Vibrations Under Clutch

[james2009]

Hi,

Last weekend when pulling into the driveway of our home, our RAV started making some terrible sounds at low revs - almost like a spanner was jangling around the engine.

When idle the sound disappeared when the clutch was pressed down, and came back when released back up.

The next time we drove it the sound was gone, but occasionally increased engine noise was present.

I drove ti again without any increased noise, but with vibrations under the clutch pedal that I can definitely feel.

Local garage was quick to judge Flywheel failure, and it's booked in for a new one, but is there a chance it could be something less drastic? We only had a cambelt change 2 weeks before and the car drives fine still so I am weary.

[anchorman]

Hello James and welcome to the club.

I think you should have a read through this................

http://toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=74099

There are several other threads that are similar but all come back to the same thing. One member HEMI, is advocating the use of solid flywheel kits. I personally am sitting on the fence for a while until I have some hard proof that they are not going to cause any long term damage.

See what you think!........

[HEMI]

Nearly 4 months of my wifes driving and still no problems with the solid flywheel.I did a 300 mile round trip to Cardiff the other day in it and it was super smooth.Its definateley your flywheel,its stopped rattling because the centre has now jammed itself in the 3 o.clock position in the flywheel.I'm afraid you will be needing a clutch and flywheel

[james2009]

Hello James and welcome to the club.

I think you should have a read through this................

http://toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=74099

There are several other threads that are similar but all come back to the same thing. One member HEMI, is advocating the use of solid flywheel kits. I personally am sitting on the fence for a while until I have some hard proof that they are not going to cause any long term damage.

See what you think!........

Thanks Anchorman, yeah I had gone through that before I posted.

But a lot of them seem to have more obvious / drastic side effects so I wondered if there was a possibility of it being something else or whether it was just a case of this being early symptoms.

[anchorman]

Well there is always a possibility James but unfortunately yours bears all the hallmarks that your dmf has thrown the towel in!!!

They will know as soon as they get it apart and even if it turns out to be something else you should consider having it renewed if you don't know the history.

Good luck.

[biznesland]

Well there is always a possibility James but unfortunately yours bears all the hallmarks that your dmf has thrown the towel in!!!

They will know as soon as they get it apart and even if it turns out to be something else you should consider having it renewed if you don't know the history.

Good luck.

HEMI and Anchorman,

I have just had my DMF replaced with a SMf. It costed me an arm and a leg, and ended up with a broken ABS sensor too. Anyway the garage didn't replace the clutch, do you think it will survive with the SMF?

[HEMI]

Well there is always a possibility James but unfortunately yours bears all the hallmarks that your dmf has thrown the towel in!!!

They will know as soon as they get it apart and even if it turns out to be something else you should consider having it renewed if you don't know the history.

Good luck.

HEMI and Anchorman,

I have just had my DMF replaced with a SMf. It costed me an arm and a leg, and ended up with a broken ABS sensor too. Anyway the garage didn't replace the clutch, do you think it will survive with the SMF?

they must have changed the clutch if they swapped the DMF for a SMF,the clutch plate on a DMF doesnt have any springs in it,the DMF does all the work,a SMF clutch plate will have springs in it that do the softening and I cant see how a DMF clutch plate will even work on a SMF,they would have had to replace the clutch and thrust bearing..............How did they break the ABS sensor???

[anchorman]

Beggars belief doesn't it HEMI?

Biznesland

What makes you think they didn't replace the clutch?

[biznesland]

Well there is always a possibility James but unfortunately yours bears all the hallmarks that your dmf has thrown the towel in!!!

They will know as soon as they get it apart and even if it turns out to be something else you should consider having it renewed if you don't know the history.

Good luck.

HEMI and Anchorman,

I have just had my DMF replaced with a SMf. It costed me an arm and a leg, and ended up with a broken ABS sensor too. Anyway the garage didn't replace the clutch, do you think it will survive with the SMF?

they must have changed the clutch if they swapped the DMF for a SMF,the clutch plate on a DMF doesnt have any springs in it,the DMF does all the work,a SMF clutch plate will have springs in it that do the softening and I cant see how a DMF clutch plate will even work on a SMF,they would have had to replace the clutch and thrust bearing..............How did they break the ABS sensor???

HEMI and Anchorman,

My knowledge of and how the SMF works is pretty limited, I guess if they ordered the SMF kit it must have come complete with the clutch. One small problem though I still feel wee bit of vibration under the clutch on when changing low gears. Is that normal or am just getting paranoid?

As for the ABS sensor they said it just failed when they put evryting back together and they run the diagnostics and reset the ECU and its still coming up as faulty. Now I don't know if they smashed by accident while taking of the wheels or has it just had its days?? I am having it replaced today, they have offered free labour to replace it and I have to pay for the part. Anyone know how I could have it checked out for any mechanical damages? i don't mind paying a few quids to have it examined.

[anchorman]

I think somebody else had an SMF and then had problems that sounded similar. It all had to come out again.

As for the ABS sensor, even if it checks out faulty you won,t know what caused it unless it is broken. You could get either the RAC/AA or an independant garage to check for you.