Eldeeko-

After reading your post to my husband, he states that I should have said that the clutch "clunks" when I push the clutch down, not a constant noise that occurs when accelerating or decelerating, only when we push the clutch in at low speeds and in gear. Doesn't happen while pushing the clutch in neutral. He does agree that it might be when the throwout bearing is being engaged.

I will follow up with Saturn on Monday to see what they think.

I do appreciate your feedback. I'm going to near LAX tomorrow, maybe we can do a quickie meet? Dinah's? Let me know.

After waking up and re-reading the post I saw the word clutch...dumbie! I had scrolled the topic off of the screen which said "clutch". Sorry for all the verbage. Yes Skip is right, from all the posts I have seen here and on the other forum (solstice). Guess they will make it right after they settle on the least expensive fix. It appearently doesn't cause any harm except the feeling that something is about to break.

Angelqute1

Discussion Starter · #6 · Apr 23, 2006

So what you're saying is that it is fixable????? Should I call?????? When hearing the bulletin read to me, he didn't finish by saying "to fix the problem....". So does anyone know if there's a solution or do I let it go? Now, I'm going to go get my nails done and I will be back later this afternoon.

cerberus

· #7 · Apr 23, 2006

If what you have is "the clunk", there's lots of info about it over on the Solstice side.
Can't speak to it completely, but _if_ that's what you have they're saying it's a feature.
The clunk was described as possible drivetrain lash when shifting at lower rpms from 1st to 2nd.
One remedy mentioned is to shift at higher rpms.
See if it still clunks if you shift around 3500 to 4k rpm.
Yeah, not going to work in stop & go traffic, but may serve as an experiement to see if you've got the same thing.
Think that runs against breakin procedure if you really wind it out, so you may want to wait.
Also, some report that it lessens or in some cases goes away, as you rack up more miles.

Skip

· #8 · Apr 23, 2006

Angelqute1 said:
So what you're saying is that it is fixable????? Should I call?????? When hearing the bulletin read to me, he didn't finish by saying "to fix the problem....". So does anyone know if there's a solution or do I let it go? Now, I'm going to go get my nails done and I will be back later this afternoon.

If you have LSD it is the positraction clutchs in the rearend. They load and unload causing the clunk. The demo I drove had that problem but I shifted at a higher rpm and I did not notice it. Of couse got some stares from my salesman shifting at redline but it felt gooood....Skip... Crank it up baby....:lol: :lol: :lol: Remember the rear end is just about 8" back of your tailbone when you be asittin. That did not come out right Angel but you be aknowin what I meant.

Skip

· #9 · Apr 23, 2006

Angelqute1 said:
So what you're saying is that it is fixable????? Should I call?????? When hearing the bulletin read to me, he didn't finish by saying "to fix the problem....". So does anyone know if there's a solution or do I let it go? Now, I'm going to go get my nails done and I will be back later this afternoon.

To be on the safe side take the service manager out with you driving and show him or her. He is the man or woman that can tell you. Skip...

Angelqute1

Discussion Starter · #10 · Apr 23, 2006

Thanks for the feedback folks!! I do appreciate it!!!

mynewsolstice

· #11 · Apr 23, 2006

from your big brother "the solstice" welcome to the clunk! It is nott quite clear why it happens but it is there GM says it is not a terminal issue and alot of us Sols have it...Try to feather the pedal more and it will go away also shift at higher RPMs 3500-4500 The tranny is off a Chevy COlorado pick-up so....

eldeeko

· #12 · Apr 23, 2006

mynewsolstice said:
from your big brother "the solstice" welcome to the clunk! It is nott quite clear why it happens but it is there GM says it is not a terminal issue and alot of us Sols have it...Try to feather the pedal more and it will go away also shift at higher RPMs 3500-4500 The tranny is off a Chevy COlorado pick-up so....

Just admiring you signature..Great!

mynewsolstice

· #13 · Apr 23, 2006

thank you! It is so true!

TexSon

· #14 · Apr 24, 2006

Okay, I have been lurking, but maybe if I just avoid the Getting Your Sky forum I won't get so p!$$#d off. I saw someone picked up 1313 and 998 is still MIA! :banghead:

This sounded like a place I might be able to add some intelligent input since I have replaced a few clutches.

On a LSD, they load and unload, so will clunck under a load going around corners and under hard acceleration. But usually lock so quickly at a hard start you won't hear the clunck. However you usually hear that more with aftermarket lockers than the Posi (Jeep and 4X4 sites are loaded with information on lockers - the ones I bought to put in my YJ are still sitting on the shelf in the garage).

The noise Angelqute1 is describing sounds like it occurs when the clutch is let in and out at a stop or maybe between gears. That is more likely to be related to the throw out bearing (TOB) or one of the gear sliders. I believe this is a hydraulic clutch, so there is not a linkage as such which puts the noise either at the clutch (and about the only thing there to make a clunck noise is the TOB) or in the transmission itself, either a slider or some detent as the gear is moved on the slider. Since Angelqute1 mention it was moving the clutch and not the shifter, that leads back to the TOB. And until they start whirring like a spaceship, it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

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Fformula88

· #15 · Apr 24, 2006

The clunk issue is one that has long bene known about on Solsticeforum, and it is really not a major concern or problem at all. More or less, it is just an annoyance.

The general consensus is that it has more to do with how the rear differential and carrier are mounted to the car (mounted with bushings) instead of being mounted solidly to the chassis (such as in a Mazda MX-5). The thinking is that these bushings allow a little extra play/movement by the rear diff/carrier which can cause an audable clunk. It has been experienced by owners who have the LSD, and others who do not have LSD. It also is not a universal problem, with many owners reporting that they have not heard any clunks.

As mentioned above, it does seem very senstive to engine RPM which could be one reason why many have never heard it.

At any rate, I would not get too excited about it.

GM is certainly aware of it (as evidenced by the TSB) and I am sure they are working on a remedy for the long term. However, if it is an issue of how the diff/carrier are attached to the chassis, it may take more than just a simple fix to correct the issue (rear diff/carrier/chassis redesign?), That may also mean retrofitting any future fix might not be possible.

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Jayne

· #16 · Apr 24, 2006

Clunk....What Clunk?

Since it's not a worry to those who know....turn up the sound system and forget about it. When they have a fix they'll let you know to bring you baby in. How about some Beatles, Elvis or Siamon & Garfunkle?

WGH

· #17 · Apr 25, 2006

Angelqute1 said:
Thanks Eldeeko-

After reading your post to my husband, he states that I should have said that the clutch "clunks" when I push the clutch down, not a constant noise that occurs when accelerating or decelerating, only when we push the clutch in at low speeds and in gear. Doesn't happen while pushing the clutch in neutral. He does agree that it might be when the throwout bearing is being engaged.

I will follow up with Saturn on Monday to see what they think.

I do appreciate your feedback. I'm going to near LAX tomorrow, maybe we can do a quickie meet? Dinah's? Let me know.

I too have noticed this at first but wanted to wait until I had a few miles on the car before I took it in,just in case anything else developed. I now have about 500-600 miles and have not noticed the sound "clunck". Maybe try driving it for a few more miles but do keep us posted and let us know what the dealerdoes for you

Seagull

· #18 · Apr 25, 2006

Any Problem

Skip said:
To be on the safe side take the service manager out with you driving and show him or her. He is the man or woman that can tell you. Skip...

It is always best to let the service department know if you have any problems, that way they can let the factory know if it is an isolated event or not. If it is not isolated they can issue a recall to repair the problem before it gets bad on any cars. :thumbs:

Magna Sky

· #19 · Apr 25, 2006

I thought I heard noises too!

Thanks for all the info, it cleared up some of my "sound" issues that were making me paranoid!

Stu's Sky

· #20 · Apr 25, 2006

Now that I am reading this, I have the noise too and I have LSD.

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