So ever since I bought my GXL back in August, I've had clutch shudder/chatter problems whenever the car gets relatively warm.

The clutch is supposedly pretty new (5 years, 6,000 miles), and was replaced when the engine was replaced.

Now, I originally thought that maybe the cause were the hydraulics, since it only happened when warm.

Check the master cylinder, and low and behold, it's damn near empty...and dirty. Bleed all clutch fluid, air comes out, fluid goes in, good things. The shudder seemed gone for the most part.

Then it slowly came back and got a little worse over the next week.

So, I think maybe it's oil. I pull the ebrake up, put the car in second, and burn the crap out of the clutch. Woohoo, shudder is gone again.

But of course, it's back now.

So I can only assume that there's some sort of leak in the tranny (I have to hope the engine isn't leaking, since it's 5 years, 6,000 miles new).

Does anyone have experience with this? Do I have any hopes of fixing this without having to replace the tranny altogether?

As an aside, when I replaced the tranny oil about 2,000 miles ago, it was about a quart low...

 

Take your time and fix things that are broke. you should not need a whole new tranny. If your clutch slave OR line is leaking, replace both at once, they usually go out near the same time. Look under your car for leaks. tranny lube has a distinct smell. You will know if your front eal is blown. If the clutch has been soaked, it will alwasy shutter untill replaced. They can absord alot. Fix the leaks first then think about replacing the clutch.

 

Ok, so I can replace seals and that could possibly fix it? I'm guessing I'll have to drop the tranny out to do that...ugh, middle of winter, not a good time for this to happen

But I did smell burning oil yesterday after commuting home, so I'm pretty sure this is what's going on

 

before you drop anything, figure out exactly what is leaking.

 

well yeah... As I said, I'm quite confident it's the oil. I've checked the hydraulic fluid a month after bleeding the system, and it was still full...

Plus, that overbearing smell of burning oil yesterday...it's kinda making me lean towards the seal... Ugh. Thanks for your help

 

no problem...