Here's an interesting issue...

I started having an issue once the cold weather started to set in. If it was cold outside and the car cooled down it was difficult (and sometimes even impossible) to get into gear. The odd part about this is that once the car got up to temp. it would stop and drive normal.

I went to the dealer in Michigan (where I go to school) and, seeing that I only have 750 mi left on my warranty told me that my clutch was gone. However, when I asked the tech how he had arrived at this conclusion he told me that he was just guessing base on the symptoms, but that he was “usually pretty good at guessing”. I asked him what needed to be replaced and he told me, “uh, the clutch plate, a cylinder, and fluid”, to which I responded, “I’m assuming you mean the pressure plate and the slave cylinder, correct?” He said he didn’t know, but that the computer just said clutch plate and a cylinder.

Now, if you look at some of the symptoms, his conclusion is a bit flawed. First of all, a clutch issue would get worse as it warmed up, not correct itself. Additionally, most of the time when I clutch begins to go it starts slipping first, I have not experienced any clutch slip. Lastly, one of the symptoms is that the engagement point is very low (almost at the floor) until the car warms up. Again, if the clutch was worn then the exact opposite would be true.

I checked clutch/brake fluid and it looked fine. Now it got up to 60* here in NY today and I’ve had no problems. Anyone have any idea what this could be or what I should try to do to fix it?

[IMADreamer]

I'm assuming you have an SS/SC? If that is the case chances are it's just drivers error. It's a common problem actually. The fix is to never shift before 3k RPMs and to make sure that when you are shifting from 1 to 2 that you aren't slipping or spinning the tires.

My bad, no it's an '06 Ls.

[IMADreamer]

oh, hmm sorry I can't really help you then.

[gibsonj4]

Mine does that but it's just a "cobalt thing" like sometimes its hard to get into first and reverse. I've talked to a couple people about it.

[Chester]

Do you drive you car on a daily basis ?...Second off my car sometimes has hard time too...The tranny needs to warm up to the same temp as the motor so there for i take it easy for the first few minutes and normally before i start the car i push the clutch in and push it through all gears a few tims then start the car .

[gibsonj4]

Chester what's up haven't seen u on here in a awhile. How was ur break?

[Chester]

It has been great ...i just got a new laptop yesterday so you will be seeing alot more of me .haha

[gibsonj4]

Good stuff man!

[Chester]

yea...wish i had monwy for mods but just had to pay tuiton the other day for this next semester starting in 7 days