[southpawboston]

my 2.3L MTX has just recently started a mild clutch shudder (or chatter?) upon 1st gear takeoff from standstill. it started at about 5000 miles, and now with 6300 miles, it is definitely noticeable, but not yet bad. but i am worried it will get worse with time. it only happens once the engine is fully warmed up, and only on first gear clutch takeup from standstill. i have driven MTXs for 22 years and have never worn a clutch out. i have even gotten 180,000 miles on original clutches. so it's NOT my technique at question here. another thing i noticed is that if i give it a little more gas than normal (about 1500-2000 RPM) upon initial takeup and make the takeup a bit more aggressive than normal, it's still very smooth. but normally i do 1st gear clutch takeup at about 1200-1300 RPM and am very good at minimizing clutch disc friction at takeoff. it's at those lower RPMs that i notice the shudder. i notice it especially when i am doing very slow maneuvers, like parallel parking, where you're modulating the clutch a lot while not really moving much.

any thoughts? how long is the stock clutch covered under warranty? could it be something other than a clutch component (like a loose/broken motor mount causing the engine to shudder)?

 

[azazel1024]

12,000 miles or 1 year is the warranty coverage on the friction disk. However, what you are describing sounds more like semi-typical engine shudder, not clutch shudder. The engine mounts aren't particularly hard so the engine will shudder in its mount sometimes. This is especially noticable at lower RPMs and lower throttle loads (eg, when reversing at slow speed it is usually VERY noticable).
-matt

 

[funky techician]

I use to get the same shudder at low RPM (500), I installed a voltage stabilizer and it cleaned up the shudder quite well, I can drop the RPM down quite low now momentarly and the stabilizer maintaines the 14.4 volt supply for the ignition, instead of the the car looping low and getting poor ignition current that aids to the bogging and shuddering engine

 

[kjh1127]

[quote author=azazel1024 link=topic=72731.msg1285999#msg1285999 date=1174653051]
12,000 miles or 1 year is the warranty coverage on the friction disk. However, what you are describing sounds more like semi-typical engine shudder, not clutch shudder. The engine mounts aren't particularly hard so the engine will shudder in its mount sometimes. This is especially noticable at lower RPMs and lower throttle loads (eg, when reversing at slow speed it is usually VERY noticable).
-matt
[/quote]

Matt, what's the best way to get rid of or reduce this?

 

[azazel1024]

Higher RPMs or stiffen the motor mounts some. I would still consider taking it in because it could be clutch chatter. Generally if there is noise associated with it and it only lasts for a second or two (or less) then it is often times clutch chatter, if it is longer then that and/or no real noise associated with it it is probably the engine rocking in the mounts. Either way it is hard to diagnose without actually being there.
-Matt

 

[ViperKillerWannabe]

I had the same problem till they replaced my passenger side engine mount a couple weeks ago. I haven't shuddered since.

 

[southpawboston]

[quote author=azazel1024 link=topic=72731.msg1285999#msg1285999 date=1174653051]
12,000 miles or 1 year is the warranty coverage on the friction disk. However, what you are describing sounds more like semi-typical engine shudder, not clutch shudder. The engine mounts aren't particularly hard so the engine will shudder in its mount sometimes. This is especially noticable at lower RPMs and lower throttle loads (eg, when reversing at slow speed it is usually VERY noticable).
-matt
[/quote]

interesting. yes, i notice it when i reverse into a parking spot. once the clutch is FULLY engaged there is no shudder whatsoever... it is only during those moments when there is actual rotational friction between the pressure plate and the clutch disk (basically during clutch takeup), and even then it is only noticeable at speeds below about 2 mph-- i never notice anyhting with higher gear shifts... only take off from 1st or reverse.

i am getting more intrigued by the motor mount idea, given the following reasoning:

1) the motor mounts may have "broken in", ie., loosened, since the car was new.

2) the shudder happens only after the engine is warmed up (and therefore heat has also transferred to the mounts and warmed them up as well, causing the viscous filling to loosen up).

i wonder, how often do the MZ3 mounts go bad??? have lots of people had them replaced? is it the concensus that they are unusually soft compared with other cars?

 

[ViperKillerWannabe]

On the '05 and older 2.3l 3s, the passenger side mount is a common failure. Yours is an '06, so it's still possible, but much less likely. When you get some time, take a look at the mount. If it has failed, you'll see hydraulic fluid all over the frame rail. Here is the link to the thread I made right after getting it back. There's also a link to the TSB for the '05 and older 3s engine mount in there.

 

[sammykkwok]

I had a clutch chatter with my Mazda 3 06 from 1200-9000Kms.. Exactly like what you just said. I kept returning back to the dealer, buzz them and convincing them that it was not normal, and there must be something wrong with my clutch.

They finally replaced the whole clutch assembly. Clutch is now brand new. But I still get ocasional chattering, but its a lot more bearable. This clutch chattering is a very common problem amoung Mazda 3 owners.

Bring the car back to the dealer before the clutch warranty expire!

Sammy

 

[mz3frs]

I got the motor mount inserts from corksport for mine; the sensation of 'clutch chatter' is much improved, but now I've got alot of virbration at low RPMs; esp under load. I'm told this will clear up a bit as the mounts break in... I hope so