Weird clicking feel from clutch pedal once transmission is warmed up

[alfa147x]

2007 Civic Lx Coupe @ 60,000 miles

The car runs great and the only issue I have with it are two things with the transmission.

1) When the car has been sitting sometimes when shifting into 1st or reverse I have to press the clutch in attempt to change gears, notice odd resistance, press the clutch in again then it'll let me shift into my target gear.
Is this normal? Or something to worry about?

2) The clicking issue: Once the car is throughly warmed up the clutch starts to make this odd clicking feel that you can feel more than hear. It feels like you're clicking a mechanical pencil twice with your foot. You feel it about half way through the clutch engagement point. I want to say it's done this for a few months and I've just never thought anything of it. Is this normal? How can I diagnose this?

This is the first car I've ever driven with a manual transmission. Bought the car a while back then learned how to drive it .

Are these issues OR am I just being paranoid?

 

[SpatiallyAware]

The first thing I would do is lube the clutch pedal pivot points.

DO NOT just spray a bunch of lube up in the area.

Go to a hobby store and buy a tube of 'plastic safe' grease, usually in the model car section. Squeeze some up near the pivot, then use a can of compressed air to push the lube into the pivot.


If that doesn't fix it then bleed the clutch. I would bleed the clutch anyway, particularly if it's never been done.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

And I don't think you're being paranoid, those are both issues I would fix.

You could drive it 200k miles and it never get worse, or you could have a clutch master/slave give out tomorrow. I hate 'ticking timebombs' like that.

 

[alfa147x]

Thanks. I'll give the grease a shot sometime this week. I was planning on having my mechanic replace the transmission fluid soon. I'll just have him bleed the clutch then.

Thanks again.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

NP at all; if you would, update us on what ends up being the fix.

 

[JCH13]

I'd skip the hobby store (expensive!) and get a spray bottle of lithium grease at Autozone or whatever car store is close. Skip silicone grease though, it can screw up painted surfaces.

 

[alfa147x]

I think my roommate has some lithium grease. That would makes this a lot cheaper

 

[SpatiallyAware]

I think my roommate has some lithium grease. That would makes this a lot cheaper

I prefer 'white lithium', not just 'lithium'

It will work fine, but seriously be careful to ONLY spray the pivot point (which is why I prefer a glob of grease that is then sprayed with compressed air). A tube of plastic safe white hobby grease is about $2, $4 for the super expensive stuff. One tube lasts me years. The reason I specifically say plastic safe is they often use these thin plastic discs between the pedal pivot points... I've seen some grease cause these to swell - so you go from clicking midway through to the pedal wanting to stick.


Any overspray will attract dust. One of the things I check on a used car is to make sure no one sprayed a ton of goop under the dash, long-term it ends up doing more harm than good as the grime starts to build up.

 

[JCH13]

I like the aerosol can variety with a straw on it, I've found it's pretty easy to squirt it only where I want it. I also use it to protect bolts and metal bits under my car that I drive during the winter.

Edit: and yes, white lithium FTW.

 

[vshah]

install a speed bleeder for your clutch while you're at it.

 

[alfa147x]

I'll be driving 200 miles friday. Can't decide if I should tinker with it before or after the trip. I guess grease really can't do much damage.

install a speed bleeder for your clutch while you're at it.

Will do. Seems cheap enough. Thanks.

 

[DaTT]

Keep us posted, my wife's Dodge Caliber does something similar, but only sometimes.

 

[dawp]

I had a similar issue just before my slave cylinder crapped out in my old probe, spring broke.

 

[alfa147x]

The white lithium grease worked great. Just used a very little bit then pumped the clutch. The clutch now feels super smooth. Wish I had done this sooner.

Thanks!

 

[Jinny]

The white lithium grease worked great. Just used a very little bit then pumped the clutch. The clutch now feels super smooth. Wish I had done this sooner.

Thanks!

i once owned a 2004 civic and it did the exact same clicking thing. i brought it to the dealer and they replaced the master clutch cylinder (i think?) but the sound eventually came back. nice to know it only took some grease to fix it up!