Well for the 2nd time in as many years my C5 is in the shop to have the clutch replaced because of the lazy clutch pedal problem. :rolleyes: Had to take it in now as I'm at 35,430 miles (1st clutch replaced at 20K miles) and with a trip to Houston planned this week I'd be out of my factory warranty by the time I got back. Figure I'd do it now and save the $200 deductible on my extended warranty. :D

Back in May of this year I had the Master/Slave cylinders replaced along with the Throw-out bearing and that did NOT rectify the problem. So I am giving my tech a printout from the Forum which discusses the fact that he MUST call GM Tech Assistance to get the skinny on what needs to be done. I also am requesting a 2002 Z06 Clutch be installed.

I'll let you know what comes of the visit, hopefully A good solid clutch that works like it should. As it is now one ¼ mile run would be all the car could take and even that would have the clutch pedal staying on the floor. UGH!

 

Hey, Tormania! Read my Smoked Clutch post. I think my car will be undergoing a similar operation soon. :cry :D

 

Craig,
Wow, PLEASE e-mail me a response to this. I had my stock clutch go at 22,000 miles and GM did not pick up the bill despite the fact that I had only worn 30% of it down and the collar around the spring pack let go. I have had these problems with the sticking and slow clutch and complained about it only to be told that there is nothing they can do for it. I got stuck with an $1100 bill last Fall for the clutch and the work to replace it. So now that I hear they are taking care of it for someone else I am VERY curious to find out more.

Did you have any troubles getting the dealership to handle it? At the time I thought "a busted clutch is a busted clutch" and a wearable part not covered by warranty so I paid. But once I found out it was a defect I wanted it to be covered by the warranty. They won't do it because I didn't have them "diagnose" what was broken on the car.........

So if you could fill me in on all your dealings with your local dealership and/or GM over this I would be VERY curious. Thanks!

 

Brett, did you pay $1100 only to end up with a new stock clutch? If so, why not go with a Cartek or Ram aftermarket clutch? Just curious, because I may have to get a new one sooner than I would like to.

 

Actually, I had ordered a SPEC Stage 3 ceramic and only then found out that the dealer would not install them. Only one place in the state that I trust, Corvette Center run by Ray Zisa, and they would charge more for labor (not a big deal) but I would have had to wait another 5 weeks for them to do it.

The C5 has been my daily since I bought it with exception of when it is broken + in the shop or when there is salt on the ground. I don't care about rain or snow or ice, but with the black car I've always avoided the salt.

I did get the '01 ZO6 clutch at the time. They termed this an "owner modification". So watch out wherever you go for yours.

In the end the Zo6 clutch (which is, or was at the time, the new standard clutch for all LS1 C5s and F-bodies) cost me ~ $1100 total and that was with the clutch costing about $300. The SPEC stage 3 piece would have run me about $1600. Not a big jump for night and day difference in durability.

But I have never planned to mod my C5 beyond an air filter and a cat-back, so I really don't have the need for the SPEC clutch. And in my case, timeliness was the most important factor of the repair/replacement.

I hope this helps you in some way. Good luck with yours.
Brett

 

I should note that when I say the SPEC would be $1600, that amount is the purchase price and labor fees included against the $1100 for the GM parts and labor.

 

Well my car was finished TODAY!!! AMAZING! Under warranty had a new clutch, pressure plate, flywheel, throw-out bearing all installed. Mileage on the 2000 C5 was 35,423 at drop off. This is the 3rd clutch in the car:

1) Factory - replaced at 20K miles under warranty (5/19/01)
2) Replacement - replaced at 35K miles under warranty (7/29/02)
3) Just installed.

Both were replaced because I had the sticking clutch pedal problem. My Tech took the car out for a blast after he got it, shifting into 3rd at WOT the pedal stayed stuck the floor, stayed stuck all the way back to the shop, and was STILL stuck to the floor 2 hours later when he went to pull it in for the replacement! :eek: He said the pressure plate was warped but other then that the clutch looked fine.

GM would NOT install a Z06 clutch though because under warranty it is a different part number and the warranty would kick it out.

Bret, based on info I got off the Forum from this thread, http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=347207 I told the service write that the Tech MUST call GM Tech Assistance in order for them to verify the problem because it doesn't show on the computer. I also printed this thread out and asked that it be given to my Tech so he could see as well. Shawn (tech) called GM Tech Assistance and they said yep, replace it all but it was a no-go for a Z06 replacement. Can't win them all. He didn't argue and swapped the clutch lickity-split!

The first time I had it replaced I also printed off a thread from the Forum showing that I was no alone in my clutch woes. I think that helped back in May 2001 when that clutch was replaced.

Hope this info helps both you Brett, and any others with similar problems.

 

In my case I didn't see the busted clutch until the ZO6 piece was already installed. That was probably the sticking point. But it should have been brought to everyone's attention as soon as it was noticed that the busted one had died from defect and that the repair and a correct replacement SHOULD have been covered by the dealership. Now with that 1st one I never had a problem with the clutch sticking.

But with this second one I have experienced it sticking only a handful of times now and not for the 2 hour period you mention, but only for a few seconds at a clip...... nothing as bad as yours, but certainly noticable and a bit of a liability.

I never had the original one stick on me that I can remember, but the circumstances of its death with the collar around the spring pack letting go and there being nothing abnormal about the flywheel or plate that could be seen......... that is pure defect country and I still carry the chip on my shoulder that it should have been a warranty repair and that the dealership should have been more forthcoming.

Anyway, hopefully I won't have any more troubles with the new one after this most recent jaunt to the dealership. More like an extended vacation......I am edging near a month and a half lost on the car to the dealership in just the past 2 and a half or 3 months.