The Official Clutch and Transmission Thread

[Orf]

This has been tried before, but now we’re going to get serious about it.

 

Background: There is a serious issue with how the clutch was assembled on every GT500 built before June of 2007. Some cars will show symptoms earlier than others for various reasons. Some of these cars have been “wrapped up”, i.e. put away as collector items. Others see very limited drive time. These cars may not show symptoms for years. Still others are “babied”. This isn’t an indictment, just a description. These cars may take quite a while to exhibit problems, too. The rest are driven hard. After all, what is the expected use of a 500 horsepower car, if not to be driven hard? Not mis-use, just enthusiastic use. These cars will exhibit the symptoms sooner than the others. Be aware, though, that all the cars built prior to June 2007 are at risk for developing the dreaded clutch issue. My opinion is that the vast majority will eventually succumb to the problem.

 

Purpose: The reason for this thread is to compile as much “real world” data about the clutch issue as possible. I’d like to get everyone who has had their car fixed under warranty to post the information regarding their experience in the format I have listed below. I will post my experience, following that format, at the end of this post. This could end up being a very important thread for every GT500 owner. ***EDIT*** I would also like to hear from people who have issues similar to mine and the first few people who have posted in this thread. This will allow everyone to see how wide spread the problem really is.

 

Rules: I will ask for moderator assistance to remove any extraneous posts, or information. This isn’t an attempt to trample on anyone’s free speech. Blame me, not the moderators. I just want to compile as much relevant information in one place so that the people who need to see this information don’t get bogged down in the social aspects of this site. I’m as guilty as anyone when it comes to leading threads off topic. We have plenty of threads for that already. I just want this thread to be “all business”. I hope everyone can appreciate that position. Also, if you were helped by someone at Ford to rectify this situation, please do not post any names, or any sensitive information in this thread. Please keep it to what you’ve experienced, and what, if anything, was done to repair the problem. Also, please post if you’ve been told by a dealership or Ford (or SVT) directly that there is no clutch problem with the GT500.

 

Please supply the following information:

 

1. Build Date

 

2. The symptoms that caused you to think you might have a problem. This will probably be the bulk of your post.

 

3. What, if anything, was done to repair your clutch, and also if your transmission was replaced?

 

4. Were you told directly by Ford or SVT (not a dealership) that there is no know problem with the clutches on GT500s?

 

Here is my submission, based on the list above:

 

 

1. Built on 9/6/2006.

 

2. My car has always had the “grind” when going from 1st to 2nd when cold. The grind is more a feeling in the shifter than an audible noise. I also noticed the clutch chatter when starting from a dead stop, which was more noticeable when trying to go uphill than it was when the ground was level. This went away as the clutch became broken in – about 2500 miles. Somewhere between 4000 and 5000 miles, I started to notice odd behavior. The chatter had returned, and was getting more and more noticeable. Also, it felt like the clutch would engage higher up in the pedal travel than it did when it was new. This change seemed to happen very quickly – like one day it was normal, the next day it wasn’t. By the time I had 8000 miles on the car, I had experienced a couple of “missed shifts” when trying to shift from 1st to 2nd at high RPMs – over 5500. I didn’t feel these misses were driver related, as the clutch was fully depressed. For the record, I have never powershifted any car. I could maybe chalk it up to driver error if the miss was from 2nd to 3rd, but not 1st to 2nd. I also noticed once that I could not get the car into reverse, no matter what, until I moved forward a foot or two in 1st gear. I was fortunate with the timing, as this was shortly before the Dearborn gathering. At AAI I was able to get someone in the know to actually sit in my car and check the operation of my clutch. It took this individual about 90 seconds to declare that my clutch was dragging. On Sunday at FWHQ, I got another person in the know to check my car, with the same results

 

3. My clutch was replaced, under warranty, with the Teflon Grease applied to the tranny input spline, when the car had between 10000 and 11000 miles. I watched the entire process and noticed obvious corrosion on the shaft input spline. I did not check the female spline in the clutch. After the repair, the difference in drivability was drastic. It was like a completely different vehicle. I was amazed by how accustomed I had become to the behavior of the dragging clutch plates. I was also very thankful to the people who diagnosed my issue, and the speed at which it was addressed and repaired.

 

4. I was never told directly by anyone at Ford or SVT that there wasn’t a clutch or transmission issue with the GT500.

[GT500FLYBOY]

1) built on 2/8/07

 

2) I have had the 1st to 2nd grind a lot, and have had it from 2nd to 3rd on occasion. I also frequently get the grind going into reverse. To avoid this, I sometimes go from neutral to 1st, then reverse, while holding in the clutch - that seems to resolve. I also had the clutch chatter, but Fred at Evo did something with my custom Stage II tune that made it go away for the most part. He never did say what he did about that.

 

3) Nothing has been done - I have not reported any issues.

 

4) I haven't heard from anyone that there is not a clutch issue.

[LSR]

1- Build date: 8/14/06

 

 

*My car became disabled & unsafe to drive due to the clutch problems and had to be towed from my home to the dealership.*

 

2. Symtoms:

 

* When driving the car and downshifting to come to a stop and once in neutral to come to a stop, the car would still pull forward as if it was still in gear. Even if I didn't let off the brake the car would stall as if I had the car in 1st gear and just applied the brakes.

 

* The car would get stuck in 1st gear when taking off from a stop, not able to shift into 2nd gear.

 

* Tranny would grind going into 1st gear & reverse.

 

* Backing up my driveway, the car would not want to move as if I had the parking brake on.

 

 

3. Actions taken:

 

Clutch & Tranny was replaced under warranty at 4478 miles 9/18/07

 

 

4. Were you told directly by Ford or SVT (not a dealership) that there is no known problem with the clutches on GT500s? Yes When I called in August 07.

[oldimp]

1. Build Date - 16 Jun 06

 

2. My car has a grind when shifting quickly from 1st to 2nd. At first, I thought it was only while during the first few minutes of driving, when the drive train would be considered cold, but found out recently that it occurs when warm, also. No other gear has given me a problem and casual shifting does not cause the grind. The grind in my car can be felt and heard.

 

3. I reported the problem to my dealership, but they would not perform maintenance without one of their people witnessing the problem or if the transmission/clutch had an actual failure. So far, I have not permitted them to test drive the car.

 

4. I was never told directly by anyone at Ford or SVT that there wasn’t a clutch or transmission issue with the GT500.

[Hans]

1-My car was built 10-19-06.

 

2- I have had the clutch chatter all year, I have the first to second feeling of the secrons nicking, i also get it going to third. I have had an issue first to second shift not going in, like i missed it. It is very rough shifting cold but when its warms up it some time gets better but still have the second to third nicking you can't hear any noise.

 

3- I will drop off the car early this week as my one year is up on the 21st. Have 8,500 miles.

 

4-No info from dealer or SVT on clutch issues.

[carlo]

1. Build Date - October 2006

 

 

2. The symptoms - at 4500 miles-

I had clear chatter from the start, first gear and second....it became progressively harder to shift, grasp issues etc..In May, I could not get in gear one morning....I had to start the car in gear, to get it to the dealership....I was told my primary and secondary hyd. Cylinders were shot....that makes sense as I no longer heard a “hiss” whatsoever when clutching...I began conferring with a ford rep......

 

 

at 7000 miles

In September, the issue reared its head again in the form of vibration when engaging 5th and 6th gear.....over 55 mph ...I would get vibration- like driving over an uneven road.... if I re-clutched and let it out reallll slow, it would 3 out of 5 times smooth out...

 

 

3. What was done - First issue ( May 07) took 3 weeks to repair, they replaced the cylinders and waited for the bolts, ( the fist set were not installed correctly (torque down issues) and they had to wait on a second set, hence 3 weeks in the shop...)

 

Flash to the incident this past September 07, after having the car a week, they “fixed it” temporarily.....last week,(November 13th, 2007) they had received the “newly designed” clutch, linkage and Transmission.....replacement was performed, it took 10 hours according to the repair sheet... ...I have had the car back and have put 100 miles on it, its sweet, shifts like butter, it never shifted this smooth and grasp free.I always had chatter with my cobra from the start...thats now gone except at very low 1st gear rpm.

 

 

4. Were you told directly by Ford or SVT (not a dealership) that there is no know problem with the clutches on GT500s? - No, they told me they had issues.

[rpretzel]

1. Build Date: April 3, 2007

 

2. The symptoms:

I noticed a "grind" when going from first to second during my very first test drive at the dealership. Initially I couldn't really hear anything when it would grind...it was more a feeling. Through the first 1,000 miles or so, the grind would only occur for the first 3 or 4 shifts, then it would go away. From 1,000 to 2,000 miles the grind became more prominent. It would grind until the car came up to normal operating temperature (10 - 15 shifts), and I could now hear a grinding sound when shifting. After 2,000 miles, it has become worse. It takes much longer for the grind to go away, and I'm now getting a grind when shifting from 2nd to 3rd in addition to 1st to 2nd, and I have a hissing sound that lasts for a few seconds after depressing the clutch.

 

3. No repair yet.

 

4. I did ask my local dealer if they knew of any clutch/tranny issues, and they said they had not heard anything.

[Orf]

Explanation bump.

 

I edited the first post. It was a little misleading. I am also looking for people who have issues similar to those listed above, but have not taken their cars in yet, as well as those who have taken their cars in, but haven't had them repaired yet.

 

It's pretty safe to assume that Ford knows how many they fixed. What they don't know is how wide spread the problem is. So if you have issues like those already mentioned, please post your info, too.

 

Thanks.

[chuckstang]

1. Built June 10 2007

 

 

2. My 1-2 grind now goes away after 2-4 shifts rather than 1-2 shifts and 3rd nicks now.

 

3.

 

4.

[1badsho]

1. 11/23/2006

 

2) when cold tranny grinds in 1st and second

 

3)

 

4)

[Alloy Dave]

1) Build date November 2006

 

2) There is a slight "tightness" to the shifting when cold...but nothing serious and no grinding

 

3) Not reported to dealership...I'm watching the issue carefully

 

4)

[svt boost]

1. Build date -

 

2. Symptoms -

 

3. What repair work was done -

 

4. Were you told directly by Ford or SVT (not a dealership) that there is no know problem with the clutches on GT500s? -

[Blackfoot]

1. 11/13/06

 

2. I rounded the corner out of my neighborhood, onto a major street. I was probably going about 40 MPH and shifting between 2nd and 3rd. I was not hard on the car since a cop hangs out about 1/2 mile down the road from where I was. The tranny didn't feel like it went all the way into 3rd gear and the whole car started to vibrate and rumble. I initially thought the shifter was half-way through the shifting gate, in between neutral and 3rd, so I pressed the clutch pedal in and tried putting the tranny in neutral. The shifter wouldn't budge and the rumbling, grumbling and vibrations got really bad. I immediately pulled over to the side and the car skidded to a stop. I never touched the brakes. The tech removed the fill plug and noticed metal shavings in the fluid. Supposedly he banged on the casing and heard rattling.

 

3. The tranny and clutched was replaced with only 848 miles on the car. It took a week to get the parts since they were on national back-order with a code of D99 (I believe.) The work was performed in Feb 07.

 

4. My local Ford rep was involved as well as Ford. I was never told by anyone that there is an issue. I was told that my Shelby was the first to have this issue.

 

The tranny is great now, but every once in a while, the shifter feels spongy between gears and sometimes feels like it gets stuck going through the gate.

[Pig]

1. Build Date: 11/15/06

 

2. I've never had the 1-2 grind, but 1st and reverse can be stiff sometimes when cold. My issues arose after doing a burnout one night. My clutch became locked/stuck partially engaged at about 15-20% or so. It would not completely disengage. If I started the car in neutral, I could not shift into any gear. If I started the car in 1st, clutch pedal pressed, the car would slowly start creeping forward. As I let out the clutch completely, it would engage and move forward as normal, but then I could not shift to 2nd or any other gear.

 

3. Had the car towed to the dealership. After speaking with Ford/SVT and inspecting the clutch/tranny, they said there was an excess buildup of dust on the splines, causing it to stick and not release completely. Clutch, flywheel, pressure plate, and throwout bearing were replaced under warranty at about 4500 miles.

 

4. I was not told by Ford or SVT that there is no known problem with the clutches on GT500s.

 

After repairs it drives great, but still a little hard sometimes going into 1st or reverse when cold.

 

Edit: Now that I think about it, it does have a lot MORE clutch chatter since being repaired.

[TTnotch]

1. 02/18/07

 

2. I started to realise there was a problem when I was shifting the car at high rpms. I had got on it a bit and when I attempted to shift into 2nd I had totally missed it. I haven't missed a gear in a very long time, and 2nd would be the last one I would miss it with. I had to double clutch it before it went in, this has happened to me several times. I haven't done any agressive high rpm shifts from 1st to 2nd recently due to traction issues, but once in awhile I could be cruising around and it will just simply lock me out of 2nd until I double clutch it. Now with a little over 4500 miles on it, it's always a very notchy feeling from 1st to 2nd, very slight grinding and once in awhile the clutch will sputter when releasing from 1st making the whole car vibrate.

 

3. Several things came up when I went to the dealer to ask what was wrong. First they told me nothing was wrong with my car. That 1st to 2nd is suposed to feel like it's slightly grinding. There wasn't enough showing on my car for them to crack open the transmission or to look at the clutch. The foreman's exact words, "It's running 100%." Oddly enough I couldn't get the grinding noise I'm used to hearing to come up and couldn't get 2nd to lock me out. I was told if there was something wrong with my clutch, i.e. slipping, it would be the drivers fault and would not be covered under warentee.

 

4. Only the service manager told me that there was no TSB on any known issues on the clutch or the transmission.

[mustangnut]

Build Date 9-18-06

 

As some of you have read my post #195 on GT500 Forum it goes into great deal of info on how and when my tranny issues first started, and as I am not a very good typist I will make this short. The car always felt a little strange from day one and as time went on things started to get worse. I changed the shifter bushings then the whole shifter with a new Steeda. But the 1-2 shifts still didn't feel right. Then when my clutch pedal started grabbing at different spots and the weather getting colder shifting got much worse(felt like it had no syncro rings)

 

After taking back to the dealer and letting the Service Manager take it for a ride all he said was"YOU HAVE A PROBLEM" Because the car is beening put away for the winter and the parts are not giong to be available for 3-4 weeks we have decide to get it fixed next Spring. Everything is going to be replaced from the Flywheel to the trans.

 

No one from Ford or SVT has told me there is a problem.

[DutchGT500]

1. Build Date

 

2. The symptoms that caused you to think you might have a problem. This will probably be the bulk of your post.

 

3. What, if anything, was done to repair your clutch, and also if your transmission was replaced?

 

4. Were you told directly by Ford or SVT (not a dealership) that there is no know problem with the clutches on GT500s?

 

 

1. 11/11/06

 

2. I did not have any symptoms. After 125 miles and two had starts (no dragracing) my clutch went south. No grinding before.

 

3. The clutch and flywheel were replaced under warranty.

 

4. No.

 

Until now at 1600 miles the clutch and trans are fine. Replaced shifter with Steeda Tri-Axi when clutch was replaced.

[500HP GT]

Facts only please

[HSURB]

Facts only please.

[shelbyan]

Facts only please.

[wildbill]

Edit By Grabber. Follow instruction in post number 1 if you want to post in this thread. Answer the 4 questions or don't post in this thread. This is a facts only thread as stated in Post #1

 

1. Build Date:

 

2. The symptoms that caused you to think you might have a problem. This will probably be the bulk of your post.

 

3. What, if anything, was done to repair your clutch, and also if your transmission was replaced?

 

4. Were you told directly by Ford or SVT (not a dealership) that there is no know problem with the clutches on GT500s?

[Orf]

Never mind.

[Grabber]

I guess if there is enough interest and enough people willing to participate, we can have the thread re-opened.

 

 

Follow instruction in post number 1 if you want to post in this thread. Answer the 4 questions or don't post in this thread. This is a facts only thread as stated in Post #1

 

1. Build Date:

 

2. The symptoms that caused you to think you might have a problem. This will probably be the bulk of your post.

 

3. What, if anything, was done to repair your clutch, and also if your transmission was replaced?

 

4. Were you told directly by Ford or SVT (not a dealership) that there is no know problem with the clutches on GT500s?

 

If you want to talk open about the tranny or clutch out of the format of these 4 questions, go to this thread and do it:

http://www.stangsunleashed.com/forums/inde...c=14588&hl=

[Grabber]

1. Build Date:

Jan. 17th, 2007

 

 

2. The symptoms that caused you to think you might have a problem:

My 1st to 2nd gear shift is bumping or crunching or grinding as some call it. My car hisses for 2-3 seconds after the clutch pedal is depressed to the floor while I am idling in nuetral thus verifying that the clutch is not dissengaged during shifting and causing the syncros to bump between 1st and 2nd. My car will not go into gear unless I wait 2-3 seconds after the clutch is pushed in. Sometimes I get blocked out of reverse.

 

 

3. What, if anything, was done to repair your clutch, and also if your transmission was replaced:

I had a new Clutch, Transmission, & flywheel & 9 new clutch bolts & the Teflon grease delivered to my dealer and installed into my car, all covered under warranty on 1/16/08. The car shifts smooth now and is a pleasure to drive. What a huge difference.

 

 

4. Were you told directly by Ford or SVT (not a dealership) that there is no know problem with the clutches on GT500s?:

No, absolutely not.

 

Edit to add date of repair now that it is done.

[SLGT750]

1. Build Date:

Jan.24th, 2007

 

2. The symptoms that caused you to think you might have a problem:

On several occasions I have gotten a first to second gear "grind". I also have miss shifted(blocked) from first to second and second to third when trying to shift fast. I have the problem with the delayed 2-3 seconds shift into gear right after the clutch is depressed. I can here the slight hissing noise 2-3 second after I have the clutch fully depressed confirming there is still pressure on the clutch plates.

 

3. What, if anything, was done to repair your clutch, and also if your transmission was replaced:

I have taken to the dealer and they said they could not duplicate the problem so nothing was done

 

4. Were you told directly by Ford or SVT (not a dealership) that there is no known problem with the clutches on GT500s?:

I have not spoken with Ford or SVT directly

[svtbird91]

1. Build Date: Oct 06

2. The symptoms that caused you to think you might have a problem. This will probably be the bulk of your post.

a.Gear bump when first going into gear from neutral.

b.cannot make a quick shift from 1st into 2nd without having to jam it into gear , it won't go in unless I shift slowly.

c. when depressing clutch from a neutral position the hissing doesn't seem to ever completly stop unless I put it in gear.

 

3. What, if anything, was done to repair your clutch, and also if your transmission was replaced?

Nothing yet

 

4. Were you told directly by Ford or SVT (not a dealership) that there is no know problem with the clutches on GT500s?

Did not talk to SVT about this yet...was told to wait.

 

 

 

edit to highlight answers.

[LuckySnake]

1. Build Date: June 06

 

2. The symptoms that caused you to think you might have a problem:

a) Won't go into first or reverse at all unless I shut the car off, intermittently.

B) when depressing clutch from a neutral position the hissing doesn't stop unless I put it in gear.

 

3. What, if anything, was done to repair your clutch, and also if your transmission was replaced?

a) Contacted Ford and Dealership to get in line.

B) Parts have been ordered.

 

4. Were you told directly by Ford or SVT (not a dealership) that there is no know problem with the clutches on GT500s?

a) I was told by Ford they are aware of the problem.

[hotrodstang]

[Hans]

Follow instruction in post number 1 if you want to post in this thread. Answer the 4 questions or don't post in this thread. This is a facts only thread as stated in Post #1

 

1. Build Date:Oct 19 2006

 

2. The symptoms that caused you to think you might have a problem. This will probably be the bulk of your post. From day one had a nicking bump into first second and third, now fourth. Also have chatter some time when taking off. Have had problems with getting it into second under hard acceration. Also Difficult getting it into reverse when cold. I have a large dust spot on garage floor ware car is parked looks like break dust right ware the trans would be.

 

3. What, if anything, was done to repair your clutch, and also if your transmission was replaced? On order new clutch and updated trans and new clutch bolts to arrive any day.

 

4. Were you told directly by Ford or SVT (not a dealership) that there is no know problem with the clutches on GT500s? NO

[KCMO-GT500]

1. Build Date:

 

11/30/2006

 

2. The symptoms that caused you to think you might have a problem. This will probably be the bulk of your post.

 

a. excessive spin down time, 3-4 second hiss when you push in the clutch while in neutral

b. once in a while, a light bump from first to second when car is cold

 

I am trying to deal with this before it really becomes a severe driveability issue. There really should be no noticeable spin down time.

 

3. What, if anything, was done to repair your clutch, and also if your transmission was replaced?

parts, trans clutch flywheel etc are ordered; status unknown, may be a wait

 

4. Were you told directly by Ford or SVT (not a dealership) that there is no know problem with the clutches on GT500s?

 

No, but when I approached my dealership about this, they really didn't know what I was talking about. Luckily, with the help of others, I was able to educate them. A TSB on this specifically would be helpful.