????? Clutch OUT

[JLT]

Question
I took my car to dealer for check engine light on. That problem was fixed,but they also told me I had a recall (ignition circuit). They installed the relay and harness,now my clutch has gone out after I got car home? Does anyone know if there is something mechanic could have knocked loose or not replaced to cause clutch to go out? I had no problem before this. Of course dealer says it's not their fault.

[rixGAphx]

That recall has been out for about 4 years now. To perform the work, I *understand* they only need to remove the plastic around the steering column.

What was the cause of the original 'SES' light. Do you know the code?

What engine and tranny do you have?

The manual trannies in most (all) GA's have hydraulicly-actuated clutches IIRC.
So, there's a clutch master cylinder on the firewall, and a slave cylinder at (in?) the bellhousing that operates the throwout bearing. The throwout bearing presses against the clutch plate mechanism and causes it to stop clamping the clutch disk.

You drove home, so the clutch was working then.
So it likely wasn't something they did (like dislodging a clutch pedal linkage).

Then, "the clutch went out."
What are the symptoms and or noises of "??clutch OUT", other than 'foot presses pedal to floor and clutch doesn't release'?

I think this just happens to be a big coincidence, unless their repair of the original 'SES Light' condition was tranny-related.
I don't' see any direct relation to the switch.

But, there *might* be an electrical interconnect from the clutch linkage back to the iginition, to prevent you from cranking the engine unless the clutch is depressed. This shouldn't affect the clutch, but then GM has done stranger things.

Check that there's fluid in the CMC resevoir, and see if there are any signs of leaking fluid (it's the same fluid you use for the brakes).

Standing by.
-Rick

[JLT]

There was a high pitched noise when I turned the car back on. Clutch oil is fine.

[JLT]

Also on the work order it said they removed the starter and oil filter to put on the ignition harness.

[rixGAphx]

What was the cause of the original 'SES' light?

Do you know the code?

-Rick

[JLT]

Oh it had nothing to do with clutch. It was the air intake control that needed to be replaced. Don't know the code.

[rixGAphx]

Originally posted by JLT
Oh it had nothing to do with clutch. It was the air intake control that needed to be replaced. Don't know the code. Thanks!
Geez, getting an answer out of you is like pulling teeth! :roll2: :D :D

OK, now:
1. The clutch pedal goes to the floor.
Prolly not much resistance, just the pull of the return spring on the pedal arm. Nothing like the resistance when the clutch is actually being disengaged, right?
2. There are no visible leaks of clutch fluid, ANYWHERE:
* None on the engine side of the firewall beneath the clutch MC, right?
* None on the cabin side of the firewall beneath the clutch MC, right?
* None on the underside of the bellhousing, right?
3. With a flashlight, lay on the driver's floor and stick your head under the steering shaft. Examine the clutch pedal arm.
The arm pivots from the top, and a few inches down the arm from the pivot there's a shaft that goes forward to the clutch MC.
* Is the shaft attached to the arm?
* When you push the pedal to the floor, does the shaft move forward?

4. Remove the cap from the clutch MC. Have a friend depress the clutch fully, while you watch the surface of the fluid.
* Does the surface stay smooth and calm?
* Does the surface kinda 'bubble up' with fluid (nor actual air bubbles) when the pedal is going down?
* Does the surface change when the pedal is released?

Standing by,
-Rick

[Matt95GT]

Originally posted by JLT
Also on the work order it said they removed the starter and oil filter to put on the ignition harness.

Correct. There is no work done inside the car for the ignition switch recall. A new starter harness with relay is added to eliminate high-current on the ignition switch.

Do you see any clutch hydrolic fluid leaks? And the fluid level was fine when checked? The clutch slave cylinder on the tranny is somewhat near the starter... my thinking is if something was damaged causing a leak while they were working in that area.

Edit: Since they removed the starter, if the starter needed shimming and/or foreign material got into the bell housing when it was out, that would explain it too. It's def their fault then.