S3 Clutch Judder..?

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SiT

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Not long after i got the S3 i started noticing what felt like slight clutch judder. It seems to happen on very light, first gear creeping situations such as a multi-storey car park... so not moving more than 5 mph, dipping the clutch, touching the brake then to move forward raising the clutch and giving a little throttle. At this point i can feel a slight judder from the clutch, or that it just isn't smooth. This is worse in second gear, in a similar situation as above , slow moving traffic your coasting along maybe 10mph in second as the car in-front slows for what-ever reason you dip the clutch, brake a little but you still coast as the car in-front hasn't actually stopped. At this point you raise the clutch slowly, a little throttle and at the bite the judder is more pronounced if still slight.

I took it into the dealers who test drove and said it’s OK and it’s a similar trait on all S3's.

I've owned powerful hatchbacks in the past, my motor before the S3 was an MK5 R32, before that a GTi and they were all smooth. In-fact the only time this felt similar was maybe 12yrs ago when i had a Renault 5 GT Turbo, the clutch was on its way out and had to be replaced.

The other half noticed this straight away coming back from the airport last week as she drove. She actually thought the car was stalling on numerous occasions and asked me if there was something wrong. Again the dealers test drove and said nothing was at fault and it’s a trait on S3's.

The question to you S3 owners is "is it a similar trait?"

Thanks
Si
 
My car suffers with this also but due to me having an after market clutch..

Its more likely the problem is the dual mass flywheel, once they wear out you will get a load of play on the drive plate which will create a shudder if you load it up without many revs on..
 
I think it's a bit funny/crap the S3 clutch action , judders and feel like it's gonna konk out sometimes , it doesn't help the fact theres not much of a bite.

I do think it's normal though.

p
 
no... no issues like that in mine at the moment. Had that very issue in my last bm tho... well annoying.
 
Mine does it, especially when holding the car with the clutch on a slight hill. I also get a kind of light vibration through the pedal when crawling on the clutch.

My old Leon Cupra R did the same ( and the Cupra before that come to think of it ! ). I never had a problem with the clutches on those over 40k miles so I guess it's normal ( or at least non-terminal ! ).
 
So judging from the responses thus far it may not be a problem then.

If that is the case i'm not too impressed with it and i would have expected it to be as smooth as other VAG cars i've had in the past. My missus Polo is smoother when using clutch control..!

What is the Dual-Mass Flywheel that is mentioned above..? How would that play a part in a possible problem with the clutch..?

Thanks
Si
 
ok... so now why dont I have it?

Am I going to have to find a multi story car park?? ;)
 
How on earth do you think that clutch that can hold over 450nm can be as smooth as on A3 1.6 with 100nm? It's impossible! Clutch is overdimensioned for this car and it's normal that it's not smooth! Try putting some double 3-spoke clutch and you will see how "smooth" is that :) :) ... You all should be thankfull that it's so overdimensioned, because otherwise chipped S3s would be undrivable...
 
Kontraband said:
ok... so now why dont I have it?

Am I going to have to find a multi story car park?? ;)
Click to expand...

Probs because I only notice it when I just dont put enough revs on when i set off and it sounds as if the car is going to stall, you probs put enough on hence no sound!
 
JamS3 said:
Probs because I only notice it when I just dont put enough revs on when i set off and it sounds as if the car is going to stall, you probs put enough on hence no sound!
Click to expand...

Thats it though , when setting off from lights , 1.5k revs and it judders and sounds like it's gonna stall, 2.5k revs and it's **** off a shovel ( looking like a **** ) and having to brake before you hit the car in front.

It's a fine line , what revs do others set off ( not launch :) )from lights at?

p
 
Don't have this problem either guys.....

Perhaps they built the ibis cars properly.. :whistle2: :shrug:

I think its all about control of ya pegs! LOL Right rev's and smooth application of the clutch pedal.... But then i know nothing.... he he he
 
EAGLE79 said:
Don't have this problem either guys.....

Perhaps they built the ibis cars properly.. :whistle2: :shrug:

I think its all about control of ya pegs! LOL Right rev's and smooth application of the clutch pedal.... But then i know nothing.... he he he
Click to expand...


HAHAHAHA yeah, I'd have agreed with you on that last week, but mines been in to the shop since. Ibis tho... :rockwoot:
 
A lot of manufacturers are having trouble with dual mass flywheels. The idea was to try and reduce vibrations particularly on diesels. Audi have been fitting dual mass flywheels on diesels but not sure about on petrol fuelled cars. The symptoms you describe equate to trouble with these flywheels. I'm beginning to experience the same sort of problem occasionally I intend to put my concerns in writing whilst the car is still under warranty so that it's on record. From what I hear manufacturers are beginning to revert to previous designs because of these problems. Google "dual mass flywheels" for a good explanation about the design.
A3 2.0 tfsi sportback
 
No clutch judders from mine ......... touch wood!
 
Not noticed this on mine either to be honest.
Will look for it from now on though.
 
Ive had DMF problems on a MK5 Gti (Petrol).
Seemingly the problem is more widespread than VAG would have us believe and effects petrol and diesel.
Mine let go after the car was remapped.
VW changed it without any resistance at all, presumably because the problem was known to them.

Good luck

Paul
 
Cant say I've noticed this clutch judder issue. When the car feels like it may stall, the car jerks and clutch will judder but that is the only situation I can report of.
From the looks of things, some of us are also experiencing this clutch judder and others arent.
 
I think it is quite related to how you release the clutch. On my case, sometimes I notice the judder but I can also drive without noticing it. It has to do with how much you ride the clutch, on my case if I release before 1000 rpms it does not judder, If I take of at higher rpms, slipping a bit more, I can feel a little more vibration through the pedal.
 
I’ll keep an eye on it for any change... whether it’s a fault with the clutch, dual-mass flywheel or just me..! (Probably likely)

I've made sure that Audi have it logged into their system in case it breaks.

Find it interesting that some report it and others don't. I need to read more about DMF me thinks...
 
Ive got no issues with the clutch here. I think its pretty smooth :)
 
I've got the pedal vibration problem and occasionally get some judder. Also been told by Audi it's normal but I might get a second opinion when the car goes into Awesome Gti next week.
 
Just come across this thread and can confirm, I too have this slight issue!

Got my S3 last Feb and straight away I queried it from garage I got it from who said it was fine, they told me to go onto the motorway doing 50mph and then floor it in 6th gear. If the revs had flown up without the car seeming to accelerate then the clutch would be going, something they said they highly doubted considering it had only done 29k. I went onto the motorway and the revs fortunately didn’t fly up on acceleration. The AA also did an inspection (prior to sale) and nothing came up.

My issue (that’s apparently not an issue) is noticed if say you engage first gear, don’t put your foot on the accelerator and instead slowly lift off the clutch and you'll feel a slight judder until fully in-gear.

In the first few months of having the car I still didn’t trust it and was panicking but they all said it was ok and a characteristic of a vehicle with a DMF.

If I’m too aggressive with fast gear changes from 1st to 2nd I can encounter a gear slip so I give it at least a second before changing gear. Again I’m told this is normal, apparently these sort of cars don’t like it too rough and happens on Subaru’s too etc (not that you can ever compare a classy S3 to a Subaru) ;)

Mike
 
I've got the same issue, and mines only done 17k. I think the point made earlier about the fact that the clutch is designed for the power S3 has/can have, means that its not quite3 so smooth when you're being delicate.
 
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