1. Welcome to TRD Forums! A community for Toyota, Lexus, and Scion Enthusiasts. To enjoy all the benefits of the site, we invite you to signup.

Engine Corolla clutch

Discussion in 'Powertrain' started by crazy horse, Dec 19, 2006.

  1. Offline

    crazy horse New Member

    Message Count:
    8
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
    Corolla clutch

    Hello. I have a 2001 Corolla 5spd with a new clutch put in it by Toyota right before I bought the car at 70,000ish km.

    This is the first Toyota 5spd I have ever driven, but I have driven a few VW's and such. This clutch is very strange. It catches slightly high, higher than any VW I have driven anyways, it has always been like this. By big problem is starting in first from a stop, if I give it a shot of gas slightly early, or on (VERY) steep hills even what seems like perfect starts, you get that horrible clutch smell.

    I was starting to get frustrated, and always very careful when starting not to give it much gas at all. Finally I asked my father to take it for a drive because I though it was me. He has always driven 5 speeds. He took it to a VERY VERY steep hill and started off from the middle of the hill. It was a perfect start, but we got the same horrible clutch smell.

    I only put 8,000 km on the car, and had the engine replaced under warranty because of oil consumption. When they dropped the engine, I asked them to check the condition of the clutch, I was afraid it was almost gone because of all the times I smelled it. They said there was only slight wear, and no signs of overheating of the clutch. Hmmm.

    Is this normal for Toyota's? When learning to drive on my fathers Jetta, I had some bad, bad starts on steep hills. I NEVER EVER smelled a thing from that clutch.

    Any ideas?
  2. Offline

    xplicitcorolla99 Active Member

    Message Count:
    2,201
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    las vegas
    thats normal,when ever you install a (any)brand new clutch.the smell should go away about 1,000miles of driving.
  3. Offline

    crazy horse New Member

    Message Count:
    8
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
    But I have 10,000km on this clutch, and it STILL does it VERY VERY easily. \


    Any ideas?
    Thanks!

    Just to give you an idea.

    I just got in. Starting off on level ground, I kept it at 2,000rpm the whole way until the clutch was completely engaged. I even got a slight slight "smell" out of that! I don't ride the clutch, it was probably 2 seconds from completely disengaged to completely engaged

    You almost have to bog the engine down to not get any smell at all, which is what I usually do. Just t he bare minimum to keep it from stalling. My father hates driving my car.
  4. Offline

    1337Rolla oh my

    Administrator
    Message Count:
    3,979
    Likes Received:
    31
    Trophy Points:
    748
    yup, I bog mine down as well when shifting. if I try a 2000 rpm mesh it smells too. Really have to do the 1500rpm tango with that clutch until you're moving :D
  5. Offline

    crazy horse New Member

    Message Count:
    8
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
    Hmmm, strange eh?

    It's the most sensitive clutch I have ever driven. Another problem with mine is the gas pedal tensioning spring applies like NO tension to the gas pedal. It makes it really hard to judge how much gas I am giving it on hills with big boots on.


    How do you make out on very steep hills? I mean hills like this " / " There may not be too many where you are from, but there are lots here, it's tricky sometimes to start off with no smell :(


    Thank you very much for your reply :)
  6. Offline

    JLee TD05 3SGTE

    Message Count:
    1,810
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    588
    Location:
    NH
    I had no such trouble with my factory clutch, but I bought the car with 113k on it...

    Swapped an ACT in at ~140k, though - no regrets! :D

    Edit: That was on a '98..who knows..maybe I was lucky with mine?
  7. Offline

    1337Rolla oh my

    Administrator
    Message Count:
    3,979
    Likes Received:
    31
    Trophy Points:
    748
    on hills the rpm drops when I engage the clutch to the point it almost stalls (800 or so rpm). I've never had a gas pedal issue, mine feels plenty springy.
  8. Offline

    crazy horse New Member

    Message Count:
    8
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
    yeah, so it sounds like you do the same thing I do on hills.

    When I bog it down like that driving with other people, I have received comments such as "Want me to show you how to drive that thing?". Most people that do try to drive my car don't like it :D
  9. Offline

    crazy horse New Member

    Message Count:
    8
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
    I drove home with a mechanic I work with in the navy. He has owned probably 15 toyota's in his life and has driven everything from the old 3-on the tree, to new 6 speeds.


    He made some nasty smells from my clutch, says he has not seen such a weak clutch before :(

Share This Page