All you car mechanics out there--

[radio1_mike]

Hey.

I figured this was as good a place as any to ask a question about cars. Did you ever have a problem with your car, that was not serious, just an annoyance but drove you bonkers???

I have a problem such as this, and I'd like to know if any real car gurus in this community can offer advice.


The Problem:
Sometimes when I push my clutch pedal in, I get this popping sound from the pedal:

The Symptoms:
1) It sounds like when you open a Tupperware container, or say when a piece of metal rubs up against a piece of plastic.

2) It feels like nothing. Though you can feel the "pop" when it happens through the pedal.

3) It happens when the pedal travels about halfway down. At this point, the clutch is already engaged.

4) It happens more when the car has been sitting in the sun, or sometimes when I first push the clutch in when I go to work, or if I happen to do a lot of extended (pedal to floor) shifts.

5) It tends not happen when it's cooler, or if I ride the clutch, or if don't press the pedal all the way to the floor.


This just bugs me... It just started recently, and my car has only 37k miles on it. The clutch itself feels fine, no slipping of gears, it engages fine, etc... I just think it's sort of a pedal thing. Everything looks fine under the drivers side, at least until the firewall...

What do you think it is?
1) Should I just deal until I replace clutch?
2) Do the pedal need to be adjusted in some manner?
3) Do I bring it to a mechanic? Sometimes, it won't happen for a week or two...

But, I repeat, I does drive me crazy!
Help!

[Cruez]

First what kind of car? and what year..

[zen]

Could it be a stiff pressure plate that makes a noise when the throwout bearing flexes the fingers on it to release the clutch? Or is it a noise definetly coming from under the dash?

If its coming from inside the car or under the dash, go underneath with a can of wd-40 and hit the moving areas with a blast or two.

If its not, check if your clutch is adjustable, alot aren't. You might have too much throw in it and have to back it out a little. You might also have a pressure plate going bad.

[zen]

<edit> whoops <\edit>

[crystaldragon]

Occasionally a throw out bearing will make a similar noise as well

Heh, my truck's clutch has done that for quite a while. Turns out it's just the pedal rod (for lack of a better word) popping across a piece of plastic I knocked loose bouncing off a rock somewhere in the woods.

Does it only do it when the car is running?

If it sounds like it's coming from under the dash for sure, it's probably just something rubbing. If you're not sure, have some brave soul stick his head under the car while you push the pedal in and see if it sounds like the sound is coming from the xmission casing.

I've never replaced a clutch in a FWD, but I bet it ain't too fun. It wasn't fun doing my 4WD really...

-Whir

[Centurion]

ed

[Cruez]

Could be a clutch cable in need of lube or a spring rubbing.

Hydraulic type clutches rarely have any problems, but cable type are more suceptable to noises/maintenace.

[radio1_mike]

It's a 2000 Dodge Neon.

It certainly feels like it's coming from outside. I checked under the driver side (where the pedal is) and there does not seem to be be anything obstructing the pedal and the, uh, shaft.

It sounds and feels like it's coming from the outside of the passenger compartment...

So, if it's an extraneous piece of plastic, whadda I do? Just take it off or adjust it? Or something?

[Centurion]

ed