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Old 03-07-2000, 09:25 AM   #1
Craig W
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Member#: 643
Join Date: Dec 1999
Chapter/Region: BAIC
Location: Redwood City, CA, USA
Vehicle:
1999 2.5RS
WRX powered

Question Clutch shudder and local dealerships

Well, my '99 RS has the dreaded clutch shudder. I want to know what experiences other RS owners have had w/ bringing this problem to various dealerships here in the Bay Area; Carlson, Stevens Creek, Diablo, anywhere else.

I've gone to Carlson for the basic maintenance and whenever I've brought up smaller issues like the creaking sunroof and whistling rearview mirrors, they always just say they couldn't duplicate the problem.

I want to get this fixed but I don't want to feel like I'm being accused of making this up. Since the shudder is less pronounced after warmed up, I can bet that they'd say they couldn't reproduce the problem.

Have any of you gotten your clutch shudder fixed? Which dealership did you go to? Is there anyone in particular that I should ask for?

I'm planning on printing out all of the past emails I've collected about the clutch shudder issue to show that it is a common problem.

Thanks for your help.
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Old 03-07-2000, 02:58 PM   #2
SFsube
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2002 S54 BMW M-Coupe
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My 99 RS clutch shudders badly too...from 1-2 2-3 especially during warm up...i thought maybe i'd worn out the clutch at track events, but the take up seems fine otherwise....plus, at 1k miles i had a spider gear break, dropping bearing into the diff. ugh

Please post anything helpful!

SF
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Old 03-07-2000, 06:25 PM   #3
1.8L
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Hello,

Umm, err, do you guys read any of: the tech forum here, [email protected], or the STi_Mlist? On all three, I posted not only the history (parts-wise) of the clutch problem for subaru, but I also posted an EXCELLENT place to go.

John at the parts department for Santa Cruz subaru is the one who researched all the part number changes. They were so wonderful and helpful that I suggest that you give them your business. Of course, the service guys might be different (I dunno), but talk first to the parts guys. Tell John you heard he could be helpful on one of the internet impreza clubs. John (parts manager) will probably be really helpful.

Anyway, that's my two cents. Search for my post if you want the correct, current part numbers.

Joel

[This message has been edited by Joel Gat, 1.8L (edited May 23, 2001).]
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Old 03-07-2000, 06:48 PM   #4
Craig W
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Join Date: Dec 1999
Chapter/Region: BAIC
Location: Redwood City, CA, USA
Vehicle:
1999 2.5RS
WRX powered

Post

Hey Joel,

Yes, I did receive and saved your emails about the clutch. That's one of the emails I was going to bring to the dealer when presenting the problem.

I was just hoping that I could have the problem taken care of a little closer to home. I work less than five minutes from Carlson and live about fifteen minutes from StevensCreek. I was hoping someone had dealt w/ one of these dealers so that I could go in armed w/ that info.

Taking time off from work to head out to SantaCruz for a day is a little on the impossible side for me right now.

You're a great source for all info that is Sube-ish. And I've been reading your emails since summer'98 and appreciate all of detailed info.

I didn't mean to come off as the Scoobie-newbie that my bio says I am. BTW, How many damn posts d'ya gotta have before you graduate from Scoobie-Newbie to something else, anyway? I mean, I may not be a "specialist" but I've been visiting this sight, and Checkpoint before that, daily for almost two years. How 'bout "Subeaholic," or "Subaru-Enthusiast."

Anyway, back to the clutch thing...

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Old 03-07-2000, 06:54 PM   #5
SFsube
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Smile

Joel

I read the tech forum here, I was just responding off the cuff, hoping for a summary. What do I need to do to join the lists you describe?

Thanks in advance!

edit:also, craig, can you send the list emails with details to [email protected]?

angus

[This message has been edited by SFsube (edited March 07, 2000).]
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Old 03-07-2000, 06:58 PM   #6
Craig W
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Member#: 643
Join Date: Dec 1999
Chapter/Region: BAIC
Location: Redwood City, CA, USA
Vehicle:
1999 2.5RS
WRX powered

Post

http://www.cs.unlv.edu/~simon/

This is where I joined the email list. Its a cool Sube sight. Lots of info, comparisons, another message board and the email list.

JoeBob says, "Check it out."
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Old 03-07-2000, 07:52 PM   #7
SFsube
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Thanks!!!

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Old 03-07-2000, 10:42 PM   #8
1.8L
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Yeppers, simon's page has the Mlist which is probably the only US based subaru list that's bigger than the i-club - and it might not be bigger any more...

the tech list is at onelist.com. Go there, join subaru-tech, and enjoy a huge, whopping 1 or 2 posts a week. But they're informative

Joel
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Old 03-08-2000, 02:30 PM   #9
bluesaint
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Location: Newark, CA USA
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**I just bought a MY00 from stevens creek and i'll tell you now that they are dicks except for two guys there. One called Farhad (sales guy) and the other one is Mac (General manager of the place) i dealed with those two because when i talked to some of the other guys there they were all pretty stuck up and stuff. Like when i was asking for the model i want he didn't even want me to go in his office cuz he said he didn't want it to be crowded and stuff.. what jerk. but yeah goodluck **

Quote:
Originally posted by Craig W:
Hey Joel,

Yes, I did receive and saved your emails about the clutch. That's one of the emails I was going to bring to the dealer when presenting the problem.

I was just hoping that I could have the problem taken care of a little closer to home. I work less than five minutes from Carlson and live about fifteen minutes from StevensCreek. I was hoping someone had dealt w/ one of these dealers so that I could go in armed w/ that info.

Taking time off from work to head out to SantaCruz for a day is a little on the impossible side for me right now.

You're a great source for all info that is Sube-ish. And I've been reading your emails since summer'98 and appreciate all of detailed info.

I didn't mean to come off as the Scoobie-newbie that my bio says I am. BTW, How many damn posts d'ya gotta have before you graduate from Scoobie-Newbie to something else, anyway? I mean, I may not be a "specialist" but I've been visiting this sight, and Checkpoint before that, daily for almost two years. How 'bout "Subeaholic," or "Subaru-Enthusiast."

Anyway, back to the clutch thing...

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Old 03-08-2000, 07:15 PM   #10
1.8L
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This has come up before on this forum (the Steven's Creek thing). Like I said in that thread, the people there are as dumb as dirt. In fact, inside the showroom, I set off a car alarm and let it ring for about 10 minutes to get someone to help me. No one came in. I felt like taking parts off the cars, I was so pissed. They just ignored me. Every single person there. Eventually, after crawling all around and looking at everything, I left. In about 30-60 minutes, not a single person came by!

Joel
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Old 03-09-2000, 09:01 AM   #11
Craig W
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Join Date: Dec 1999
Chapter/Region: BAIC
Location: Redwood City, CA, USA
Vehicle:
1999 2.5RS
WRX powered

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Yeah, as for Stevens Creek, I'll probably never buy another car there. I did get my RS from them and they did beat Carlson and Diablo as far as price, but the sales-weasle that I was dealinw w/ was enough to ruin the experience w/ them. Its weird that no one approached you. Whenever I've gone, there's usually three or four sales-weasles hovering and smoking outside the showroom, all eyes on you as you pull up and get out of the car. You can watch 'em calling dibs on you as your pulling up.

I've never dealt w/ their service dept though. Their parts guys seemed decent. I just wish they were open on Saturdays and offer pricing like Teagues and Discount Subaru Parts online.

So, as shifty as I felt the sales guy was, I'm hesitant to take my car there for the clutch repair. But if someone has dealt w/ their service dept. and had good experiences, I'd be willing to give 'em a shot.
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Old 03-13-2000, 05:57 PM   #12
AndrewZ
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I've had the same problem with my 99 RS since it was new - sometimes it's so bad the whole car shakes violently and I have to rev to 3500 rpm to get through it - embarrassing, huh?

I bought the car at Carlsen Subaru, but I work in Walnut Creek so I've been talking to Diablo Mazda/Subaru. At first they gave me the runaround, saying the shudder was normal for Subes and they probably couldn't do anything, but I presented Dennis Sweeney, the Service Manager (925) 937-6900 with some info from the internet showing that the problem is common, and that apparently some clutch parts have been revised. They were able to duplicate the shudder after I left it overnight, and have gotten authorization to replace the whole clutch assembly (flywheel, pressure plate, disc) as a "good will" gesture (since they say the problem could be due to wear!).

I'm still waiting for the parts to come in so I don't know yet if this will fix things.

I've gotten the impression that there may have been a problem with the flywheel surface but nobody from Subaru will admit anything outright. I've also heard that the nature of clutch material used causes shudder, but this doesn't seem right to me, especially with the extreme shudder.

I've talked to Carlsen Subaru a couple of times, and they didn't seem to know anything about the problem. I also emailed the headquarters but they would only tell me to bring it to a dealership, and wouldn't acknowledge the problem.

Good luck!
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Old 03-13-2000, 06:04 PM   #13
Craig W
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Member#: 643
Join Date: Dec 1999
Chapter/Region: BAIC
Location: Redwood City, CA, USA
Vehicle:
1999 2.5RS
WRX powered

Talking

Thanks for the info. That's what I've been looking for. I'm gonna add your message to my collection to present when I bring my car in.
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Old 03-14-2000, 02:23 PM   #14
AndrewZ
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Also see "Clutch Info" 3/1 in the Technical Forum for more info on an updated pressure plate - I'm gonna make sure that's what I'm getting!
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Old 03-16-2000, 02:26 PM   #15
christoph1371
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A 98 green rs with 52k with a slight shudder. that's my baby i've had problems with shifting from 9k mi (as noted in the dealers computer) Now, i come in to stevens creek auto imports and start to say hey guys c'mon this problem has never gone away. the tech no sooner sits in the car (not started) and as soon as he puts his left foot down to engage the clutch, he says "ooo that Pplate is wayyyy stiff." He starts the car, then my nightmare begins. "oh looks like you need a new clutch", (rev... rev....) "yup, u need a clutch", he says.
****! why is it they are trying to stiff me? i explain to the service advisor, SAEED MALEKEH, that i've been reading about this Pplate issue with other Subes'. he acknowledged me and stated that he has never seen that problem in an RS. he also stated that other cars REALLY shuddered, unlike mine.
Everyone new there was a definate problem with the car. i agreed to do exploratory surgery at $85 bones an hr. the pacing, the hours of questions and the restless night of sleep. OOOoohh the agony.
Ring Ring... "hello, Saeed. what? i'm going to have to pay for a new clutch? (bastards) how much??? 100 bucks!? wha?"
the nightmare ends. the surgery was a success. it turns out that a small aluminum bit, where the thow-out bearing rides on (the snout), seams to be wearing unevenly. that little bit, covered under my powertrain warranty, gets me (drum roll please) a complete new tranny!
u got it new new new. a FW, syncro, Pplate and clutch and all the other little stuff. this will all be housed in the old caseing (is that bad?). 100 duckets for the clutch, Sure! i'd love to my baby at 52K gets some new life not bad for 100 dollars eh?
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Old 03-16-2000, 02:59 PM   #16
Imprezer
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Black

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christoph1371, were you at the Las Vegas SEMA Show trip?
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