[xxp]

Over the last week, I've noticed a very audible squeak when I pressed the clutch pedal. At first I thought it was the switch that prevents starting without the pedal depressed, or possibly the spring.

I got under the dash today and poked around, it wasn't either of the two things I suspected. The clutch arm has a connecting rod that goes into a plastic housing (assuming it's the case for the hydraulic plunger). There is a silver colored sleeve around the brass colored connecting rod. At full extension, the two parts click, and that click reverberates through that plastic housing. I know this is a knit pick, but it's really annoying. I'm planning on asking the dealer to take a look at it, but I'm thinking they'll say there's nothing they can do because it's not 'broke'.

Anybody else experience this noise? Any suggestions for a fix? It *is not* the switch or the spring, I disconnected both and the noise was still there.

I also have the vent issue where I select floor vent and air comes out of the windshield vent and floor vent. The last I read was that Ford instructed dealers not to attempt repair until engineering could develop a solution. Any updates on that one?

I have a very audible clunk when I downshift. If I don't mate the RPM's of the engine and tranny (re: If I get any engine brake at all) I hear a clunk somewhere under the car. It almost sounds like the rear tranny cross member bolts aren't tight. I don't believe this is the steering/popping issue at slow speeds although I think I have that too and will ask the dealer to take a look when I have my gas tank replaced.

All in all, while it appears to be a number of things I need to have fixed, all of them are fairly minor issues and don't bother me too much. I want them fixed, but if this is the worst I have to deal with, I'm ok.

Open to suggestions....or new information on the above.

Thanks,

J

[loudog]

My clutch pedal sqeaks when I put any lateral pressure on it (where the angle of my foot pushes the pedal to the side). It is somewhat annoying.

I don't have any serious clunking during downshifts...just the typical tranny whine.

I also don't seem to have (or aren't bothered by) the floor vent issue.

[xxp]

The clutch pedal noise is with straight on pressure. The floor vent thing is the least of my worries. I'm sure over time I'll get them sorted out. For a 1st model release, I think they did a pretty good job.

[hutmo]

I pretty much have every annoyance that you described.

I wil be going in in another month for my dealer service. we will see what happens and I will report.

HUTMO

[xxp]

Hutmo: Your clutch pedal makes that noise I described? Did you get underneath to see if it was the same thing? The clutch and the clunk are the most disturbing of the things I have issues with.

The floor vent and gas tank are no big deal. Somebody here mentioned on the gas tank if you hold the nozzle at the 12 o'clock position it would take fuel and sure enough, it does.

The dealer ordered my gas tank but called and told me they're on backorder. Once that's fixed, if I can get the clunk and clutch taken care of, I'd be good to go.

Anybody else have this clutch pedal issue? My '02 Maxima SE had the same issue, the dealer straightened it out during a routine service, no problem. It was like deja vu when I heard it on the GT.

[cwilks]

Spray it with WD40 or some type of siicone spray, I'll bet that takes care of the squeek.

[xxp]

Originally Posted by cwilks

Spray it with WD40 or some type of siicone spray, I'll bet that takes care of the squeek.

I should have tried that right out of the gate. I'll try it tonight.

[mustangtk]

Well xxp my Mustang had the exact same noise you described and I fixed it (I'm a Ford tech). One do not spray WD-40 into the bushings it can make the noise worse. My car had a small piece of metal caught between the pedal bracket and the bulkhead, I removed this metal and reattached the bracket and slightly overtorqued the mounting nuts and screws(22 ft lb instead of 18 ft lb spec). Ford engineering is aware of this problem, so if the tech at the dealership calls the Ford hotline they will have the information. Also look at the spring on the clutch pedal at the cross rod, see if the spring end that goes around the pedal arm is lined up with the gap in the bushing. If its lined up, pull the spring away from the pedal arm and rotate the bushing gap away from the spring end. If you want to lube it use white lithium grease, I took me over 4 hours over a couple of days to find the source. I have over 200 miles on the fix and no noise. This is covered under your warranty.

[xxp]

Mustangtk: You're awesome! Thanks for the tip. I have to have a few things done at the dealer anyway, so I'll save this for them. Is there a notice number or anything I can ask them to refer to?

Thanks very much for the advice!

J

[xxp]

Mustangtk: Do you know anything about the clunk I described above with downshifting? I've also read about this "popping noise" when you move the wheel while the car is stationary? What is that? Is there a TSB for it? Finally, the last word I heard on the floor vent thing is that dealers aren't supposed to attemp repair until engineering develops a fix. True? Anything new on this?

Thanks!

J

[mustangtk]

Originally Posted by xxp

Mustangtk: Do you know anything about the clunk I described above with downshifting? I've also read about this "popping noise" when you move the wheel while the car is stationary? What is that? Is there a TSB for it? Finally, the last word I heard on the floor vent thing is that dealers aren't supposed to attemp repair until engineering develops a fix. True? Anything new on this?

Thanks!

J

1. The clunk noise does it only occur during downshifting? If it also happens during upshifting there might be something wrong with the trans. I noticed with mine that during the 4-3 downshift there is a little clunk/thump, if I give the car a little more gas when downshifting it won't do it. This week I installed a new trans into fellow AFM member Peet car, I'm waiting for a PM from Peet to see if the clunk has been eliminated.When I drove it the noise was gone to my ears. I also installed a Tri-Ax into his Mustang and its no longer a easy bolt on, as compared to earlier Mustangs.
2. Ford knows about the pop from the front end and has either a SSM or TSB about replacing the spring rotators or insulators. I think I heard mine make that noise yesterday, I'm going keep an eye on it.
3. The floor vent thing I haven't seen any messages yet on it, I'll let you know if something comes up.

[xxp]

Originally Posted by mustangtk

1. The clunk noise does it only occur during downshifting? If it also happens during upshifting there might be something wrong with the trans. I noticed with mine that during the 4-3 downshift there is a little clunk/thump, if I give the car a little more gas when downshifting it won't do it. This week I installed a new trans into fellow AFM member Peet car, I'm waiting for a PM from Peet to see if the clunk has been eliminated.When I drove it the noise was gone to my ears. I also installed a Tri-Ax into his Mustang and its no longer a easy bolt on, as compared to earlier Mustangs.
2. Ford knows about the pop from the front end and has either a SSM or TSB about replacing the spring rotators or insulators. I think I heard mine make that noise yesterday, I'm going keep an eye on it.
3. The floor vent thing I haven't seen any messages yet on it, I'll let you know if something comes up.

I only hear the clunk on downshifting. Nothing unusual during up-shifting. If I rev the engine a touch, I do not get the noise when I downshift. Is it possible it's just driveline lash??

Definitely keep us posted on the Floor vent and popping noise. I read elsewhere that Ford doesn't have a fix for either and has been instructing dealers to not attempt repairs until they develop the correct fix. Some dealers have been replacing strut bushings only to have the problem come back a few weeks later.

Thanks for sharing your expertise,

J

[mustangtk]

You got it! Its just a bit of driveline lash. I usually don't hear it that often in my car, either the radio is cranked or I'm going to fast to downshift. Ford regulary sends e-mails out to the techs in the field about known issues on new models that they are either looking at or are looking for more info from the field. As for the strut noise...that's why I'm waiting until it becomes annoying, like the clutch pedal squeek.

[Peet]

Yessiree folks - Mustangk is the hero of the day! Other dealers thought I was insane with that noise, but after TK swapped the tranny it's gotten much quieter. Sure there is still a clunk there every once in a while, but it is no where near as bad as it was. Before it was swapped, the clunk happened on almost every shift!

A good test -- get it up to about 30mph, shift into 4th. Yea yea, I know - trust me. Now while coasting in 4th, clutch down, pause, clutch out - clunk or no clunk? Rinse repeat.

After a while, mine got so bad that friends outside the car cringed when I pulled away

So time will tell if this made a difference. But right now I'm very happy.

As for the triax - - the shifting action is awesome! It's tough (but this is a brand new set of bushings - so that's expected). I expect it to loosen up over the next month or so. I did, however, notice that the interior noise is MUCH higher. Not sure what happened, it's bewildering to me since nothing noise related changed - unless that 20db increase in drivetrain came from the triax carrying it into the cabin - possible.

I will be going back to mustangtk's shop as soon as some sort of TSB comes out on that popping front end sound (mine just started this weekend ) I'll have him look at that time for the noise.

Cheers all!

Peet

P.S. the other noise buster soon to come.... dynamt xtreme on entire interior. Once that's all setllted, I'll start thinking about doing a proper sound system again!

[mustangtk]

The Leine's tasting pretty good right now. Good to hear your happy. The Steeda unit is more solid then the factory piece and that's probably where you're picking up the additional noise. The factory boot fits snugly around the shifter and into the floor pan, so noise shouldn't be coming from that area. The floor pan under the console doesn't have much if any insulation, so putting some Dynamat down should help. How's the height of the shifter knob? I think my Mustang popped from the front end the other day, I usually have the radio too loud to notice much noise. I've even gotten used to the click noise when pushing in the clutch (its from the speed control deactivator switch).