I Think I Burned The Clutch

rpitsch · August 17, 2009

I recently bought a chevy s10 zr2 4x4 5 speed 4.3l baja MT tires on it. The 2nd day I had it I just had to take it down a mud trail and see what it could do. I mean be honest, who wouldn't wanna know what their truck is capable of? Well I found out and I know now. I find a mudhole and question whether or not I can make through and I did make it through but couldn't make it up the next hill due to the tires having no traction because of the mudhole and water. I put it in reverse and ended up stuck in the mudhole pretty deep. (I have a pic of it on request). I tried getting it out myself by dropping the clutch a few times and rockin it. I know now that it's probably not a good idea to do that but what's done is done. We eventually pulled it out and I actually drove it home and drove it the next day and that's when I could tell there was problems. It wasn't taking gear or anything. I managed to get it home and now it sits in the driveway. So my question is did i burn the clutch out or maybe is it something else? I doubt it's the drivetrain. I also understand it's hard to tell without really being there to see or drive (even though it just sits). I can turn it on just fine but for some reason i don't need to push the clutch to put it in gear, i can just switch gears as if it was an automatic and that's really weird to me, it just won't move. But i'm pretty sure the pressure plate and clutch are burned out from me rockin it in the mud by dropping the clutch. Thanks in advance for any advice!

bill190 · August 17, 2009

You are not alone. These guys have all sorts of things break on their trucks after a bit of "playing". They drive them in, and need to have them towed home. Broken axles, differentials, tie rods, blown engines, etc.

http://www.themud.com

Anyway might want to pop the hood, then have someone press on the clutch and see what is going on under the hood.

All the clutches I've had are mechanical and you can see arms/levers moving when you press on the clutch. Also they have all been adjustable. You can turn an adjustment screw and let out the clutch a bit.

But I know there are clutches which are not adjustable. And I suppose there are hydraulic clutches. I don't know if you could see any moving parts with these?

If you can't fix the problem with the above, then the question is cost of tools as opposed to doing it yourself. And if you are going to need this type of repair done a lot in the future?

If you are going to do a lot of "playing" with your truck, I suppose you would be best to get a GM factory service manual set and get the right tools needed to do this yourself. Order the factory service manual set from helminc.com or a GM dealer.

In my case, if there is a repair which I am only going to have done once or twice in my lifetime, and the right tools for that job cost $2000.00, and I could pay someone else to do this $600.00, then I'm not going to buy the tools. Cheaper to have someone else fix it.

But if it is something I need to do regularly, then I'll get the right tools for the job (including the factory service manual set as being one of those tools). And I will do it right.

rpitsch · August 17, 2009

hehe, i don't know how much "playing" I'll be doing anymore, I think I learned my lesson and what my truck can do. btw it is a hydraulic clutch, not mechanical. I think I might just pay the ~600$ and be done with it cause I need a vehicle so bad it's not even funny.

doverarjim · August 18, 2009

If you can shift it with the motor running and it goes no where it seems the power is not getting to the ground right? It could be the transfer case, have you checked and made sure it is in gear. Years ago some one kicked his out of gear and after a $400.00 wrecker bill, the wrecker driver put it on the ground got into the truck and put it into 4 Hi and drove it off. Just a thought.

rpitsch · August 18, 2009

that's a thought for sure, thanks man! i'll check on it

asilverblazer · August 18, 2009

Maybe the clutch fork, or hydraulic ram got packed with mud, holding the clutch it back off the pressure plate. I'd get the water hose out and spray all the visible mud out from under it, it might free it up, if not, it'll be far more pleasant to work on.