2013 Subaru Impreza Clutch Problems

sharka on 23/08/2023 - 08:50
Last edited 28/08/2023 - 10:55 by 1 other user

Hi everyone, I'm planning to take my Subaru Impreza into the mechanic but wanted to get some opinions here as well.

My 2013 Subaru Impreza (Manual) has developed a noticeably squeaky clutch pedal today. When I'm stopped at a set of lights and go to put the car in first gear, when pressing the clutch in, the car stalls.

Any ideas on what the issue could be?

UPDATE:
Took it to 2 different mechanics and both had diagnosed a burnt out clutch. Apparently its a common fault on the early subarus.
Looking at $1400 for parts and labour

UPDATE 2:
Here is the invoice for work. $1980 inc gst
https://ibb.co/cy8XyYw

Automotive Car Subaru

Comments

  • boomramada on 23/08/2023 - 09:34
    +1

    Check with your mechanic?

    • sharka on 23/08/2023 - 09:36

      Yep. Planning to do that today

  • newjerseydamo on 23/08/2023 - 09:39
    +6

    A squeaky pedal doesn't mean much, could just require some lubrication.

    If it's stalling even when the clutch pedal is fully pushed, it could be a leak in the master cylinder causing less pressure so it's not fully disengaging (common issue due to seal popping out), or it could be the clutch is fully worn down.
    Either way, it's going to require a mechanic to look at it and most likely pressure test the clutch system, then the transmission removed to inspect the clutch plate if the pressure is fine.

    Either way, mechanic.

    • sharka on 23/08/2023 - 09:42

      Thanks Newjerseydamo
      I'll see what the mechanic says

  • neo on 23/08/2023 - 09:39
    +2

    I believe the squeak is the clutch throw-out bearing. Most likely time for a new clutch and bearing.

    • sharka on 23/08/2023 - 09:42

      Thanks Neo
      I'll see what the mechanic says

  • Muzeeb on 23/08/2023 - 09:40

    How many kms? Mostly city/metro driving?

    • sharka on 23/08/2023 - 09:41

      145k
      Suburban and Motorway driving

      • newjerseydamo on 23/08/2023 - 09:49
        +1

        145k is definitely in the new clutch territory.

        • brendanm on 23/08/2023 - 10:35
          +3

          Lol only if you are a terrible driver, or constantly doing hill starts with a 3 tonne trailer.

          • newjerseydamo on 23/08/2023 - 10:38
            +3

            @brendanm: er no. but you do you.

            • brendanm on 23/08/2023 - 10:38
              +2

              @newjerseydamo:

              you do you

              What, drive correctly?

              • newjerseydamo on 23/08/2023 - 10:39

                @brendanm: Sure, whatever you reacon.

                • brendanm on 23/08/2023 - 10:40
                  +4

                  @newjerseydamo:

                  reacon

                  I don't "reacon" anything, if your clutch is worn out at that point you suck at driving, that's just a simple fact.

                  • newjerseydamo on 23/08/2023 - 10:41
                    +1

                    @brendanm: I'd suggest googling the average life of a clutch, but it seems that you know better. So go nuts.

                    • brendanm on 23/08/2023 - 10:44
                      +4

                      @newjerseydamo: After having replaced a buttload of clutches in my life, I've got a pretty good idea on their average life expectancy.

            • lgacb08 on 23/08/2023 - 13:04
              +1

              @newjerseydamo: Yeah mate, you should go back on auto if your clutch burns out at 145k, especially for a subbie.

          • Brian McGee on 23/08/2023 - 10:45

            @brendanm: Thats why automatic is better for towing.

            • brendanm on 23/08/2023 - 10:46
              +3

              @Brian McGee: Automatic is better for pretty much everything really these days.

          • 2esc on 24/08/2023 - 17:55

            @brendanm: I was nearly going to agree with you but,

            "Subaru recommends that the clutch disc be replaced every 50,000 miles on most of their modern vehicles. Subaru owners who use good driving practices can sometimes get 75,000 to 90,000 miles out of their clutch disc"

            I think i will steer clear of Subaru's if thats the case.

            • brendanm on 24/08/2023 - 17:56

              @2esc: Where have you seen this? They don't wear clutches any more than anything else, their release bearings just sucked for a while there, they would collapse, destroy the bearing, and destroy the pressure plate. The actual friction plate was fine most of the time.

  • brendanm on 23/08/2023 - 10:34
    +2

    Collapsed clutch release bearing is a pretty standard Subaru failure.

  • Protractor on 23/08/2023 - 10:46

    Some model / era Hyundais have a clutch depression start. Do any model Subies have it?

    • sharka on 23/08/2023 - 11:13

      Yes this one does

      • Protractor on 23/08/2023 - 11:28

        OK.
        Whatever does the disabling in that system, is the first place for mech to look.If it's a sensor or switch you might be able to fix it.

        The squeak could be a simple pivot pin at the pedal mechanism needing some CRC etc.You sound do that y'self, and probs avoid being sucked into a new clutch.
        There's a local vehicle around here with an OEM clutch with over 520K kms on it.Still functioning well.

  • Steven135 on 23/08/2023 - 11:12

    When you're stopped in 1st gear does the engine stall with the clutch in? If yes, then could be slave or master cylinder.

    • sharka on 23/08/2023 - 11:14

      Yep that’s what’s happening

      • Steven135 on 23/08/2023 - 11:15

        Have you checked fluid level?

        • sharka on 23/08/2023 - 11:16

          Tbh I haven’t. Where should I check that?

          • Steven135 on 23/08/2023 - 11:21

            @sharka: On the firewall inline where the clutch is. Probably has yellow cap. Looks similar to the brake reservoir.

          • Protractor on 23/08/2023 - 11:35
            -1

            @sharka: Wrong. Google is where you check it, or handbook,or youtube.

  • sharka on 23/08/2023 - 11:14

    There is also a burning smell coming from the clutch

    • Protractor on 23/08/2023 - 11:29
      +2

      Oh dear.

    • terrys on 25/08/2023 - 11:09

      <Ahem>
      It's a Subaru EJ series "Boxer" engine. If it's done over 100,000 there's a burning smell coming from the front of the vehicle if you are paying close attentions after you have run it up to operating temperature.

      This is also one of the few times I've given a tick to brendanm for a useful contribution. The last time I had to replace a clutch driven plate on one of the old bombs I'd bought, usually kept and run for ~ 5 years until the next one, was in a Hillman Minx in 1979, when I also replace the release bearing, as I had the motor stripped down for new rings and big-end shells anyway.

      The last time I had a clutch that was failing was when I bought a Suburu Sherpa whose clutch would slip when it got hot, meaning I would have to wait for ~ 20 minutes on an off-road layby if I ever wanted to head off up to Mt Lofty, and had some interesting " will it, won't it" moments on the way to Victor harbour or Cape Jervis.

      That one eventually died a couple of years later after I unwisely re-routed a radiator hose as an emergency leak repair and coked it well getting it home.

      Replace your clutch (**and release bearing - it's not worth skimping and which, in the absence of any more info, is the likely culprit) and at the same time replace the head gaskets with "turbo" ones if not fitted already, and come back in 10 years when you next strike trouble other than the traditional failed drivers' window motor.

      It may also pay to consider the tach rather than the engine noise when moving off if you are getting on for 70 like me…

  • [Deactivated] on 23/08/2023 - 11:41

    Is your car blue?

    • sharka on 24/08/2023 - 08:30

      No grey

  • freefall101 on 23/08/2023 - 13:05

    Sounds like you solved the issue, being from a family of subaru owners, clutches go a lot.

    But 2013 is an early Subaru? They've been making cars since the 1960s, my parents had a 1970s subaru wagon. My first car was a 1981 leone.

    • sharka on 23/08/2023 - 15:52

      Yeah it's my first time needing to have the clutched changed on one of my cars…

  • batfastard on 24/08/2023 - 07:41

    $1400 for repentant clutch supply and install for a subi is a bargain.

    I paid double that for old forester for exactly the same problem.

    Clutch change on that things is an engine out operation.

    Lock that price in while you can.

    • sharka on 24/08/2023 - 08:31

      Yeah i checked it in yesterday to the garage

    • brendanm on 24/08/2023 - 17:58
      +1

      Clutch change on that things is an engine out operation.

      Lol no it isn't. It's front driveshafts out, tailshaft out, part of the exhaust dropped, and gearbox out. Most Subaru clutches are easy.

  • sharka on 24/08/2023 - 12:41
    +3

    Here is the photos from the mechanic

    https://imgur.com/a/ZCaIGaB

    Apparently the bearings had seized and melted

    • brendanm on 24/08/2023 - 17:59
      +1

      Wow who would have guessed that would be the problem 😂

    • terrys on 25/08/2023 - 11:27

      Do you know of any upcoming weddings you can take it to? If you loan it to the bride you'll tick a couple of boxes.

  • sharka on 25/08/2023 - 20:53
    +2

    Got the car back today
    Here is the final invoice

    https://ibb.co/cy8XyYw

    • terrys on 27/08/2023 - 08:57

      Wow. The labour charges are reasonable and all the niggling little consumables a DIY mechanic at home might think of as not worth bothering with have been sorted, and the cylinder honed, which would all have taken time, but the price of those parts…

      They've replaced or reconditioned every niggling little point of failure, so it looks like you've found a team that doesn't want it back for a few years, even if you're smoking up and doing burnouts…

      Are Suburu thinking of moving to the Printer\Razor model of marketing I wonder in a way that doesn't require control of the oil market…

      • sharka on 28/08/2023 - 10:53

        Thanks Terrys
        Are you saying that the labour was priced well but the parts seem expensive?

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