I asked this question some time back...but now bring it back with a few more details. I've checked out the clutch accumulator and it's not that. When the car sits idling there's no vibration of any sort....I took it to the dealership and the service manager drove it. He couldn't figure it out and referred it to his techs. They say it's the clutch...but I ask if it's the clutch, why does it not start vibration thru the clutch pedal until 4K rpm? No good answers. You don't really feel it when you depress the clutch all the way it....mostly at 4K under acceleration in any gear at the top of out travel....or when you feather the clutch slightly while the car is sitting at 4K. You don't feel a vibration anywhere in the car except the clutch pedal.

Dealership quoted me $4500 for a clutch repair if it needed clutch, pressure plate and dual mass flywheel.. That would be worst case scenario, but can't get an assessment till they get into it. At that point, I'd be a captive audience...needless to say, I'm checking with a few indys. Had a couple folks drive it and all seem to concur....just keep driving it till something happens. Any insights or maybe's would be appreciated.

 

Chuck,

Are you referring to clutch "chatter"? If so, it's probably a worn/bad flywheel and disc. If that is what it turns out to be - replace everything, including the throw out bearing. No sense doing the job twice because you skimped on it the first time...

 

John: No it's not "chatter"....I know what that is and you feel it as you come off the floor with the pedal during the shift sequence. This is a high frequency vibration that you can feel in the ball of your foot as you hit the top of the release of the clutch pedal. It feels like a "buzz" in the ball of your foot. I can also get it by shifting and letting the car cruise at 4K rpm then lightly touching the clutch pedal and getting that same vibration feel thru the foot as I barely put pressure on the fully extended pedal.

I didnt' want to go in on a major clutch repair if it might turn out to be some other item like the accumulator.....and I am perplexed by why I only feel it start at 4K.....?

I have a feeling that it might turn out as you say and just require a clutch replacement. The car only has 27K miles on it....and I never ride the clutch...have never launched it hard, and do not do any power shifting.....so I'm perplexed.

 

Sounds like the flywheel or clutch, does the vibration stay up there until 6500 RPM ?

 

Yes...the vibration stays....but I haven't run it all the way up to 6500 since it started vibrating. Suffice it to say, the vibration stays.

 

Hey guys,
Had the same exact problem on a different car and it turned out to be a bad throwout bearing and while I was there I replaced the pilot bushing and it went away. I'm not sure if a Pcar uses these parts, I've never seen the inner workings of a Porsche transmission. Hope this helps.

 

Thanks for the input Michael.....I am leaning towards the TO bearing too....I'm hoping it won't be a major problem....but John D's advice is well taken....no sense doing a half assed job and leaving old parts in there....except maybe the dual mass flywheel if it passes a close inspection.

 

Does NOT sound like a clutch problem at all...