Clutch sounds like it's about to FALL OUT!

[Kevlo79]

I recently picked up a new 2012 SS (45th anny) and I've noticed two things from the get go that seem quite wrong.

1. When I push the clutch in quickly from a moderate rev, like when climbing a curb to get in my driveway at slow speed (trying not to curb stomp the front end) the clutch makes this terrible clangy rattelly sound like it's banging around or just plain loose!! Does this during moderate shifts on the road as well for 1-2, and 2-3 shfits. Never under heavier load though.

2. There is a terrible burning smell, something like hot rubber, but not quite. At first I thought it was just new rubber getting broken in, but I'm right about 700 miles now and it seems that the smell is not constant. It is especially bad when I'm on a hill or when I pull into the garage after climbing the curb. I read about 2010's having this problem but haven't seen any 12's reported.

If anyone has/is having this problem please post here and let me know what your solution was/is. I don't have a whole lot of knowledge about cars and such. If I end up taking it to the dealer I'd at least like to be able to go in there and point them in the right direction without sounding like an idiot!!

Appreciate any help!!

[sjmorrow]

I have both of these problems (2012 2SS). I just picked mine up two weeks ago. The clutch rattle is a common problem and everyone has it. In the general discussion forum there are a few threads about it and a few explanations as to why it does this. I have never come across a fix. I think it is something we have to live with.

The burning smell is most likely your clutch. It will smell like this for a while until the "newness" burns off of it to put it in layman's terms. But at 600 miles, that smell should not be as prominent anymore unless you are riding th clutch more than you need to. I am at 800 and don't smell it anymore

[Kevlo79]

Originally Posted by sjmorrow

I have both of these problems (2012 2SS). I just picked mine up two weeks ago. The clutch rattle is a common problem and everyone has it. In the general discussion forum there are a few threads about it and a few explanations as to why it does this. I have never come across a fix. I think it is something we have to live with.

The burning smell is most likely your clutch. It will smell like this for a while until the "newness" burns off of it to put it in layman's terms. But at 600 miles, that smell should not be as prominent anymore unless you are riding th clutch more than you need to. I am at 800 and don't smell it anymore

Thanks for the input, I'm ok with some clutch noise. I've driven manual vehicles all my life. Just never owned any performance vehicles before. Although I have driven them from time to time and never heard this sound. The small Jetta's and Passat's never made ANY clutch noise. I know this clutch is likely much larger and heavier duty so I do expect to hear some noise, but this sound I'm hearing seems to be quite irregular. I'll try to record the sound if it will come through and I'll post it here.

As for the smell, I'll let it go for awhile longer just to make sure it's not still break in stuff, but here again, this smell is quite pungent and doesn't seem like something to be expected.

[sjmorrow]

No I know exactly what you are talking about with the noise. It DOES sound like something very irregular and it sounds like the clutch is just going to fall out. I personally think that whatever is clanking together is going to eventually cause problems, but I havnt heard of anyone else reporting a long term issue that was caused by the rattling (which I will affectionately name "clutch clank")

As far as the smell, if you really want to know if it is the clutch, rev up to about 3k RPMS and just ride the clutch for 3-5 seconds. If you them smell this same smell, then it is your clutch. For obvious reasons, dont test this more than once

[Kevlo79]

If I smell it after this test, which I would certainly agree would prove it's something to do with the clutch, does this indicate a problem or is that just what happens if you ride the clutch? In normal driving I'm always careful not to ride it, it's either IN or OUT. However, when on a hill or navigating curbs or speed bumps it is typically necessary to "feather" the clutch in order to get just enough power to get over the obstacle without eating it! Open to advice!!

[sjmorrow]

You said you have been driving a stick for most of your life, so I trust that you know the proper way to do it (I dont... haha), so yeah you should just smell it when feathering the clutch for the first 1000 or so miles. If you are still smelling it a lot after that, then there might be a problem, or you might not really know how to drive a stick lol.

For the first 600-700 miles, I would smell mine just by feathering the clutch to park. I also spent the first 400-500 miles learning how to properly control a stick for the first time, so I am sure my clutch smell wore off a lot faster than yours would, since you already know how to drive a stick.

[Chevrolet Customer Svc]

I hope you guys find an answer on your end soon. I know I'll be looking for one as well.

Jeff Morris, Chevrolet Customer Service

[Blau camaro]

UNACCEPTABLE...

[sjmorrow]

Originally Posted by Chevrolet Customer Svc

I hope you guys find an answer on your end soon. I know I'll be looking for one as well.

Jeff Morris, Chevrolet Customer Service

Thanks Jeff, I / we appreciate that. I am mostly worried about the "clutch clank". The smell has gone away on mine after 700-800 miles on the car, but I still sound like a I just ran over a pile of pots and pans anytime I mash the clutch at low RPMs

[geaux_tigerss]

Try pushing the clutch more slowly at low RPMs and see if it still clunks as much.

[Kevlo79]

Originally Posted by sjmorrow

You said you have been driving a stick for most of your life, so I trust that you know the proper way to do it (I dont... haha), so yeah you should just smell it when feathering the clutch for the first 1000 or so miles. If you are still smelling it a lot after that, then there might be a problem, or you might not really know how to drive a stick lol.

For the first 600-700 miles, I would smell mine just by feathering the clutch to park. I also spent the first 400-500 miles learning how to properly control a stick for the first time, so I am sure my clutch smell wore off a lot faster than yours would, since you already know how to drive a stick.

I HOPE I've figured out how to operate the clutch by now after 16 years with manual transmissions!! I know that operating a performance clutch is not the same as that issued with a passenger car like a jetta or passat but the principle is the same. Like I said, I'll give it some more time on the smell, hopefully just break in!!

Originally Posted by Chevrolet Customer Svc

I hope you guys find an answer on your end soon. I know I'll be looking for one as well.

Jeff Morris, Chevrolet Customer Service

Thanks Jeff, I appreciate seeing an actual GM person being active in this community. Have you seen anyone reporting this problem for the 2012's yet? I always get WAY to concerned about tiny insignificant details but I'm really thinking this is a genuine issue. Would definitely be helpful to know if your service department has come across this and what the solution was.

Originally Posted by Blau camaro

UNACCEPTABLE...

I agree,,, at least I think so!!

Originally Posted by sjmorrow

Thanks Jeff, I / we appreciate that. I am mostly worried about the "clutch clank". The smell has gone away on mine after 700-800 miles on the car, but I still sound like a I just ran over a pile of pots and pans anytime I mash the clutch at low RPMs

Agree!! Thanks again Jeff!! Also I like your jargon! I'm going to use that "clutch clank" term also, sounds very technical!! The pile of pots and pans thing is totally the right way to describe that sound!! I have to take it in to my dealer to have the glove box latch fixed (dealer's waiting on parts), when I do I plan on getting them to look at this and it would be REALLY helpful to have any and all other's insight to bring with me! If anyone else is having this problem please post here, especially if you have a good solution for it!!

[Kevlo79]

Originally Posted by geaux_tigerss

Try pushing the clutch more slowly at low RPMs and see if it still clunks as much.

It only happens when I push the clutch in quickly under low rpm. As I described the typical scenario is while trying to get just enough power to come over a curb. I just took a coworker out in it who used to be in the Army and was a technician in the motor pool. In the parking lot, flat, at about 2000 rpm I pushed the clutch in quickly and the "clutch clank" was on the attack. He was not a typical auto mechanic but he told me that he'd never heard a clutch do that either and that it was certainly not normal. It's a very normal scenario that the clutch would need to be pressed quickly at 1500 to 2000 rpm as in a parking lot when a car pulls out in front. I've driven manual's for years doing this regularly and NEVER heard this racket!

[Chevrolet Customer Svc]

Kevlo, I'm not part of a service deparment. I'm directly affiliated with Chevrolet/GM. I and my co workers scour multiple forums, facebook and twitter for customer issues and try to help as many people as we can. Unfortunately I don't keep records like that where I am and this is the first time I've seen this issue. I don't have any information that would back up your dealers assessment that it is normal but I am also not a trained mechanic and wouldn't know either way. Sorry I can't be of more help. I will make sure to keep up on this to make sure I don't miss any information.

Jeff Morris, Chevrolet Customer Service

[v8]

I have a 2012 45th 2ss vert and it does the same thing, the 2011 2ss I test drove before I bought mine did the same thing, so I think its just one of those things we have to live with on these cars.

What I think causes this is this..... At the transmission output shaft there is a rubber coupler in addition to the u-joint that connects the output shaft to the drive shaft, on most cars there is just a u-joint there. While this is a good idea as this joint can absorb some shock when taking off at higher RPM's it can also flex backwards. I think if there is no load on the drivetrain you will not get this noise, however when there is a light load, such a backing up, when you push the clutch in, this joint can flex backwards a bit as it releases the torque. I believe it is this release of torque that causes the noise as it is a quick jolt in the opposite direction. Now that is just my hypothesis,