11F degrees out and my clutch pedal is sticking halfway...

[amdhunter]

Got into the car this morning and noticed that the clutch pedal is sticking in the middle. For example: I push it down, and release it, it gets stuck in the middle, then pops up.

Driving around seems fine, and I think it loosened up just a little bit after 15 minutes, but was still sticky afterwards. My work commute is less than 15 minutes and it's 11F degrees out, so I never got to really warm up the car.

I'm hoping that it's just frozen, does it sound normal?

 

[dud]

Got into the car this morning and noticed that the clutch pedal is sticking in the middle. For example: I push it down, and release it, it gets stuck in the middle, then pops up.

Driving around seems fine, and I think it loosened up just a little bit after 15 minutes, but was still sticky afterwards. My work commute is less than 15 minutes and it's 11F degrees out, so I never got to really warm up the car.

I'm hoping that it's just frozen, does it sound normal?

You might want to provide some needed details such as model and year of car ...

 

[AdamK47]

You might want to provide some needed details such as model and year of car ...

It's a Mazda RX-Penis.

 

[Raizinman]

Sounds like you have a hydraulic clutch going out. How many miles on the vehicle? Has the clutch master and/or slave cylinder ever been replaced? How does the fluid look?

Next time purchase a vehicle with an automatic transmission.

 

[amdhunter]

You might want to provide some needed details such as model and year of car ...

2009 RX-8, 17000 miles.

 

[amdhunter]

Sounds like you have a hydraulic clutch going out. How many miles on the vehicle? Has the clutch master and/or slave cylinder ever been replaced? How does the fluid look?

Next time purchase a vehicle with an automatic transmission.

17000 miles. Service was done three weeks ago and all fluids were checked and claimed good. Nothings been changed out.

 

[imagoon]

My speed6 starts to do this in the extreme cold. Get out there and drive it to temp. Also redline that Wankel a few times when it is warm since it is good for it anyway. Haven't had an issue for the 92,000 miles that is on it now.

Not getting that car up to temp is really bad for it. The Wankel won't tolerate the carbon build up. The clutch is likely some water in the grease points that would evaporate out when run properly.

 

[amdhunter]

My speed6 starts to do this in the extreme cold. Get out there and drive it to temp. Also redline that Wankel a few times when it is warm since it is good for it anyway. Haven't had an issue for the 92,000 miles that is on it now.

Not getting that car up to temp is really bad for it. The Wankel won't tolerate the carbon build up. The clutch is likely some water in the grease points that would evaporate out when run properly.

Yeah, I am hoping it's lubrication of some sort. My drive to work is very fast and doesn't even get warm enough to blow warm air through the vents. If it keeps up, I'm going to just take the train to work until I am sure nothing is wrong.

 

[MDE]

My Mazda 3 did the same thing in the cold. Once it warmed up it was fine.

 

[amdhunter]

My Mazda 3 did the same thing in the cold. Once it warmed up it was fine.

Yep. On a hunch I started the car about 15 minutes before I had to leave work. It wasn't as bad as this morning, but still had a sticky feel when I started it. When I got back to the car after it had warmed up, pedal was perfect.

I had noticed my seatbelts retracted in slow motion also, whatever grease Mazda is using to lubricate isn't cold-friendly.

This is the first time I used my car in sub-20 degree weather. Not fun.

 

[LTC8K6]

In the winter, when it gets to the point where the engine isn't really warmed up yet when I get to work, I start taking a longer route.

Driving is always much better/faster than idling to warm up the engine and trans.

 

[imagoon]

If it is like mine, the clutch is fine (ie the crutch spring is making full contact with the disc / plate) and the "1/2 way" is just the slack in the pedal. It is safe to drive that way really, it just is annoying for the first 10 minutes. However it indicates you need to really drive it since I only have it happen when the car sits.

 

[amdhunter]

In the winter, when it gets to the point where the engine isn't really warmed up yet when I get to work, I start taking a longer route.

Driving is always much better/faster than idling to warm up the engine and trans.

Impossible for me. I took a long drive around The Bronx coming home, but going to work is too close.

 

[Howard]

I have heard that replacing the clutch fluid helps with this. I have the same issue with my manual 2005 CTS.

 

[jlee]

My 2004 CTS-V's pedal gets a bit sluggish when temps are around freezing. Hasn't stuck though.