My SS/TC has less than 300 miles and I ran into a weird issue this morning. I haven't driven the car in about 3 weeks, but I did wash it and store in the garage. I'd been driving the Mustang, and the clutch on that has about 8000 miles and I guess I might have gotten used to it (07 GT) or its broken in (flywheel surface / clutch surface / clutch pedal takeup).

I noticed some problems taking off from a stop with the Cobalt. At first I thought it was just normal because I wasn't used to the pedal. Then I had to stop to show my ID at work, and I stalled out about 6-7 times straight in a row. I even slipped the clutch (3000-4000 RPM) just to get out of there, but no dice. Every time I let off the clutch, it would stall out. If I gave it more throttle, the car would just shake violently. The only way I got moving was to let it slip to 3000 RPM, shake rottle and roll up to 10-15 MPH, then shift into 2nd and all was better (it was literally glass smooth) WTF?

What does this sound like? Rust build up on the flywheel from not being driven and after the car was washed/moisture? Air in the clutch hydraulic system? Me not getting used to the clutch? Once I parked the car, I pumped the clutch pedal several times in neutral with the engine running, and noticed it wasn't that bad to get it moving in 1st or 2nd. Reverse is still hard to engage.

PS: Before anyone says "just take it into the dealer", remember that they'll probably take the car away for 1-2 days and at the end, tell me they couldn't replicate the problem or that "it is normal", or blame it on racing (the fastest I have driven this Cobalt is about 75-80 MPH on the freeway).

 

I had some issues getting used to this clutch also, just had 2 find the sweet spot revs/release. Personnaly Id prefer an old ass throttle cable, I dont trust/like this drive by wire ****. NOT the same IDGF what they say! Mines a 07 SC tho. TC clutch is supossed 2 be tougher/diff size than SC so not shure I can help. But if d clutch is all the way out and ur @ 3000rpm and it stalls that sounds like a mech/electronic problem. And I kno what u mean bout the dealer, its like theres an inherited scrutiny from the dealer when u buy this car. Take it in n if they cant solve ur problem theyll claim ur probably abusing it...Funny u get the same treatment over there than here in CA. GM Standard procedure or WTF?

 

I think it is standard dealership procedure because Ford treats me the same way.
I have heard about the SS/TC clutch being "stronger" as well, but I think the flywheel/clutch just needs to be cycled for about 1000 miles of normal driving. I think my 07 GT acted this way in the beginning but after about 7500 miles the clutch is easier to use.

Regarding the odd behavior I posted, I think it might have been what others deduced: I shifted into 3rd instead of 1st. I still don't know how I would have done it since I shifted from 2nd into what I thought was 1st gear. 3rd gear is a very different position from 1st. I did this once in the Mustang and once in the Mazdaspeed3. The Mustang's 4.6 3V V8 had enough torque to move the car uphill from a stop in 3rd gear, but the LNF 2.0 and the MZR 2.3 DISI didn't have as much torque so the car just shakes violently.