Sticky Clutch

First-time post - be gentle!

My 1998 Outback Wagon Limited (manual) has about 103,000 miles. I have been hugely satisfied with the car and intend to buy another when the time comes. Recently, however, the clutch pedal has begun to "stick" down after changing gear and sometimes needs to be lifted up (with a "clunk") by my foot underneath. This seems to happen most in hot, stop-and-go traffic; on the highway there is no problem. Starting from cold and driving around town for short journeys is also no problem.

A little history: after about 30,000 miles, the clutch began to "squeak", or "chirp", occasionally when it was pressed. I took it to the dealer from whom I purchased the car (new) and their service department said that it was nothing to worry about - I should just wait until the clutch needed replacing.

My question is: has the time come to replace the clutch? If so, about how much should I expect to pay (parts and service) for a competent dealer to do this work? I live in the Northeast US. Also, are there any other routine engine maintenance tasks that would be advisable to schedule at this time? I intend to keep the car for at least another couple of years (~40-50,000 miles).

Thanks in advance for your suggestions and advice. Rowan

Reply to
Rowan Malin
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I'd say so. From what I read, most clutches wear out by 100 Kmi. In my car the same symptoms came about at only 60 Kmi and and then it eventually failed in the middle of the heavy traffic. Personally, I prefer to pay extra just to avoid such most inconvenient things.

I paid something around $550 (parts and labor disributed about equally IIRC). The dealer is the only time in own and not terribly competent.

DK

Reply to
D.K.

Thanks for the reply, DK. That's pretty much what I expected. It's great to have some good feedback from knowledgeable people. If you don't mind me asking, how many miles have you got on your car now (assuming you still have it)? Also, would you recommend taking it to a Subaru dealership who I don't really trust and are 65 miles away, or could this (clutch-replacement) be done by my local "foreign-car" specialist?

Anyone else with any experience of this clutch issue?

Sorry for all the questions.

Cheers, Rowan

Reply to
Rowan Malin

I am far from being knowledgable! (Although I make a point trying to understand things when I come accross them, I generally have no clue about car repairs). Just my experience.

Right now my Impreza has 75K on it. Before the clutch failed, the car has been driven by my wife. Whether she did not do great job shifting or we were not too lucky to have it failed at 60K, I don't know.

No complaints from me, for this and now an $300 half-shaft assembly were the only repairs the car has seen in 9 years of [ab]using it in Midwestern winters.

Personally, I would never go 65 miles to see a dealer unless I must. My feeling is that replacing clutch is not a rocket science - anyone who cares about his job and 1) has proper manuals and 2) has done it on that particular make/model will be able to do it.

Good luck,

DK

Reply to
D.K.

Ignorant question here - is it a hydraulic or cable clutch?

I thought I had a clutch at the end of it's life (160K+ km) once that turned out to simply be a $50 cable that was starting to stick.

Reply to
Cam Penner

Sounds like the clutch disk, flywheel, and pressure palte are OK, but something on the throw mechanism (throwout bearing not smoothly sliding on shaft, cable or hydraulic cylinders as the case may be) is binding and/or the diaphragm springs are weak.

Unless it is the hydraulics or cable binding (i.e., things that are externally accessible), ya gotta go in for a clutch job.

Bill Putney (to reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my address with "x")

Reply to
Bill Putney

I had a similar problem at about 95000 kms. I have a 98 Liberty\Legacy with a hydraulic clutch. It only got stuck when holding down the clutch at lights.

Found the problem to be a small pin hole in the flexable hose from the firwall to the slave cylinder. I found this was the cause becase the i noticed the clutch fluid going down and i started looking for leaks. Hose was about $40 australian and took about 20 mins to replace by my brother who is a mechanic.

Hope that this is all it is for you

Jeff

Reply to
Subie25L

All depends on the type of driving and how one uses the clutch. If you treat a clutch like a switch - either on or off it should last a long time. Sometimes people use them for a hill holder and that really shortens the life.

Reply to
Ed Fortmiller

I've got an 02 Outback with 60 K on the clock. I've got exactly the same problem you describe. Its going to be fixed under warranty. Replacement of the slave cylinder will occur. I was told this is a known issue and the SC has been modified since I bought my vehicle specifically to fix this type of problem. I trust what the dealer says as they seem to be no bullshit type of people and they have fixed other items under warranty even though I didn't buy the vehicle from them.

Reply to
Anonymous

Thanks, Anonymous, and to everyone else who replied.

I plan on taking it to a couple of local "foreign" car repair places, and to the original Subaru dealer for evaluation and estimates. I'll report back here with the details. Should be interesting, given the number of different opinions as to what could be wrong.

Thanks again, Rowan

Reply to
Rowan Malin

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