Very weird problem with the SS yesterday

[velocity149]

So I have had the car sitting in my driveway for about 3 weeks now, been snowing, but havent fully out it away yet. Yesterday, it was nice out, and the roads were not salty, so I was gonna bring it for an oil change, then put it away for the season. I got in the car, foot on the clutch, started, let off the clutch to let it warm up, and the clutch stuck to the floor. Pushing in and letting out would give me about .5-1 inch travel. I got freaked out, and pulled up on the pedal, and it came out. Now, it is acting really weird. Pushing it feels like pushing on a bunch of cloths instead of the usual smooth springy feel, and it only engages (very abruptly) at the end of it's travel. It was towed to the dealer, and waiting now to see what it is. Any ideas? Just want it fixed before another round of snow hits.

[Spartan01]

Usually this happens when the clutch is very hot.

No leaks???

Maybe air trapped in the system???

[cypressh]

its the joys of having the fluid cool right down, I have it happen every morning before going to work it does the same that you are describing, after the car is warm though it will stop doing it. Its almost as if the fluid has to be at operating tempature before it will fully work again.

[velocity149]

weird, I have run the car in really cold weather, and it never did this. I already have it at the dealer, but thanks for the advice. I do doubt it could be regular tho, as this was an un-drivable state. Literally wouldn't even engage until the last half inch, and even then was almost not fully engaged. And no, my clutch is not worn out lol.

[CamaroCracka]

The fluid in the slave cylinder would decrease in volume as it got colder, perhaps creating a bit of a vacuum. When you push on the clutch when it's that cold maybe it just brings it back to atmospheric pressure causing it not to come all the way back up. There is a heavier return spring off the Corvette that some use to alleviate this. It does not get cold enough here for that to happen to mine so this is obviously pure speculation on my part.

[PalmerGA]

Originally Posted by cypressh

its the joys of having the fluid cool right down, I have it happen every morning before going to work it does the same that you are describing, after the car is warm though it will stop doing it. Its almost as if the fluid has to be at operating tempature before it will fully work again.

Well that sucks! Liking my A6 even more now. You'd think GM would remedy that design flaw.

[Ace0751]

The paddle shifters were a bit stiff for me today. I didn't run for a few days with the tender hooked up, it was nice out today so I took it off the tender and started her up. When I went into manual mode the paddle shifters were a little stiff like they don't want to click but after it warmed up a bit and the temps got where they needed to be everything was just fine. That's probably what happened with the clutch, it was cold still and you haven't driven it daily.

[cmracing]

Originally Posted by cypressh

its the joys of having the fluid cool right down, I have it happen every morning before going to work it does the same that you are describing, after the car is warm though it will stop doing it. Its almost as if the fluid has to be at operating tempature before it will fully work again.

Seeing you are in Canada, I can imagine some of the cold weather you can get there. But.......... GM puts ALL their cars/trucks through various temperature extremes during the design process. I would find it hard to believe that they would let something like this slip-by. The summer-only tires are one thing, and they flat-out state that about the tires. But I have never seen them tell a customer NOT to expect their clutches to operate correctly in cold weather.

[velocity149]

It turns out it may be a bigger problem then just the cold. Was in the tranny shop at my dealer for 4 hours yesterday trying to diagnose, stayed the night, and still no call today. I will keep you guys posted.

[two_wheel_mayhem]

Originally Posted by velocity149

It turns out it may be a bigger problem then just the cold. Was in the tranny shop at my dealer for 4 hours yesterday trying to diagnose, stayed the night, and still no call today. I will keep you guys posted.

At least (hopefully) not on your dime. Sounds like a problem with the hydraulics though. I'd know for sure if I could feel the pedal.

[cypressh]

Well im going to attribute mine to being the fluid, and as far as the cold this winter has been alright haven't gotten below -15C this year, but when mine does exactly what yours is doing velocity If I pump the clutch it comes back to regular.

[velocity149]

The pedal feel is VERY strange. not linear, feels like pushing on a pile of cloths as opposed to a spring. as in very little resistance, but what little resistance there is, feels very rough. very hard to explain. sorry.

[trashmanssd]

Subscribe, want to see what the find out.

[velocity149]

UPDATE... Can't get ahold of the dealership yesterday or today, but I am slightly concerned. There's a red Camaro in the body shop (can't see it very well thru the glass) and a brand new z/28 outside, PDI not done and missing a front quarter panel... Very strange. I wish they would tell me what is happening with my car.