2009 TC Clutch

[Nathanr.6168]

Got my tC back tonight, I will try to get pics of the old parts up soon...

[navylife59]

Looking forward to seeing this.

[Nathanr.6168]

Here are the pics of the parts...

[navylife59]

From you pics I see the following clues. Some observations maybe skewed by improper lighting or CCD quality of the camera used:

1. Flywheel mating surface is discolored (scorched) and has microfractures indicative of severe overheating. The crankside appears to be discolored from overheating as well.

2. Throwout bearing appears normal, but see very little sign of spline and or release fork grease. The contact pad where the release fork engages the throwout bearing appears to have corrosion. Not what I would expect to see from 2200miles. This could be caused by the excessive heat from the flywheel/clutch. The bearing does not appear to have had its grease baked out.

INSTALL CLUTCH RELEASE FORK SUB-ASSEMBLY
(a) Apply release hub grease to the contact surfaces of,
the release fork and release bearing assembly,
release fork and push rod, and release fork and
support.
Sealant:
Toyota Genuine Release Hub Grease, or
equivalent
(b) Install the release fork to the release bearing.
(c) Install the release bearing hub clip.


INSPECT CLUTCH RELEASE BEARING ASSEMBLY
(a) Check that the clutch release bearing assembly
moves smoothly without abnormal resistance by
turning the sliding parts of the clutch release bearing
(contact surfaces with the clutch cover) while
applying force in the axial direction.
(b) Inspect the clutch release bearing for damage or
wear.
HINT:
If necessary, replace the release bearing assembly.

This is what a Throwout Bearing aka Clutch Release Bearing looks like after 6,000 miles. This car was driven very hard since day one.




2. Is this the OEM clutch or the upgraded TRD clutch that is Port optional? It is extremely possible that clutch itself was install backwards. This would, of course cause the clutch to ride against the either the pressure plate or the flywheel. Note: I am not even sure if you could assemble the clutch assembly at all with it backwards. From the pics it is hard to tell which way that it was installed.


INSTALL CLUTCH DISC ASSEMBLY
(a) Insert SST in the clutch, and then insert them in the
flywheel.
SST 09301-00220
NOTICE:
Take care not to insert the clutch disc in the
wrong direction.

3. The clutch material on the side that should be against the pressure plate is obviously disintegrating. It actually is shredding as seen in the pic of the clutch cover plate diaphragm springs.This is a failure of the material from either a manufacturing defect or some sort of chemical contamination. Although the flywheel side of the clutch is severely worn from excessive heat, it shows no signs of destructive degradation as the opposite side. This evidence negates the overall possibility that this was from chemical contamination. There is no evidence of blown rear main seal or input shaft seal.

My conclusion from the evidence put before me is that most likely the clutch material was defective. Other than that, it had to be improper installation from the factory from one of 3 sources; Lack of spline/fork grease, improper adjustment of clutch pedal assembly, or the clutch was installed backwards (if possible to assemble that way).

BTW... My ex-wife had a '87 Mazda 323 that would move slightly forward with the manual trans in neutral and the clutch engaged. This was from improper adjustment that led to a glazed over clutch and worn out flywheel.

[Nathanr.6168]

These were the stock parts strait from the factory. The dealership has already replaced them, but they still don't want to pay. At first they said it was Tire ware as the reason for not repairing it under warranty. When I talked to them today their whole story changed when I said I had the tires inspected. Discount Tire said my front tires are both 8's on their scale and the back tires are 10's
Since I don't have LSD, that proves that I have not been spinning my tires.(with out LSD only 1 tire would be spinning?) Their story completely changed after I told them this. They are saying that because of the heat shown on the flywheel that I abused it. I asked the service manager to give me a list of reasons that they will not warrant my repairs and he refused.

Any ideas on my next step?

[Redneck4csa]

Boom. I think you just said the magic words that will get you your money back. Why is he refusing to give you a list of reasons why he will not warranty the parts? Because he is trying to screw you over. I would advise a lawsuit against the dealership. Have you thought about taking the parts to another dealership and talking to a tech for his opinion?

[Nathanr.6168]

good Idea, I'll take them tomorrow. And I will be filing a case in small claims court, getting the paperwork tomorrow.

Hauling the parts will get my car dirty again it took me 2 days to clean it after I got it back from the dealership....

[Redneck4csa]

If you're worried about getting the parts dirty, just lay an old blanket in the back and wrap the parts up in that. I would be interested in seeing what a tech at another dealership would think.

[navylife59]

Ok Re-read my previous post in it's entirety.

[wysportsman]

hey ya'll i bought a 2009 tc with all the trd crap in aug 2008. My car has less than 5000 miles and my clutch is having the same problem and toyota wont call me back and the dealership where i am stationed at wont cover it under warrenty. I am angry because my dealer i bought the car from is in pa and i live in kentucky now. $700 to just take the car in to get inspected and $400 for a rental car. And the havent even told me what is wrong yet. Any help would be awsome. wysportsman@aol.com please email me

[koch28328]

if these cars are under factory warranty just call 1-800-toyota the dealership has to make you happy or toyota drops the boom on them.the wife called them about her matrix know the dealer kisses her butt.just have to call the right people.

[Nathanr.6168]

1-800-gotoyota is useless with our cars as our cars are not Toyota They are Scion. They send you to the scion number which i believe is 1-800-70-scion. Scion relies on the dealerships opinions and refuses to send out someone to inspect the car. Basically, Scion does not control the dealerships, the dealerships control Scion.

[Sifu]

Fight the fight but fight it carefully. Just out of curiosity what is the warranty on use and abuse parts? I know Toyota has a clause for drivetrain warranty or omission of it. Maybe they are trying to hide or use that cars from you.

[Nathanr.6168]

Well like i said earlier, Toyota does not matter in this case. Our cars are SCION not TOYOTA. and the idiots at Toyota sound like they think they are better then us. Toyota will not help you with a SCION warranty. The Clutch its self is not under the warranty but the flywheel is. And even if its not under warranty they should still fix it to save the rep of the car company. 2218 miles and my clutch should not look anything like that. and charging me $1500 to do the repairs is them basically saying that they think they can push anyone around.

[koch28328]

i have to disagree it may be a scion its still a toyota sold at toyota dealers.they pay 1.9 mil. for the right to sell these cars.its sounds like they feel you abused the clutch and it broke because of it.the dealer i bought mine from gives me no problem on the warranty for are toy or the scion.

[cribbs-tC]

I kinda agree with koch. Just yesterday, the local Toyota dealership said my transmission had a leak, but that it was covered by Toyota's lifetime powertrain warranty.

[Nathanr.6168]

are you out of the factory warranty? if so then yes, it is covered by toyota. But the factory warranty is through Scion and when you call toyota about a scion problem, they say they cant help you and transfer you to scion. I asked why they cant help me and they said "Lexus, Toyota, and Scion are different companies, Toyota does not handle Scion problems." this is from the 1-800-go-toyota phone number.

[koch28328]

they are handing you a line of bs lexis and scion are divisions of toyota like ford and merc,and chevy pontiac,buick.you are not talking to the right people to help you. need to go higher to toyota corp if need be.with the miles on your clutch i doubt if was defective sounds like it was run hard and put away wet.my scion is under a 7 year 100,000 mil. waranty by toyota bumper to bumper and have no problems with the dealer.

[Nathanr.6168]

Just so you guys dont think im completely crazy about this dealership...

AG Investigates Local Auto Dealer | Houston weather, traffic, and news | MyFoxHouston.com | FOX 26

Houston - Hair Balls - The AG Vs. Don McGill Toyota: Those Wily Salespeople

http://www.oag.state.tx.us/newspubs/...mcgill_avc.pdf

They have been doing shady business...

[koch28328]

you need to find a honest dealer, sounds like that one dishonest taking advantage of it customers