Clutch Is Toast

texastang · 02-26-2008

Just got a GT500 (about 180 miles so far) and I am having trouble with smoothly starting from a stop. I've driven manual transmissions for years, so don't think it is me. The car shakes and shimmys from a stop about half the time. Requires me to very slowly let the clutch up at low power. I am also getting a "burning" smell that smells like burnt clutch.

Haven't really gotten on it hard or dropped the clutch so it shouldn't be worn or damaged. I found a number of posts on other forums that talk about clutch chatter being normal on this car.

What's normal for this thing and what isn't?

Thanks.

GT500Girl · 02-27-2008

The problems your having as far as a smooth start are from wheel hop. Check out the thread about wheel hop. This is a known issue with all the GT500's. As far as the clutch goes you shouldn't be smelling it. Read this thread and others about it.

texastang · 03-09-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by GT500Girl

The problems your having as far as a smooth start are from wheel hop. Check out the thread about wheel hop. This is a known issue with all the GT500's. As far as the clutch goes you shouldn't be smelling it. Read this thread and others about it.

Don't think it is wheel hop - here is what I was referring to...just want to know what is normal since "comparing to a like unit" isn't all that easy. Is anyone else having this problem?

SPECIAL SERVICE MESSAGE
19922 2007-2008 MUSTANG SHELBY GT500 - CLUTCH CHATTER
SOME 2007 - 2008 SHELBY GT500 MUSTANGS EQUIPPED WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION MAY EXHIBIT A "CLUTCH CHATTER" DURING INITIAL TAKE-OFF OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS HOT. THE CLUTCH CHATTER MAY BE PRESENT IN 1ST AND/OR REVERSE GEARS AND IS CONSIDERED A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC CAUSED BY THE CERAMETALIC CLUTCH LINING. THE CLUTCH CHATTER HAS NO EFFECT ON THE PERFORMANCE OR DURABILITY OF THE VEHICLE. COMPARE TO A LIKE UNIT. IF THE SYMPTOM IS EXCESSIVE COMPARED TO A LIKE UNIT, FOLLOW NORMAL WORKSHOP MANUAL PROCEDURES TO FURTHER DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 08/16/2007

GT500Girl · 03-09-2008

Well..we have 2 of them and the only different thing I see is the burnt smell. I would have Ford check it out for sure and make sure they have SVT mechanics at the location you take it to. But both of ours have the wheel hop and I've heard from pretty much everyone that has one, and I have talked to a lot of others that have them, they all have the same issue.