OK I was almost stranded yesterday. My car started getting hard to get into gear from a stop and reverse was nearly impossible. I figured out that the clutch was not disengaging completely with the pedal on the floor. Before I could get home, I had to shut the car off to get it in reverse. Any one know why this would happen? I though these clutches would adjust automatically.

When I got home, I adjusted the clutch pedal linkage a couple turns and it works fine now. I would be taking it to the dealer but I am considering the buyback option so I am going to see if it changes again.

 

There have been earlier reports of the bolts on the pressure plate being loose or backing out over time. Have the dealer look at it as soon as possible.......

 

I've had another odd problem with the clutch, the pedal gets stuck halfway through its travel when I'm removing my foot from the pedal during hard acceleration. So far this has only happened twice but it is rather disconcerting. To get it to release I have to stomp on the pedal a half dozen times. Has anyone else had this problem?

 

Mine has also stuck once. It was immediately after hard acceleration to a high rpm. When I went to shift to 2nd, the clutch pedal only came 1/2 way back out for about a second or so then popped up the rest of the way. This was a few days before I had the problem with not disengaging. I'm not sure if they are related. I have been fine since the adjustment (so far)

This clutch seems to be very sluggish. A fast shift is nearly impossible. I used to have a Talon that I drag raced a lot and the clutch would engage and disengage twice as fast as the RX-8's. There may be an orifice restriction in the clutch line to protect the drive line from a clutch dump. They really slow you down when you want to shift fast. If this is the case, it will get much worse as the weather cools outside.

 

have you had this checked out?? seeing race drivers power shift the RX-8 makes me wonder if they actully have restricted the hydraulics (which doesn't make any sense), and suggests that you might have a serious (even related??) problem to your non-disengagement issue.

have you been to a dealer yet??

 

Hopefully this will not turn into a frequent problem. I'll have the dealer take a look at it if it happens again before my car is due for its scheduled maintenance.

 

I'm not sure about the restriction but the RX-8 clutch reminds me of my Talon in the winter when the fluid thickened. In the summer, I could shift the Talon fast enough to sometimes chirp all 4 tires. I had to slow up a little in the winter or miss shifts.

I'm about 90% sure I'm going with the buy-back. If the problem does not get worse, I'll just live with it for now. If I keep the car, a dealer visit will be in order.