2000 blazer with 20k miles having clutch problems?

[macleod1]

Hi all.

I have a 2000 Blazer 4x4, 2 door manual trans. I've had it since may of 2000 and I've only put 20,000 miles on the car. Within 6 weeks my 4x4 selector has stopped working. Within the last 10 days, I have started getting very sluggish acceleration as I drive at any speed, in any gear.

I have the extended warranty from GM and I've found it to be quite ridiculous. 1st, they wont give me a rental car while they open it and to see whats exactly wrong with it until its opened and 48 hours later a claims adjuster comes to check it out.

2ndly, they are claiming that it may be the clutch disc, which is a wear and tear item. Now I don't drive this car hard, obviously, i've put less than 5k miles on it a year. In any case, even if it has been driven hard, 20k miles outta the factory, it should still be working perfectly.

Does anyone know of any known issues with this series' clutch? I've already had fuel injector problems a few years ago.

thanks alot
Jonathan

[clariveros]

I had trany problems but it turned out to be the syncros, there was a lot of grinding during normal shifting.
and unless you ride the clutch or drop it at high rpms, then you are getting screwed by the dealer.

slow acceleration should not because of your clutch, have you checked to other possible causes?

describe more what happens when you shift especially from 1st to 2nd

[macleod1]

Basically, the rpms stay high for a few extra seconds before the rpms drop and acceleration occurs. There is no grinding or trouble seating in each gear.

This is my initial investigation because its under warranty and I had assumed that meant I would be able to drive my car for a while before needing to start repairing it.

thanks for the help.

[BlazerLT]

Bad throwout bearing?

[clariveros]

yeah it defitnitly sound like the bearing is going, now i am not saying that you do but you sometimes sit a stop light while pressing the clutch ? though it still sounds weird if it is the bearing you must do a lot of city driving to have it go in 20K miles

[clariveros]

One more thing:
I do not advise taking your car to the dealer unless you want to play games, but at the very least try to make sure that the dealer has a MANUAL transmission person, most vehicles sold are auto, and most dealers dont have some on staff who "knows" these transmissions,

another thing that might be the problem it could be that your pressure plate is not releasing right away

hope this helps

[BlazerLT]

Better yet, take it to a good independent shop.

There is always a good one around that someone can trust.

[macleod1]

Thanks for all the info. I'm really torn though. The dealer basically said he wasnt sure what was wrong but since it was possibly the clutch they were going to have to open it up and have an adjuster come out. I'm unsure if taking it to get looked at by an independent mechanic would void my warranty. I am planning on making the dealer give me all replaced parts. They really have me in a bind here. This is my first "new" car and its just driving me crazy.

[BlazerLT]

Oh, you have a warranty?

By all means, have the dealer do it!

[macleod1]

except the clutch plate is a wear and tear item. ill cross my fingers it works out.

thanks again for all the help

[BlazerLT]

Not after 20,000miles it isn't.

That is a defect, clutches are usually good for over 80,000miles.

[clariveros]

I drove a manual pick up for 130k miles on the same clutch

[BlazerLT]

True, I was being conservative, this is not a wear and tear item if it goes this early.

Hell it should have 80,000-100,000 miles more life on it.

That is unless it had more than 20k on it and he has had it only for 20k and it had miles from the previous owner.

[clariveros]

well he i think he said that the car had 20k out of the factory, Honestly Think he is just getting jerked by the dealer. I hate to say this but he is better off finding out what the real problem is before he goes in there and tries to get anywhere with the dealer, they will probably try to fix(break) everything else b4 they get to the problem, or even worst say it is a driver error which is not uncomon to hear if you have a manual.

macleod1,
dude I wish the best of luck getting this resolved, remember this, i think BlazerLT said this: Dealer = Stealer.

Oh and please make sure you post what the outcome is, i am sure that it will help some one out in the future.

[BlazerLT]

Let them break everything , they will be replacing it at their cost.

This is a defect, and if they deny, talk to a lawyer.