Clutch pedal down = noise

[talontsi01]

Good Morning All:

When I push in my clutch, even the slightest bit, I hear a screeching sound and my rpms spike downward and the car wants to stall out. This is very evident both when sitting idle in neutral while pushing the clutch in and also while driving during shifting. I’m not sure if this is the clutch trying to engage and is rubbing or if it’s something else.

This has happened during a few car rides (20 min trip to work), but doesn’t happen all the time. For example, it happened last night on my way home from work, but during this morning’s trip, it was fine.

 

[crimsondragon]

Sounds like the throwout bearing is toast.

 

[97gst_spyder]

Happen more when turning left with the clutch in?

 

[talontsi01]

Happen more when turning left with the clutch in?

No, not that I've noticed.

When it is happening, it happens everytime you even touch the clutch pedal.

 

[4g63monstr]

I had this happen. Check your crank runout. Sounds like a case of the CRANKWALK!

 

[talontsi01]

I had this happen. Check your crank runout. Sounds like a case of the CRANKWALK!

What steps did you take when this was happening?
What ended up happening?

 

[half-cocked]

Typically if you hear a noise when pressing in the clutch it's a strong pointer to a throwout bearing. If you don't know what crankwalk it's when the thrustbeaing has excessive wear and the noise your hearing is crank making contact with the crank angle sensor. It will get you the point where it will actually break the sensor, the engine can't run without the sensor. People around here love to throw out the crank walk card, but for the most part they are usually wrong. Like in this case, a screeching sound will more than likely be a throw out bearing.

 

[talontsi01]

Typically if you hear a noise when pressing in the clutch it's a strong pointer to a throwout bearing. If you don't know what crankwalk it's when the thrustbeaing has excessive wear and the noise your hearing is crank making contact with the crank angle sensor. It will get you the point where it will actually break the sensor, the engine can't run without the sensor. People around here love to throw out the crank walk card, but for the most part they are usually wrong. Like in this case, a screeching sound will more than likely be a throw out bearing.

So a throw out bearing can be fixed whereas crankwalk is something that if you have it, you have it?

 

[Artago]

Check crank end play. If it's fine, replace the TOB. Use OEM..

 

[1990talontsi]

Throw-out Bearing

 

[Calan]

What kind of clutch is it? (Please fill out your profile).

Does it do it in every gear, while sitting still, and while in neutral?

FWIW - I've always found that worn throw-out bearings STOP making noise when the clutch pedal is pushed in...on the three I've gone through anyway.

 

[talontsi01]

What kind of clutch is it? (Please fill out your profile).

Does it do it in every gear, while sitting still, and while in neutral?

FWIW - I've always found that worn throw-out bearings STOP making noise when the clutch pedal is pushed in...on the three I've gone through anyway.

Stock clutch - I'm over a 100k miles now.

Only when it's happening (certain driving sessions it happens, some it doesn't), it happens while both while still and driving, only when I tough the clutch pedal.

I've never had an issue with this before, but from what I've read, I would agree with your last statement. I haven't found a confirmed scenario in which someone gets a noise like this when compressing the pedal (It's typically when the pedal isn't compressed).

 

[TSi Kid]

Crankwalk is a myth, my money is your TOB.

 

[half-cocked]

So a throw out bearing can be fixed whereas crankwalk is something that if you have it, you have it?

Crankwalk is something if you have it, you fix remedy it with a new bottom end.

 

[TSi Kid]

Crankwalk is something if you have it, you fix remedy it with a new bottom end.

Don't you mean a new block entirely

 

[talontsi01]

First off, thank you everyone for the responses.

Second, I want to plan my attack on this problem. I'll first use the comments in this thread to try and diagnose what it is. If it is the TOB, it's likely a project that I'm not willing to tackle. So, does anyone have any past experience in regards to pricing on this that would fix my problem?

 

[half-cocked]

Yes, thats what I meant.

 

[turboglenn]

A throw out bearing is like 30 bucks. You have to pull the trans off to get to it and then there's a small wire clip that holds it to the clutch fork, make sure to pay attention to how it's orientated when you remove it to not put it back on wrong.

If you can remove the trans you can replace the throw out, and if you mean that you can just barely put your foot on the pedal, not even disengaging the clutch and it makes this noise then that's for sure a throw out bearing.. crank walk i've never heard squeal, but it's a bad bad thing to have and you'd know because when it's that bad you pusn the clutch and the crank hits the crank sensor or gets out of align with it and kills the engine completely, and it also can be watched moving in and out when you push the clutch ..

I saw my worst case ever here last summer a board member V12 killer, had me come down and ibrought a dial indicator thinking that it would be barely notable, hell it was moving over .095" almost 1/10th of an inch, that's some major crank walk

 

[pandaswag]

OP, before all this happened on cold starts would you hear something rattling while idling or driving for a good couple miles? I have a TOB *GOING* bad and what it sounds like is a rattling in my trans. when the clutch is depressed the rattling goes away. But after a few miles and everything is warm it goes away for a good portion of the day.

im just kinda on the fence with everyone pointing at the TOB if there were no previous symptoms. unless you hardcore popped the clutch and it just F*k'd itself right there.

 

[talontsi01]

OP, before all this happened on cold starts would you hear something rattling while idling or driving for a good couple miles? I have a TOB *GOING* bad and what it sounds like is a rattling in my trans. when the clutch is depressed the rattling goes away. But after a few miles and everything is warm it goes away for a good portion of the day.

im just kinda on the fence with everyone pointing at the TOB if there were no previous symptoms. unless you hardcore popped the clutch and it just F*k'd itself right there.

No prior symptoms really at all.

And again to everyone, this problem only happens I would say 15% of my drives. If it happens, it happens that whole "drive". If it doesn't, it doesn't. Since I posted my original post, it hasn't happened to me again.

 

[donniekak]

Crankwalk is a myth, my money is your TOB.

I also think this sounds like a tob issue. But, i think you know that even 6-bolts crankwalk.