Clutch Slippage

[Guest Close Guest]

After 8,500km of trouble free driving with our new GXL D4D 6spd Manual I noticed what I initially suspected was bad turbo lag, however, it steadily got worse and was particularly noticeable when cruisng with cruise control active and approaching an incline, the engine would rev well beyond 3000rpm then eventualy pick up speed and the revs would drop to a normal level.
I have not done ant towing or 4wding so no mud / water.
Toyota claimed to have tightened the clutch during it's 10,000km service and the problem has disappeared but I wonder if permanat damage has been done to clutch face?

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

Re: Clutch Slippage

but I wonder if permanat damage has been done to clutch face?

If it still drives ok (that is no further slipping/shudder/smooth engagement) then no "damage" as such. However depending on how much slipping/how long it's been doing it, the life off the clutch may be signifcantly reduced. If it was doing it for some time I'd be pushing for a new clutch under warrenty. If it was only a couple of times before it was fixed then at the least keep all the paper work for a future claim.

Don't quite get the "tightened up " bit... what was loose?, did they have the gearbox out?

Mick

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Clutch Slippage

Mickl, thanks mate, yeah I wondered the same about the tightening. As I was overseas at the time the missus put it in.
Now that I have arrived home and driven it their "Tightening" turns out to be a reduction in pedal travel. The clutch is now Tpretty bad to the point of it being almost undriveable and the smell of burning clutch after each change is shocking.
Am going in myself first thing Monday morning and going to take them for a drive with me as passanger and them driving so that can actually see the problem. I suspect as always they didn't actually drive the car to diagnose the problem, nor test drive it after the service.

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

Re: Clutch Slippage

Hope they sort you out with a new clutch quick smart. Bugger of a time of year to be without a car.


Mick

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Clutch Slippage

Yeah no kidding, I'll be demanding they fix it by 02 Jan 09 as we are heading off on a family trip and wouldn't you know it just had a bullbar and snorkel fitted! First family outing in the "New" car and first family outing in 3 years! Murphy's Law huh.
Will keep this topic posted on the outcome, interested to know if anyone else has suffered a similar problem, lets hope I have not got a built on Friday car!

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Clutch Slippage

Toyota picked the car up yesterday, need to get parts from Sydney. Mechanic foreman came out to house as I refused to drive it to the depot in case it failed completely, plus I suspect they didn't believe me when I said the clutch had gone. No sooner had the mechanic driven it 200m and he said yep I'll take it straight back this is a warranty job, yeah like I was going to pay!

[biloprado Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close biloprado]

Re: Clutch Slippage

Have just done 6000km and the wife rang to say bad smell coming from car also a little smoke rang racq as i was at work (suprise never happens when the boys are driving ) went to toyota they adjusted the clutch are going on holidays soon with camper trailer will see how good it really is. Dealership servicewas good but couldn't give a good reason why this has happened mumbled somthing about glazing on clutch surface.

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Clutch Slippage

Mate I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but that is exactly how ours started and around about the same km mark also. We also got the same blurb from the Toyota dealership about glazing on the plate. The tightening or so called "Clutch Adjustment" done by Toyota was not well explained nor did it last more than 2 weeks before the clutch became unuasable.
Given that you also intend towing I would suggest you watch it very carefully and at the first sign of any further trouble, make them replace it. To check it out find a nice long incline and before beginning the climb put into cruise control and let it go. If it is still bad it will show up with the RPM shooting up well over the 4 grand mark!
I wish you luck mate.

[Steve & Sandra Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve & Sandra]

Re: Clutch Slippage

i didnt think they was any adjustment on the clutch.

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

Re: Clutch Slippage

i didnt think they was any adjustment on the clutch.

You thought right, there isn't. Little furphy by the dealer to keep the customer happy I'd say :roll:

Mick

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Clutch Slippage

i didnt think they was any adjustment on the clutch.

You thought right, there isn't. Little furphy by the dealer to keep the customer happy I'd say :roll:

Mick

You got that right Mick, when I drove it next the only thing that had changed was the clutch pedal travel the throw on it was no extremely short and soft!
Only two days after this supposed adjustment was done we lost the lot, to the point where the car couldn't be driven for fear of permanant damage to the engine caused by the excessive revs required to get any motive traction!

[ookami Member Find all posts View Profile Close ookami]

Re: Clutch Slippage

I'm not sure if the Prados are the same but i know on all my previous cars you could "adjust" the clutch through the master cylinder pedal adjustment. Perhaps this is what Toyota was doing? However doing this to an already worn clutch will only shorten its life and it puts constant pressure on the clutch fingers giving the plate/s a fair amount of play, leading to more clutch plate wear (and flywheel wear and pressure plate wear). I only even used this adjustment for setting up a new clutch and bleeding the system.

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

Re: Clutch Slippage

I'm not sure if the Prados are the same but i know on all my previous cars you could "adjust" the clutch through the master cylinder pedal adjustment. Perhaps this is what Toyota was doing? However doing this to an already worn clutch will only shorten its life and it puts constant pressure on the clutch fingers giving the plate/s a fair amount of play, leading to more clutch plate wear (and flywheel wear and pressure plate wear). I only even used this adjustment for setting up a new clutch and bleeding the system.

This is only for adjusting pedal height and free play. As you say, adjusing this will effectively "preload" the clutch (like driving around with your foot on the clutch pedal) and make things worse.

Mick