GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Cause

Action

DEFINITION: The clutch does not disengage completely to allow smooth shift operations. It may cause gear clashing while the vehicle is not moving, at idle, and shifting out of neutral, or hard shifting in and out of gears while driving the vehicle.

Review the Symptoms - Clutch and perform the necessary inspections.

Pedal blocked from full travel

  1. Inspect for obstacles that will prevent the pedal from going to the floor.
  2. Clear any obstacles from under the pedal area, such as floor mats or interior panels.

Too much travel between pedal and clutch master cylinder

  1. Inspect the pedal for worn bushings.
  2. Replace the pedal bushings if worn. Refer to Clutch Pedal Replacement .

Clutch pedal mounting loose

  1. Inspect the clutch pedal mounting bracket for loose or missing fasteners.
  2. Replace or repair the fasteners. Refer to Clutch Pedal Replacement .

Linkage at pedal worn or damaged

  1. Inspect the linkage at the pedal for excessive wear.
  2. Repair or replace the linkage as required. Refer to Clutch Pedal Replacement .

Clutch master cylinder seized or binding

  1. Inspect the master cylinder for the piston being able to move freely and full range of travel.
  2. Repair or replace the clutch master cylinder as required. Refer to Clutch Master Cylinder Replacement .

Air in the clutch hydraulic system

Bleed the clutch hydraulic system. Refer to Hydraulic Clutch Bleeding .

Clutch actuator cylinder seized or binding

  1. Inspect the clutch actuator piston for moving freely.
  2. Replace the clutch actuator cylinder if the piston is binding. Refer to Clutch Actuator Cylinder Pipe Replacement .

Clutch master cylinder leaking internally

  1. Inspect for proper pedal reserve.
  2. 1.1. Let up halfway on pedal.
    1.2. Apply the pedal a few times.
    1.3. Inspect to ensure there is still the proper pedal reserve.
  3. Replace the clutch master cylinder if it will not hold pedal reserve. Refer to Clutch Master Cylinder Replacement .

Damaged clutch assembly components

  1. Remove the clutch assembly.
  2. Inspect the following clutch assembly components for damage:
  3. • Damaged clutch disc hub splines
    • Bent clutch disc
    • Bent drive straps
    • Broken or warped pressure plate
  4. Replace the clutch assembly if any of the above damage is found. Refer to Clutch, Pressure Plate, and Pilot Bearing Replacement .

Excessive side loading on the clutch actuator cylinder

  1. Inspect the following clutch system components:
  2. • Excessive flywheel runout
    • Excessive engine to transmission misalignment
    • Clutch actuator cylinder to transaxle misalignment
  3. Repair or replace any faulty components.

Transaxle input shaft splines worn or damaged

Replace the transmission input shaft. Refer to Transmission Case Disassemble.

Tight or contaminated clutch disc splines

  1. Clean the clutch disc and input shaft splines.
  2. If the clutch disc will not clean, replace the clutch assembly. Refer to Clutch, Pressure Plate, and Pilot Bearing Replacement .

Flywheel housing, engine block to clutch housing, or transaxle front case excessively misaligned

  1. Inspect the clutch housing or the transmission front case for being faulty.
  2. Replace the clutch housing if it is faulty. Refer to Transmission Replacement.
  3. Replace the transmission front case half. Refer to Transmission Case Disassemble.

Grease or oil contamination on the clutch discs facing

  1. Repair the oil leak.
  2. Repair the grease leak.
  3. Clean the clutch disc facing and the other clutch assembly components.
  4. Replace the clutch assembly if it will not clean. Refer to Clutch, Pressure Plate, and Pilot Bearing Replacement .