Mazdaspeed6 Clutch Fix TSB

[Koenig]

I know what you mean bu the cluch feeling funny. I actually came across this on a modded Speed3, and it was a little issue with the pedal height not set properly from the factory. this is common on most of the Speed 3/6 cars. You can adjust it yourself.

Another problem might actually be the clutch. Of course you get those people that can't drive without riding the clutch constantly, and this of course causes premature failure.

I have my Speed 6, with the older style clutch from 06 with 73K on it, and it feels just like it did from when I bought the car brand new. The only differences be the old, and new styles is the pressure plate. The newer doesn't have the same holding pressure as the older on therefore they think it's easier to drive, but you don't get the same holding capabilities as the older clutch style.

For those of you that don't know the AWD set/ Trans axle of the Speed 3/6. It's ported over directly from the RS focus in Europe. The AWD is the WRC focus setup with one difference in the rear differential.

I dunno... my 06 had the older clutch before I had the TSB performed.... even my father who's 61 and has had MANY MANY manual cars through out the years (like the ones I can remember the most cause they were my faves a 69 z28 'maro.... and a 71 vette stingray and lots of trucks).... even he had issues with my clutch when I let him drive the car to check it out... he stalled it like 3 times before he got the hang of it, and I've never seen my father stall a manual car before (shrug)

I just know I'm glad I did the TSB, because they don't just change out your clutch, depending on your type (I was Type-A) they change out cables and the pedal too (pedal for Type-A) I'm hitting 42k on the car and no issues... but I will eventually get a stage2+ clutch (or stage3+) when my warranty expires at 50K

 

[jodriscoll]

where do I fall into...

I have a 2007 Mazdaspeed 6 with about 20,000 miles on it. My biggest complaint along with several of my friends who have drove it is the clutch is extremely hard to smoothly shift between gears. I've read a lot regarding this problem and the easiest solution was to adjust the "Clutch Pedal Arm Stop Bolt" and the "Clutch Cylinder Actuation Rod" (http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e158/DWBiker/Clutchadjustmentdiagram.jpg). If this is something that can be fully fixed under warranty, then how should I go about this?

My vehicle VIN is:
JM1GGxxxxxx109171

My vehicle is out of the Type B and into the "Type C" (???). How should I go about fixing my clutch problem?


Also, I am new here so I apologize for my first post being so "demanding" lol.

 

[Koenig]

I have a 2007 Mazdaspeed 6 with about 20,000 miles on it. My biggest complaint along with several of my friends who have drove it is the clutch is extremely hard to smoothly shift between gears. I've read a lot regarding this problem and the easiest solution was to adjust the "Clutch Pedal Arm Stop Bolt" and the "Clutch Cylinder Actuation Rod" (http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e158/DWBiker/Clutchadjustmentdiagram.jpg). If this is something that can be fully fixed under warranty, then how should I go about this?

My vehicle VIN is:
JM1GGxxxxxx109171

My vehicle is out of the Type B and into the "Type C" (???). How should I go about fixing my clutch problem?


Also, I am new here so I apologize for my first post being so "demanding" lol.

Simply put, there is no "Type C".... There is only Type A and Type B, named so because of the difference of repairs between the 2 (Type A has more things replaced than Type B).

As far as getting it fixed, if you're not in the Type B VIN# range, you're going to have a hell of a time trying to get Mazda to fix it for you. All I can say is best of luck should you attempt to try.

I've heard a lot of people have done the pedal adjustment and have been happy enough with it to not take their Type A/Type B car into the dealer.

 

[chuyler1]

Folks, keep in mind this thread was started over 2 years ago.

At this point it falls under....if you've got over 12K on the ticker, it hasn't been bad enough for you complain thus far and the dealer isn't going to help you out because you found a thread about it on the internet. Try the clutch mod and see if it works for you.

If you are the second owner of a vehicle with over 12K, you should have thought long and hard about the clutch after you test drove it and before you made a deposit. It's a sport clutch and even with all the fixes, it will still be heavier than most clutches, even a plain-ole Mazda6. I have to re-acclimate to it every time I drive someone else's car and get back into my MS6. It's just the nature of the beast. If your friends can't drive it, tough luck, sell it and get a Honda Civic.

The people here that have had their clutches replaced mostly fall under the "I bought it new and the clutch never felt the same as the one I test drove". Considering that not all type-A and type-B vehicles had problems it is an honest statement. Owners made several complaints early on before the 12K limit and Mazda caved and issued a TSB on it.

If you have a high mileage vehicle no one is going to stop you from asking your dealer to fix it, but in the end it is Mazda that has the final say and honestly I wouldn't OK fixing any more high mileage vehicles simply because somebody put the miles on the car and didn't complain until now.

 

[Koenig]

^^ What he said as well.... if you drive a car for 30,000 miles and never once mention the clutch being weird to the dealer.... they're going to be less than enthusiastic to help you since all of a sudden it's hard to drive?

Yes, albeit there are some people that have had it done over the 13K limit for the clutch (because some Mazda dealers have told people that it's supposed to fall under the car warranty and not the clutch itself). This doesn't mean that every single Mazda is just sitting around waiting for you to come in. Because if this was that serious of an issue there would have been a recall instead of a TSB issued and people would have been getting notices in the mail.

Your only option is to try.

 

[wtam1100]

So here is my story. My brother has 2007 ms6 gt. Ive driven around a bunch of times. My friend has a 2006 ms6 driven that a bunch of times too. Yes the clutch on the 07 feels a little better still nothing like it should. Yes I have driven manual b4 I had a 2002 wrx sold that and currently driving a 08 evo x. From day one in my brothers car it didnt right. Found out the tsb about about 3 wks ago. Called the dealership where my brother usually takes his veh to, Bedford Mazda. He took his car in they wouldnt do the tsb said it would $1600 out of pocket. He had 22k on the ticker so I was expecting that. I decide to try one more time took it to Classic Mazda in Mentor. They did the tsb work got the car back yesterday. Got the works new clutch pedal, pressure plate and disc. To me it feels the same but I drove it wearing tims and they dont give u much pedal feel. My brother says its a little better the pedal isnt as stiff. Hey we got a new clutch out of this but still dont think this is the way a car should drive. Im not trying to bash this car I think its an excellant combo of luxury and power but the clutch really kills the car and makes it not fun to drive. The moral of the story is even if u have an 07 and over 12k miles u can still have the tsb done u just have to find the right dealership.

 

[Koenig]

I have no problems with my clutch... I even had a short stint for 9 months where I had a part time job at a Mercedes Dealer driving the cars... I could easily drive the manuals that came (which were surprisingly a lot) and drive my car home at the end of the day without issue.

Considering that, I preferred the way my clutch felt compared to the Mercedes... and 2 of my good friend's cars that I've driven, an IS250 and a Mugen Civic Si.... I prefer my clutch to theirs.

Oh well, to each his own... and as I said.... it's not that you can't get the TSB done... it's that when you have higher mileage, it just makes it harder to get someone to do it.

 

[amillman2]

i have a question.. i just got a 07 spd6 and i absolutely love it rides great.. clutch grab point is very high but im fine with that. i just noticed something weird ive never personally seen in any other manual transmission before. when my car is off i can just put the shifter into first or reverse without pushing the clutch in.. however when the car is started it is how it should be. Is this normal???

 

[claud_face]

i think thats normal in all manuals. all my friends who have stick they could do that with car off. so could i.

 

[coyfish]

i have a question.. i just got a 07 spd6 and i absolutely love it rides great.. clutch grab point is very high but im fine with that. i just noticed something weird ive never personally seen in any other manual transmission before. when my car is off i can just put the shifter into first or reverse without pushing the clutch in.. however when the car is started it is how it should be. Is this normal???

I wouldn't do that without pushing the clutch.

 

[chuyler1]

That's normal. Sometimes reverse is tricky to get into without pushing the clutch in but once the syncros mesh, you can basically move the stick around freely.

 

[ms6zoey]

my luck must suck. I got my speed6 bout 3 months ago and ive been trying to get clutch replaced for almost 2 months. 2 weeks after driving the car i was starting to hate the clutch and knew something was up. then did research found this post and ive been to 4 different dealerships and all have refused changing it out. im gonna try to call mazdacorp and see if they can do something for me.

 

[Koenig]

my luck must suck. I got my speed6 bout 3 months ago and ive been trying to get clutch replaced for almost 2 months. 2 weeks after driving the car i was starting to hate the clutch and knew something was up. then did research found this post and ive been to 4 different dealerships and all have refused changing it out. im gonna try to call mazdacorp and see if they can do something for me.

What is your excuse in regards to the clutch? Have you made mention of things like, you take it to Tire Kingdom for an oil change and they always stall your car... Valet at hospitals, restaurants, hotels are always stalling your car?

I made mention of that... I also threw in how my 58 yr old father has been driving manuals all his life and he doesn't stall his 71 corvette stingray, but he stalled my car the first 2 times he attempted to drive it (true story).

Also a lot of dealers are dicks so you may have to keep looking.

 

[claud_face]

so far i tried one dealer near chicago completely failed. they fixed this steering click but the faggets unbolted my testpipe. i went right back in service department and all they said was it must of happened by itself(wow). stupid pieces of s*** i have never been more pissed!!!! after screaming and swearing they basically escorted me out of the place lol. shoulda figured they d do it if i hadda testpipe. im a idiot. time to go to second dealership. if anyone did theris in chicago lemme know which dealership they went to.

 

[ms6zoey]

What is your excuse in regards to the clutch? Have you made mention of things like, you take it to Tire Kingdom for an oil change and they always stall your car... Valet at hospitals, restaurants, hotels are always stalling your car?

I made mention of that... I also threw in how my 58 yr old father has been driving manuals all his life and he doesn't stall his 71 corvette stingray, but he stalled my car the first 2 times he attempted to drive it (true story).

Also a lot of dealers are dicks so you may have to keep looking.

went to two different dealerships with my buddies speed6 and mine and they told me that clutch can be diff from car to car. i usually end up yealling and cursing so they dont fix and tell me to leave. another time the mech stalled the car and told me he wasnt used to the clutch. and i said then how do you kow what is norm and was it not! the service managers stood behind there mech and they didnt do s***. and the 4th time the dealers wouldnt even look at it without charging me 90 diagnose fee... paid for it and still said they could do nothing about it.

 

[Koenig]

went to two different dealerships with my buddies speed6 and mine and they told me that clutch can be diff from car to car. i usually end up yealling and cursing so they dont fix and tell me to leave. another time the mech stalled the car and told me he wasnt used to the clutch. and i said then how do you kow what is norm and was it not! the service managers stood behind there mech and they didnt do s***. and the 4th time the dealers wouldnt even look at it without charging me 90 diagnose fee... paid for it and still said they could do nothing about it.

You need to call Mazda, you also need to see if you can document your case with the dealer and the tech.... UH, if a technician stalls a car because he's "not used to the clutch" then he's not qualified to perform service let alone diagnostic on a clutch that he doesn't know should feel normal.

Try to refrain from the cursing but go back to that dealer see if you can throw the magnusson moss act in their face.... maybe mention about going to speak with a lawyer, lol just see if you can kind of nudge them into performing the act.

But mostly importantly see if you can get a hold of Mazda, and make sure you inform them about the mechanic stalling the car.



I know all about the clutch thing because the first time I test drove a Mazdaspeed6 the clutch was good and I never stalled it. Then when I found MY Mazdaspeed6 and I went to test drive it to make sure the car was ok... I stalled it 3 times, and I could tell the clutch felt different (cause it was only a month later from the first test drive).

You just have to keep trying... the most important thing is appearance and how you come off. Getting mad at them for not helping you is going to make them want to help you less. Try to find another dealer if possible. I live within a 50 mile radius of about 6 dealers.

Also how many miles are on the car? A lot will not perform the service over 13k miles because they say it's under clutch warranty when others say it's not.

If anything see if you can print the TSB regarding the clutch, note the VIN range... and note your car's VIN range (if it falls under it), and when you show them the paper inform them that this shows Mazda knows there is an issue with some clutches on these cars. But try to do it in a calm manner (thumb)

 

[ms6zoey]

here's an update on my situation went back to the dealership that i bought the car from. This time i had a whole calm speech prepared and all. lol. I told them "it doesnt seem fair that the previous owner did not take action regarding the TSB. If i was the first owner i would understand not doing the work to fix it." i also brought my buddies car who has the correct clutch in his car. i talked to the service managers, manager and he drove both cars, he saw a differene right away and took care of the work. right now my car is still at the dealer they said they are replacing the clutch assembly and the clutch disk. they are charging me 143.76 for the disk. have another question, they said the disk seems normal wear, but should i go ahead and replace the disk since they have it open and it would probably be cheaper for me to do it now? or should i just wait?

thanks

 

[ms6zoey]

oh, forgot to tell you, my car has 26000 miles and its a 2007 GT trim.

 

[chuyler1]

Just replace it now while they are fronting the labor.

 

[ms6zoey]

i went ahead and replaced the clutch disk. car is still at the dealer cant wait to try out the new clutch!

while they were test driving the car they found out that the engine mount is also defective so they are fixing that too. hopefully i get it back soon. been 3 days so far. just have to keep waiting. im sure its worth the wait.