Question for 5 speed PTC owners; Please help!!!

[MBN]

I've been the proud owner of a 27G for 6 weeks and 1925 miles. I have been pleasantly surprised at the quality and driveability of the PT. It took a giant leap of faith to buy an American car (just sold my '97 Honda Accord EX 5 speed---my 6th Honda). I have always had manual trans. cars and now have a concern about the PT clutch: I am wondering if it is normal for this car to hear clicking noises when depressing the clutch and shifting into gear---it is especially noticable when I first shift into reverse when getting out of the garage. I'm not sure if what I hear is the clutch engaging or if it is the linkage. However there is a definate clicking sound when I depress or let up the clutch. I have never heard any noise when shifting gears in any of my Hondas. I would like some feed back b/4 I go to the dealer. I have a real reluctance about going to mechanics and discussing stuff like this....You know how it is...they just don't take us women drivers seriously! Thanks! Oh, yeah, I've noticed also a small puddle of water (at least it smells/feels like water) under the front of the car (but behinf the front wheels) when it is idling...Any thoughts as to this? Thanks again! description

[PT Babe]

MBN,
I own a 5 speed as well and do not have any sounds associated with the depression of the clutch or shifting gears. I think you should run (drive) - not walk - to the dealer. In fact, mine makes almost no noise at all. You might have some metal shavings in the trans. case - we don't know how clean the assembly area was. But i'm no expert...
I have to get my hubby to talk shop with these mechanics : I have rebuilt a slave and master cylinder for a 1968 MGB, done brake jobs, major engine work and can understand what the mechanics say but I am no expert - just trying to save money...but because of what's in my shirt and not in my pants - they still talk down to me! So don't feel so all alone...

[Pars]

I do not have any clicking when depressing or releasing the clutch !! Is there a weep hole in the exhaust at that point where you seeing the water ?? Some exhaust systems have weep holes at strategic locations to let built up moisture out of the system ! !

[KanCruiser]

My 5-speed is smooth as silk so far (only about 600 miles, though); could be a faulty throw-out bearing; warranty sure enough should cover it, whatever it is.

[High Miler]

No clicking for me, and I just popped past the 30,000 mile mark. Definitely get it checked out. Don't be suprised if your dealer scratches hi/her head at first though.
I just took mine in for the 30K service (tune-up etc..) and the tech didn't know you had to play with the intake plenum to remove the spark plugs. "Drop it off at 7a.m., we'll
have it done by lunch....." drove out at 6:10 p.m.

As for the water dripping...might be the A/C. I know... what am I stoned! A/C in the winter!!!!! But, don't forget, when you turn on your defroster, the Air Conditioning comes on.

Just a thought...

-Victor

[coolZero]

I'm gonna take a wild guess here. Have you looked at the pedals? Perhaps there was something left behind during the dealer prep. Like a piece of plastic or some other forgien object. Other than that I've not had any such sounds in my PT.

5 Speed Black Limited Edition

[PTHoosier]

Sounds strange to me. My clutch make no noise, hot or cold. The only sound I ever hear from the tranny is a "snik" when I put it in another gear after setting the parking brake and turning the car off. Can't hear a thing with the heater and/or radio going, heck, sometimes I have to look at the tach to make sure the thing is running. Very quiet and smooth all around.

Don't know about the water either and can't help with mechanics talking down to you, other than to suggest you may want to find a good mechanic. There are good people who work on cars out there. Finding them may be tough, but they do exist. A dealership should be professional from the highest to the lowest position, otherwise find another dealer to do warranty work.

[Cynthia]

No noise here at all. Like Hoosier, I sometimes still find myself checking the tac because it's so smooth and quiet.

[Cal. PT]

I don't know where you live, but I would guess it's cold. I always leave my gear shift in the next gear I'm going to use when I start it up again, never in neutral. ie, when I pull in the garage, I put it in reverse beforwe I shut it off.

In cold weather, the transmission oil is cold enough to keep the ideling gears rotating even though they are not being powered so when you shift into a gear, a clicking sound may be heard as the gear teeth mesh.

The water is probably because you have the air/heater controls set to defrost witch will keep the AC compressor running and will create moisture.

There is only one important thing to remember about the 5 speed: when you let out the clutch, let it all out, get your foot entirely off the pedal. Hydraulic clutches have no "play" in them. Any pressure on the pedal, even an eighth of an inch will cause the clutch to slip. $$$$$$$

Drop it in gear and go, with your right foot on the pedal and your left foot anywhere but on the pedal.

[BluesCruiser]

No Noises here either. There is a slight hesitation on getting it into reverse but since there is no syncro in reverse that is not uncommon. In other words you might have to make a second attempt at reverse gear. I also went from a Honda Prelude to the Cruiser..as you say a huge leap. The transmission is almost as smooth, but it does have more play in the shifter.