Clutch and Pressure Plate Replacement Advise
Clutch and Pressure Plate Replacement Advise
I have a 2007 TLS and I just recently had the clutch replaced (102,000 miles) and I wanted to share my experience it will hopefully clear up some gray area. I had a 20,000 mile warning that the clutch was going to go so I had time to research.
Symptoms
Since about 80,000 I had minor slippage not enough to get the clutch replaced. The main problem I had was I had a broken/bad pressure plate. I first noticed the pressure plate problem when I would do a high rpm hard shift. After the shift the clutch pedal would have a dead feeling and I would have to pump it a few times to get it to return to normal. As it got worse I noticed this would happen during any drive train shock even as minor letting the clutch out too fast backing out of a parking space. Most forum posts said bleed the clutch fluid or check the master cylinder. Few pointed to the pressure plate. At the end of the clutch's life I noticed the clutch engagement point on the pedal starting to move after some simi hard shifts. Sometimes it would be very close to the floor other times it would be wear it normally is. I believe it has something to do with the self adjusting pressure plate on the TL's. The purpose is to keep the clutch engagement consistent as the clutch wears. Mine happened to make the problem worse. It could even be from an incorrectly installed pressure plate. I am unsure if I was running the original clutch. Also as the clamping force of the pressure plate would be inconsistent. Sometimes when testing the clutch it would slip and other times i could chirp the tires in 2nd. I want to confirm that replacing the pressure plate did fix all of this.
The Repair
I started off trying with my local mechanic seeing if he could do the job. He was sincere about it and researched it and he mentioned that he needed to find the special tool. I was glad he mentioned the tool. He was a little unsure if he would be able to do it. I started calling around to transmission shops and I came up with a good story to sort them out. I said something like other mechanics have told me to go to the dealership for the clutch because it requires a special tool. Some would look it up and tell me there was no special tool required (and they would tell me the wrong book time) so I knew not to take it there.
I ended up taking it to the dealership (they originally quoted me $1,700 w/ no flywheel replacement) They charge $100/hr for labor so $700 was parts and 100/hr isn't much more than I would pay anyone else. I asked them to do $400 for parts (The parts were $350 shipped on acuraoemparts.com) They acted like I would be stealing them if I got them for $350. They told me they were getting them for $640. I just feel bad for them and their customers if that is really the case. I was shocked when they said it was no problem for me to bring my own parts.
The flywheel
The dealership originally told me they could resurface the flywheel but once they read the service manual they realized it was not recommended. They wanted $1000 to replace. I was set on replacing the flywheel but I ended up telling them no. I started kicking myself because the old clutch had a lot of chatter. I don't know if anyone has not replaced or resurfaced the flywheel before but I have put 1,500 miles on the new clutch and there is zero chattering. Maybe time will say different but I recommend not replacing the flywheel.
GM synchromesh FM
This is more of a funny story than anything.
When I brought the car in I had just put GM synchromesh in at 95k. They told me they could do the clutch without changing it. Whether that meant taking it out and putting the old stuff in or removing the trans so it didn't leak out I didn't care. I left a quart of GM synchromesh FM on the front seat in case they needed to top it off. When I got it back they charged me for 2 quarts of Honda MTF. They tried to get out of fixing it saying they only can recommend and fill it with the Honda stuff. What they actually did was put my quart of sychromesh in and then the rest honda stuff. I called them out saying do you recommend putting 2 types of transmission fluid in? They ordered 3 quarts of sychromesh and put it in no charge. I told them as a Honda dealer they should keep in stock.
Symptoms
Since about 80,000 I had minor slippage not enough to get the clutch replaced. The main problem I had was I had a broken/bad pressure plate. I first noticed the pressure plate problem when I would do a high rpm hard shift. After the shift the clutch pedal would have a dead feeling and I would have to pump it a few times to get it to return to normal. As it got worse I noticed this would happen during any drive train shock even as minor letting the clutch out too fast backing out of a parking space. Most forum posts said bleed the clutch fluid or check the master cylinder. Few pointed to the pressure plate. At the end of the clutch's life I noticed the clutch engagement point on the pedal starting to move after some simi hard shifts. Sometimes it would be very close to the floor other times it would be wear it normally is. I believe it has something to do with the self adjusting pressure plate on the TL's. The purpose is to keep the clutch engagement consistent as the clutch wears. Mine happened to make the problem worse. It could even be from an incorrectly installed pressure plate. I am unsure if I was running the original clutch. Also as the clamping force of the pressure plate would be inconsistent. Sometimes when testing the clutch it would slip and other times i could chirp the tires in 2nd. I want to confirm that replacing the pressure plate did fix all of this.
The Repair
I started off trying with my local mechanic seeing if he could do the job. He was sincere about it and researched it and he mentioned that he needed to find the special tool. I was glad he mentioned the tool. He was a little unsure if he would be able to do it. I started calling around to transmission shops and I came up with a good story to sort them out. I said something like other mechanics have told me to go to the dealership for the clutch because it requires a special tool. Some would look it up and tell me there was no special tool required (and they would tell me the wrong book time) so I knew not to take it there.
I ended up taking it to the dealership (they originally quoted me $1,700 w/ no flywheel replacement) They charge $100/hr for labor so $700 was parts and 100/hr isn't much more than I would pay anyone else. I asked them to do $400 for parts (The parts were $350 shipped on acuraoemparts.com) They acted like I would be stealing them if I got them for $350. They told me they were getting them for $640. I just feel bad for them and their customers if that is really the case. I was shocked when they said it was no problem for me to bring my own parts.
The flywheel
The dealership originally told me they could resurface the flywheel but once they read the service manual they realized it was not recommended. They wanted $1000 to replace. I was set on replacing the flywheel but I ended up telling them no. I started kicking myself because the old clutch had a lot of chatter. I don't know if anyone has not replaced or resurfaced the flywheel before but I have put 1,500 miles on the new clutch and there is zero chattering. Maybe time will say different but I recommend not replacing the flywheel.
GM synchromesh FM
This is more of a funny story than anything.
When I brought the car in I had just put GM synchromesh in at 95k. They told me they could do the clutch without changing it. Whether that meant taking it out and putting the old stuff in or removing the trans so it didn't leak out I didn't care. I left a quart of GM synchromesh FM on the front seat in case they needed to top it off. When I got it back they charged me for 2 quarts of Honda MTF. They tried to get out of fixing it saying they only can recommend and fill it with the Honda stuff. What they actually did was put my quart of sychromesh in and then the rest honda stuff. I called them out saying do you recommend putting 2 types of transmission fluid in? They ordered 3 quarts of sychromesh and put it in no charge. I told them as a Honda dealer they should keep in stock.
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