Well, My clutch is gone....

[Aeain]

I'm new to clutch. (Almost a year since I've had my car.)
I push the clutch all the way down when shifting. I don't downshift excessively except when I take corners around 20mph and I downshift to second. I use my parking break when I park the car everytime, but, I also leave it in first gear. I personally have only put about 5300 of the cars miles on it. The other 2000 were put on between my mother and father who are both veteran clutch drivers.

[Juggernaut]

Yea i downshift to slowdown alot... and when i push the clutch to shift i never go all the way, there is still about an inch left to go. This is my first clutch in a small car, i used to drive 1 ton trucks which are totally different. Thanks for the pointers bud

[linenoyz]

Don't blame yourself, Aeain. A failure like that had to have been from a defective part. I know the clutch in the Redline can take a beating...lord knows Katie and I both beat the snot out of it.

I'm pretty sure it will be fixed under warranty for you since it's such low mileage. Even wear items like brakes and clutch are covered for the first 12k miles, I believe.

[Aeain]

I can't help but blame myself. I love my car so much I don't know what I'd do if something happened to her.

[SaturnI0Nredline]

Looks like I'm not doing to good after reading this post. I love to downshift. But then again when it cometime to replace the clutch I will do it myself. Which for me will be around 150k I hope..... at least that what it has been around with my last 2 saturns.

[jmichna]

Originally Posted by Aeain

I'm new to clutch. (Almost a year since I've had my car.)
I push the clutch all the way down when shifting....

What I tried to describe as the first hint in my original post (in addition to fully depressing the clutch while actually shifting, as you say you already do), is get in the habit of touching your clutch foot to the carpet between each shift... it makes you fully remove your foot from the clutch while in a gear, so that you can't ride the clutch.

[jpapa]

Originally Posted by SaturnI0Nredline

Looks like I'm not doing to good after reading this post. I love to downshift. But then again when it cometime to replace the clutch I will do it myself. Which for me will be around 150k I hope..... at least that what it has been around with my last 2 saturns.

You've put 150k miles on your car BEFORE replacing the clutches? How the....?

[jpapa]

Originally Posted by jmichna

Don't use the clutch/engine to hold your position on an incline... needless clutch wear, when the emergency brake would do the job.

I've never had to replace a clutch or throwout bearing, and I've always driven (all) my cars/vans hard.

I haven't tried this one, but you're saying e-brake when you're sitting at a light on an incline rather than the clutch/engine method? I know this wears out the clutch, but I don't like holding the brake and having to switch over to the gas real quick when people are right on my tail stopped at a light like they usually are. Always have the fear of rolling back into them. I need to train my feet to be faster though, but might have to try e-brake method.

And you've never had to replace a clutch before? How many miles do you put on a car before not owning it anymore??

[matt]

Originally Posted by Aeain

It better be or I am raising hell.

Don't be too sure. Unless they find it to be a manufacturer's defect in the clutch, I highly doubt it will be covered under warranty. Who know, maybe your dealer will be cool about it. I always thought clutches were not covered under warranty since they are like tires and brakes, their life span depends on how the driver treats them.

[Aeain]

Originally Posted by matt

Don't be too sure. Unless they find it to be a manufacturer's defect in the clutch, I highly doubt it will be covered under warranty. Who know, maybe your dealer will be cool about it. I always thought clutches were not covered under warranty since they are like tires and brakes, their life span depends on how the driver treats them.

Yeah, I know my mom will go raise hell if it isn't covered. 4 New Saturns from the Same Dealer in less than 2 years should count for something.