Very heavy clutch

[Mercury00]

Right, a little story first:

My girlfriend has just bought a 2007 Yaris. During the test drive she kept grinding the gears and I thought she just wasn't pressing the clutch far enough, but she's had it a few days now and still kept on grinding the gears. I was getting a bit annoyed at her and asked for a drive of the car to see what the problem was (obviously thinking it was her)... Well fk me, it's only got the heaviest clutch known to man! I was having to physically psyche myself up before changing gear, and even then sometimes I didn't manage to push it far enough down. Having owned a near identical 2007 Yaris myself, and about 10 cars since that, I don't think it's anywhere near being right.

It doesn't have any problems going into gear when you've managed to press it, and it doesn't slip at all, it's just a bd to press. What can cause this?


Short version: Grind, grind, Grrr! Arghh my leg! 2007 Yaris has a ridiculously heavy clutch. Doesn't slip, doesn't have problems changing gear. What could be the problem?

[Mr SFJ]

Is it a hydraulic clutch? or is it spring based?

If it's spring, I'd possibly suggest it wound up to much, and if it's fluid based, check it, as it might have been overfilled/wrong fluid used.

[kambites]

Does the pedal move smoothly or does it feel sticky? Also does the pedal spring back up quickly when you release it or does it take a while to come back up?

[CrutyRammers]

Hmmm, my mother has one and it certainly doesn't have a heavy clutch.
Hard to imagine what it could be if it's hydraulic - apart from a sticking cylinder maybe?

[SnailTrail]

I had a very heavy clutch on my car when I got it. I assumed it was just a characteristic of the clutch, being a more powerful car than my previous one. However, after changing the clutch (and everything else including concentric slave cylinder and flywheel) the clutch feels much lighter and smoother. I'm assuming the heavy pedal was something to do with the slave cylinder and/or pressure plate, as the clutch was dragging slightly in the end, but I could press the pedal that wee bit further with a good push and it would slot into gear nicely.

If the Yaris has a slave cylinder mounted outside of the box it might be worth checking/swapping that?

[Mercury00]

kambites said:

Does the pedal move smoothly or does it feel sticky? Also does the pedal spring back up quickly when you release it or does it take a while to come back up?

I think it moves smoothly, although it feels like there's basically no travel on the pedal. It's been a while since I had mine but I don't remember the pedal having so little travel either. I think it's a hydraulic clutch.

I was thinking we could go to a garage and test another one and then we'll know for certain, but tbh I couldn't drive the car for any length of time the way that it is now.

[littleredrooster]

Heavy clutch is usually the diaphragm spring at the end of its life. Clutch needs replacing.

There's a vague chance that, if it's cable-operated, it could be a sticky cable.

[buzzer]

I did one recently.... VERY heavy clutch for such a small car. It needed a new clutch as its Hydraulic so no cable.

Once the new clutch was in there, it was light as a feather... the car had done 52K miles and the centre plate was about half worn, the diaphragm was the problem. rusty as hell on the pivot points...

[996TT02]

Mr SFJ said:

Is it a hydraulic clutch? or is it spring based?

If it's spring, I'd possibly suggest it wound up to much, and if it's fluid based, check it, as it might have been overfilled/wrong fluid used.

I'd suggest laying off giving any advice when it is so obvious that you have not the least idea whether you are on about a clutch or a toaster.

Your nonsense could cost other people money, or their safety.

As for me, I have no definitive answer as to why the Yaris clutch is so heavy, so I will refrain. A worn clutch plate normally bites at the top of the travel and has little effect on the pressure needed to actuate, in fact normally the clutch disengages with less pressure, as soon as you put your foot on it, and eventually slips.

Symptoms are typical of a bad cable, but the Yaris apparently has a hydraulic clutch, so that's out.

If the clutch is just plain heavy rather than does not disengage properly unless the carpet is mashed, then as the previous poster pointed out it is probably related to the pressure plate failing, but you should take it to a garage familiar with these cars for an opinion based on experience with these vehicles, or at least Toyotas in general. I have little doubt that the problem is one with which they would be familiar and immediately diagnose.

[kambites]

I suppose the other possibility would be that someone has put in completely the wrong grade of oil.

[johnny fotze]

Start by checking the fluid level, then the linkages. If all's good so far it's likely the master cylinder/bad seals.

[crolandc]

Needs a new clutch, you are having to push the pressure plate springs further than they should go.

[buzzer]

now now Kambites.... stop winding

There is some utter bks being sprouted here.... why do people offer advice when they clearly have not got a clue on anything to do with cars / mechanics...

[Mr SFJ]

996TT02 said:

Mr SFJ said:

Is it a hydraulic clutch? or is it spring based?

If it's spring, I'd possibly suggest it wound up to much, and if it's fluid based, check it, as it might have been overfilled/wrong fluid used.

I'd suggest laying off giving any advice when it is so obvious that you have not the least idea whether you are on about a clutch or a toaster.

Your nonsense could cost other people money, or their safety.

As for me, I have no definitive answer as to why the Yaris clutch is so heavy, so I will refrain. A worn clutch plate normally bites at the top of the travel and has little effect on the pressure needed to actuate, in fact normally the clutch disengages with less pressure, as soon as you put your foot on it, and eventually slips.

Symptoms are typical of a bad cable, but the Yaris apparently has a hydraulic clutch, so that's out.

If the clutch is just plain heavy rather than does not disengage properly unless the carpet is mashed, then as the previous poster pointed out it is probably related to the pressure plate failing, but you should take it to a garage familiar with these cars for an opinion based on experience with these vehicles, or at least Toyotas in general. I have little doubt that the problem is one with which they would be familiar and immediately diagnose.

Yes, because getting the fluid/spring (didn't know which at that point) checked first is really a massively preposterous idea as it might have been something more simple than the actual clutch system.

So how is having these things checked first costing people their safety? It would cost money, but at least the simple things could've been ruled out before inspecting the clutch itself.

I was merely offering suggestions thinking that it might have been a simple fix. So yeah, suggesting he gets the mechanism checked out really was that dangerous.

[aka_kerrly]

Definitely a hydraulic system and yes they can be a pain to try and bleed even when you have a helper.

[Jimmyarm]

Needs a new clutch, as above the pressure plate will be borked.

[catman]

Mr SFJ said:

Yes, because getting the fluid/spring (didn't know which at that point) checked first is really a massively preposterous idea as it might have been something more simple than the actual clutch system.

So how is having these things checked first costing people their safety? It would cost money, but at least the simple things could've been ruled out before inspecting the clutch itself.

I was merely offering suggestions thinking that it might have been a simple fix. So yeah, suggesting he gets the mechanism checked out really was that dangerous.

I have never heard of a spring-based clutch on a car and I suspect neither has anyone else on here.

They are normally hydraulic operation, or cable.

Tim

[Mr SFJ]

catman said:

I have never heard of a spring-based clutch on a car and I suspect neither has anyone else on here.

They are normally hydraulic operation, or cable.

Tim

Couldn't think of the second one, as only had hydraulic systems

[littleredrooster]

Mr SFJ said:

catman said:

I have never heard of a spring-based clutch on a car and I suspect neither has anyone else on here.

They are normally hydraulic operation, or cable.

Tim

Couldn't think of the second one, as only had hydraulic systems

I would throw the shovel away now, SFJ. As others have said, you haven't the first clue what you're talking about. All common clutches have a greet-big feck-off diaphragm spring which presses the two bits together and makes it grip. It cannot be 'wound up' or adjusted as you suggested in your first post.

Hydraulics or cables are just the bits which make it disengage.

[GoTea]

Sounds like you need to change the washer fluid, or perhaps just add some washing up liquid to it. On the Yaris, they use the fluid to lubricate the spring release valve on the clutch pedal. Sounds like yours could be dirty/rusty.