I've lost that crunchy feeling...

[amdhunter]

Keep in mind that I am VERY new to stick shift 🙂

So I am at 797 miles on my new Jetta stick. I remember when I first got the car, it (until about sometime last week) had a really grabby clutch, which was loud when engaging, and "crunchy" sounding.

Now it seems to have smoothened out, and I can barely feel the crunchiness at all. It still grabs pretty good I guess; I can still roll the car uphill without any gas, so I guess thats a good sign. I usually rev ~1000-1500 rpms to take off.

I am just worried about how it smoothed out. I kind of like the clutch better like this, but being new (and very paranoid) is killing me. 🙁

Should the clutch always have that crunchy feel to it?

 

[ValValline]

Sounds like your car is breaking in. Clutch operation should be smooth as long as your inputs are smooth as well.

 

[Dman877]

A clutch shouldn't have a "crunchy" feel ever. It also shouldn't be loud.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: Dman877
A clutch shouldn't have a "crunchy" feel ever. It also shouldn't be loud.

The noise and feel are the only way a VW owners knows that the car hasn't died with an electrical problem!

😛

 

[SparkyJJO]

My guess is it was "crunchy" and loud because you are new to stick, and now that you are getting better at it you are smoothing out.

 

[amdhunter]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: Dman877
A clutch shouldn't have a "crunchy" feel ever. It also shouldn't be loud.

The noise and feel are the only way a VW owners knows that the car hasn't died with an electrical problem!

😛

lol, you know...everyone I know with a VW has been telling me the strangest electrical problem stories. How bad are these cars electrically, lol?

 

[amdhunter]

Originally posted by: SparkyJJO
My guess is it was "crunchy" and loud because you are new to stick, and now that you are getting better at it you are smoothing out.

I've been getting a ton better (I think.) I am actually becoming a LOT more aggressive when I drive, instead of driving like a little girl.

I am finally starting to realize why people like stick cars! Also, I've only owned cars previously with 140HP or less...it's nice to have a little kick now. 🙂🙂🙂

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: amdhunter

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: Dman877
A clutch shouldn't have a "crunchy" feel ever. It also shouldn't be loud.

The noise and feel are the only way a VW owners knows that the car hasn't died with an electrical problem!

😛

lol, you know...everyone I know with a VW has been telling me the strangest electrical problem stories. How bad are these cars electrically, lol?

No worse than a British car, I'd say 😀

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth

Originally posted by: amdhunter

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: Dman877
A clutch shouldn't have a "crunchy" feel ever. It also shouldn't be loud.

The noise and feel are the only way a VW owners knows that the car hasn't died with an electrical problem!

😛

lol, you know...everyone I know with a VW has been telling me the strangest electrical problem stories. How bad are these cars electrically, lol?

No worse than a British car, I'd say 😀

I resemble that remark.

 

[Pacfanweb]

The only crunchy feeling I can imagine is either from a bad pressure plate or a really old, loud pedal return spring.

 

[Demo24]

Originally posted by: amdhunter

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: Dman877
A clutch shouldn't have a "crunchy" feel ever. It also shouldn't be loud.

The noise and feel are the only way a VW owners knows that the car hasn't died with an electrical problem!

😛

lol, you know...everyone I know with a VW has been telling me the strangest electrical problem stories. How bad are these cars electrically, lol?

cant speak for your car, but our passat: electrical panel in the door liked to malfunction (dealer managed to talk their way out of replacing it), light bulbs like to go out so check those often, and after a few years the radio fried so we got an Alpine unit.

Probably had some engine electrical gremlins as well, but those were never fully diagnosed.


supposedly they are better now, so good luck!

 

[amdhunter]

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
The only crunchy feeling I can imagine is either from a bad pressure plate or a really old, loud pedal return spring.

It felt like the teeth (or something) grabbing. It was like a repeated grabbing sound, and I could feel the clutch engage with it. It has since smoothened out and the car feels a little less grabby, but smoother.

Now you are scaring me about the sound...lol.

 

[alimoalem]

Originally posted by: amdhunter

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
The only crunchy feeling I can imagine is either from a bad pressure plate or a really old, loud pedal return spring.

It felt like the teeth (or something) grabbing. It was like a repeated grabbing sound, and I could feel the clutch engage with it. It has since smoothened out and the car feels a little less grabby, but smoother.

Now you are scaring me about the sound...lol.

um i was seriously like wtf when i read "crunchy" and "loud." i think u just really sucked (no offense) and now you've gotten better.

 

[imported_Truenofan]

yeah, clutch should have broken in within the first 250miles, with abuse from a new stick driver, it would be shorter. either way its probably breaking in anyway.