Car is hard to take out of gear when hot.

[TRAKCAR]

When my car is very hot, both on track and on cool down laps it is hard to get the car OUT OF gear with the clutch completely in.

If I even give a tiny bit of throttle it slips right out. Going INTO gear is smooth.

I also hear some cracks on 2-3 and 3-4 rushed shifts at red line that I have not heard before.

When the car is cool on relaxed street driving all is smooth and quiet once the car is heated up. When car is cold you have the typical notchiness of getting it into gear, but that goes away completely when the gear box warms up.

[FTS]

When was the last time you changed the trans fluid?

[TRAKCAR]

I change it about every 10 track days, it will be changed again next week, so about 10 days.

[PJS]

Paging Matt Monson... Matt Monson... please pick up the white courtesy phone... Matt Monson white courtesy phone please

:-)

(I sent him an email asking him to check out the forum)

[jenk12m]

yea that was odd peter. i wonder if you need to change the trans fluid a little sooner than after the 10th track day

[Trackrat]

Sounds more like a clutch problem to me? Especially as a blip eases it out of gear.

If you haven't already, get your clutch system bled. Just like brakes and in fact it draws off of the brake fluid reservoir. My clutch slave cylinder (the piston I accidentally popped out of the cylinder when the engine was out :() was full of nasty black gunk at only 10k miles. Nobody ever thinks to bleed the clutch but it needs it perhaps more than the brakes!

[jenk12m]

how often would you bleed the clutch

[Izzone]

I have the exact same problem......wierd

[FTS]

This must be a local FL phenomenon.... ;)

[jenk12m]

Must be... I never had that problem in my old 3

[TRAKCAR]

I am bringing my car in for new fuids next week and I will ask for clutch system bled, just to see if it helps.

[jenk12m]

just get the 4.0 that us an upgraded clutch. problem solved!!

[FTS]

In all seriuousness, do you think this may be related to Sebring and its bumpiness?

[TRAKCAR]

No, I only noticed it last week during mancation.
I always shift very slow and am smooth on the clutch, etc.

[Izzone]

Talking to Autoquest they have seen a high amount of clutch replacements on .2 RS

Wonder if that is why 4.0 RS has stronger clutch

[TRAKCAR]

At least we know there now is an upgrade available :-)

[FTS]

LOLOL, you are so right :)

Pete should be able to check the part numbers for us comparing the RS38 and 40 clutches, see if it different. I'll send him an email, but I know he is off to the track next three days.

[Trackrat]

how often would you bleed the clutch

Based on my car with 11k on the odo and fluid and cylinder looking NASTY, I would say heavy tracking probably builds heat and breaks down the fluid and/or seals.

Every 5000 miles? Less?? Whenever brakes are bled? Great question and not sure what the best answer would be?

LOLOL, you are so right :)

Pete should be able to check the part numbers for us comparing the RS38 and 40 clutches, see if it different. I'll send him an email, but I know he is off to the track next three days.

Checked PET this morning and 4.0 is not yet listed. The 4.0 is a different motor/crankshaft so I would not immediately think it will interchange directly with a 3.8. It might but I think I would be surprised if so, sorry!

Let me reiterate, my 3RS disk and pressure plate with 11k miles, mostly track, looked just fine. Peter says he is gentle with clutch/shifts so lets check the actuation bits first.

[FTS]

Good call Pete, thanks.