Sticky Clutch

[Rowan Malin]

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

 

[D.K.]

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?

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.

If so, about how
much should I expect to pay (parts and service) for a competent dealer to do
this work?

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

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).

DK

 

[Rowan Malin]

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

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

 

[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?

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

 

[Cam Penner]

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.

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.

 

[Bill Putney]

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...

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")

 

[Subie25L]

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

 

[Ed Fortmiller]

I'd say so. From what I read, most clutches wear out by 100 Kmi.

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.

--
Ed Fortmiller | (e-mail address removed) | Hudson MA
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[Anonymous]

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.

 

[Rowan Malin]

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