Clutch/Transmission Issue
 

So I'm a new RX-8 owner and new to the forum. Spent the last 3 months (since I bought my 8) lurking the forums learning as much as I can. It's been very helpful to date. Learned a lot about 8s in general as well as a few things in the DIY forums such as replacement of the coils, plugs, plug wires ect.

Now to the issue at hand.

I have a 2005 MT with about 97k miles on it. Today I was getting on the on ramp, had it up to about 8k RPM in second and went to shift into third when my clutch pedal stuck and stayed on the floor. After some frustrated foot stomping it returned to it's normal position however nothing felt right as far as shifting went after that. My first thought, based on my obsessive reading on the forum, was my clutch pedal assembly fractured, but after parking it and close inspection that isn't the case. As clean as it looks I'm under the impression it's already been replaced. Anyway now it's doing some crazy things. When I depress the pedal (disengage the clutch) I get a very high pitched squeal accompanied by what sounds like a grinding noise. Also as the pedal is depressed the engine sounds as though it's being overloaded and the RPMs dip down. I can still shift albeit it doesn't always go into gear smoothly and once as I was trying to put it into reverse it actually killed the engine. The best answer I could find after searching the forums for about an hour was that the throw out bearing went out on me, but does it going out cause this extremely loud squeal? I plan on taking it to the dealer tomorrow and seeing what they say but I'd like to go in there prepared and knowledgeable so that I'm not swindled or they diagnose the wrong things. I've uploaded a youtube video so that you can get a better idea as to what I'm talking about in regards to the sound it makes. I appreciate all of your expertise and thank you for any help in advance.

http://youtu.be/qnu6Nc4ixHw

clutch disc likely exploded, seen a few of them. or the throwout bearing desintegrated, or lastly pilot bearing locked up but unlikely with the pedal sticking issue.

Thanks for the response Karack.

Would it even be driveable if the clutch disc exploded? I can actually still drive it, drove it home just shifted without the clutch pedal and it will go into gear when I push the pedal in, although it doesn't like reverse. The pedal only stick intermittently, very irregular. I'm leaning toward the t/o bearing disintegrating. If it is the t/o bearing how much damage can or will it do if I drive it to the dealership?

This was also my first reaction to your description. Especially since looking at the video.

I wouldn't risk driving it if you can have it towed. You don't want a chunk of something to break off and rocket through the side of your bell-housing.

Now might be a great time to have your engine compression-tested at a dealership. Hopefully they won't require full paperwork in case you don't have it, but if you end up needing a new engine then the labor should be free for installation of a new clutch while they have the engine out and apart.

Note that if you do pass the compression test(i.e. don't need a new engine) they will likely charge you something around or over 100$.

Personal backinfo: I took my car in for a checkup/compression test and ended up needing a new engine, I didn't notice any abnormal power loss or issues but apparently I had low compression, I went ahead and had them install a new clutch/pp/throwout bearing for the price of only the parts.

I'd say you're leaning in the right direction.

3 month bump, sorry...

So, was that it? Exact same thing, exact same noise, about 2 hours ago. Moving over to the clutch DIY and wondering where to get parts on a Saturday.......

Ultimately it ended up being the throwout bearing that was making the noise. It eventually exploded more or less. Additionally the shifter was screwed from the previous owner (I didn't have to depress the shifter to go into reverse) which may or may not have added to the problem.

In the end I replaced clutch, pressure plate, shifter throwout bearing and pilot bearing. I got a Exedy clutch kit from Black Halo Racing which came with everything except the shifter which I got Axial Flow.

Hope that helps