My 08 is doing this and seems to be getting worse. Its only in first gear and really doesn't matter if cold or hot. My car has maybe has 13 thousand on it. I was in some stop and go traffic today and it was more pronounced. Kinda getting a little worried. Sure seems like a flywheel may not be level or warped. I have a Nissan Frontier truck with over 200,000 on the stock clutch and it does not make any noise.

 

I have an 08 Sport. I drove the base model with 5 speed and it was, as I recall, fine. I wanted the sport though and the only one was inside on the showroom floor.

I purchased the sport and after the deal, they moved it out and it had chatter big time. This is not so much a noise as the clutch partially engaging which causes the car to shake which generates the noise/feel.

I complained immediately and the salesman said it was probably just new. Now 18k later it still does it. I have had it in for service twice for this issue and each time I got the "they all do that" story.

My problem with this is that it is A) really annoying, and B) if I want to sell the car then the potenital owner will say the clutch is shot. I will say, "they all do that" and they will go elsewhere...

Anyway, I am going to call Honda to complain.

Gene

 

my 2003 jazz, done 35000 miles, recently changed the oil and air filter, spark plugs, and engine oil, done at a garage, ran great for a day or two, then the gear box noise started, i take my foot of the clutch pedal, in neutral or any gear, and the engine or gearbox sounds like somethings hitting something, been told its the bearings, its looking to cost about a few hundred

 

My clutch pressure plate and flywheel were all cooked in 11K miles as a result of this damper. Honda told me everything was fine and stuck me for $1400. I am not happy!

 

I have a '08 Fit with 39,000 miles and just spent 900 dollars to get the clutch fixed. Didn't bring it into the dealer though because I wasn't looking to get gouged!

 

This cold chatter issue is getting rediculous on my car, 15k on the ticker. It's bad enough that I'm embarrassed to carpool a neighbor on a rainy day when it tries to bounce the dash off the windshield at the first intersection I stop at.

Dry weather isn't so bad and I can get around it by driving at low rpm with mildly aggressive clutch engagement, and after about 3-4 takeoffs it goes away, but the wet weather is gonna tear my motor mounts to pieces of tiny rubber as soon as they're old enough to crack. I shouldn't have to put in solid mounts to band-aid a crappy clutch disk although I seriously have considered it after this long long wet spell we just had.

I don't wanna pay for it, but I can't wait to get this dumb clutch out of there. I'll take an exedy any day of the year over this piece of cork.

Actually, I may just may have to complain to the dealer before something really goes down the drain. I have driven stick for years, I absolutely do not ride the clutch, I always always revmatch, never shift to first on the move, and I drive conservatively almost to the point of being a hypermiler (but none of that engine off- restart stuff, parts are more money than gas). This is Honda's fault in my opinion. It shouldn't do this.

 

yah, my 08 shudders too. got about 16k miles. it stops once the clutch gets warmed up but in my case i rarely slip the clutch other than in 1st from a standstill so it doesn't heat up much especially in colder weather. it use to stop shuddering by 1/2 way to work, but nowadays it shudders all the way to work. i might have the dealer replace the clutch next year if i decide to keep this car longer.

 

The stock AP clutch is really a joke. I always drive really easy with my new clutches, won't drive it hard until it's got about 400-500km on it at least. I just couldn't stand how the stock clutch slips & just replaced it when I had my tranny built. Been daily driven my T1R exedy setup since 37000km(now at 56000km), went to 3 lapping days this year but no noise, no slippage, no problem at all.

 

I didn't even do that, I wouldn't have even called my driving spirited until I passed near a thousand miles.

It's a joke alright. I'm gonna have torn motor mounts and who knows what else.

On a bright note, it didn't do it today. If I drive less conservatively, I get less chatter. Figure that out. It's like it glazes over the friction material when I take it easy.

 

Okay, i've got an 08 BOM sport and SINCE DAY ONE it has had a slight chatter from a stop when cold and i don't have my foot in it enough (close to stall speed). It doesn't bother me, it doesn't worry me, nor do i think it's a problem. All i see is the damper springs are doing their job, and the noise/vibration is proof. I've tracked the car once about 2000 mi ago and i've just turned over 41k mi.
It would not surprise me if Honda cheaped out and opted for a flimsy-er clutch to cut costs, because this is no BMW 3 series (excluding M3) we're driving here. Sure, i'm waiting for someone to post about their echo/cavalier/focus never making any noise and they're cheap cars too. Frankly, i don't care
It's nothing i'd be worried or embarassed about...

As for those complaining of clutch replacement; sure, having to replace one early is some bs, but our cars have to be one of the cheapest on the market as far as R&R goes. 3.5 hours is what the time is listed at (per Alldata), and we don't have to shell out for costly dual mass flywheels like those pesky germans at VW. $.02

Let the criticism begin

 

My GE8 did this for about the first 2000 miles, but I've either gotten used to it and adjusted (I only rev it to about 1500-1700 RPM from a dead stop now) or the clutch broke-in. I don't know, I just don't have that problem anymore.

 

100k on my '07 clutch, doin great.

 

I had to replace clutch on my 2007 Fit at 47 K. Honda has not documented forum to cover unusual wear. They of course, thought it was a driver issue. This is the first Honda (and probably the last) I will buy. I have driven Toyotas with clutches and never lost one this early.

 

47k miles which is abt 75k km-ish? Sounds normal to me.....

What kinda toyota did u drive before? I've seen customers comes in at around 25-30k km with a set of worn out clutch on their Mazda. And it is a wear & tear item, just like brakes & tires so....I don't know why Honda should cover that kinda maintenance stuff???

 

I have a 2008 Fit Sport. The clutch wore out at 6000 miles, was replaced, and then wore out again at 17800 miles. I have been driving manual transmission vehicles for over 20 years. I have never experienced a clutch wearing out, let alone two, in such a small amount of time. Honda claims it is user wear. When questioned how they could tell, they could not answer. The Honda Case Manager said that wearing a clutch twice that quickly is very "unlikely", but "possible". The sun could come-up at 1:00 AM... it is possible... but unlikely. I could grow a third arm from my lower back... it is possible... but unlikely. Any suggestions on what to look for to prove a manufacturing defect?

 

Well, since this thread was bumped and I never got any good info from the GE threads about this issue, I wanted to add that my GE does the exact same thing when it's cold with regards to slight clutch chatter/slipping. I hope the previous owner knew how to drive, but it sounds like I shouldn't be blaming them due to the number of people reporting the same thing. 15k on the car btw.

It just sounds like this slight issue was not resolved between generations, and I fear for the life of my clutch now. It is a bitch to drive smooth, that's for sure. They dumbed it down too much with the CDV thing.

 

wow... that's like 1/2 the price of the car!

mine still shudders but ive pretty much decided to wear it out before taking it in for repair... if i rev a tad higher before engagment there is no shudder so hope it lasts another 9500miles... at 30K im selling the car as my usual ritual.

im hoping by that time my younger kid can get in/out of the car on his own, strap himself in, etc. then my G35C will be my dd.

 

I suppose I can update...

My car has all but stopped this behavior. Completely. I'm not sure what I did, or if I'm driving differently, but I haven't had a chatter since winter.

I hope it's not a prelude to its death. If it is I guess if Honda wants to convince me I can't drive stick (rubbish) I'll change it out in the garage. I've pulled a Honda tranny twice before, darn it I'll probably do it again.

 

Hello all,
Has anyone tried to remove the clutch damper? Does any tuner outfit offer a replacement device to take the place of the damper? I cannot help but think the damper may be related to the judder.
I am at 33k miles and the judder has diminished markedly. I always thought that clutches were lifetime devices, that abuse was necessary to have any problems.

Cheers
Rod

 

My warranty is almost up on my 08 Sport. Still shudders like it did the night I drove it off the showroom floor. Many trips to the dealer and they always say they all do that and that nobody else has complained.

In late Spring I insisted that this be looked into further and the Honda rep drove my car. Same line - They all do that... My response was then you have it easy because you only have to fix mine. No go.

I am pretty unconvinced it has to do with the CDV. I have driven mine so conservatively that my clutch release is probably as slow as the valve and it still does it. My absolutely unsubstantiated guess is it is a combination of a very light car which rolls easily, very cheaply made clutch parts, and an undersized disk. I was all set to tear mine apart after the warranty expired but after seeing someone who had their disk replaced, the problem went away, then came back 2k later has me rethinking that.

Gene