Hello all,

I'm having a bit of a problem with my 09 Cobalt SS/TC. I bought the car in December with what I believe is a stock clutch. This is is my first stick shift car and Ive been learning on it since I bought it.
But yesterday Ive been noticing the clutch pedal isnt as firm as I would like it to be.

So the first time I noticed this was yesterday on the way to the gym, my clutch pedal felt softer. Not like sloppy loose but not as nice and firm like it is during its normal days. Also at idle the RPMs were bouncing around a tiny bit. Today however, I drove to work and the clutch pedal felt perfectly fine. Nice and stiff. On the way back home it was a different story. The softer clutch pedal made its return, but without the RPM bouncing this time.

Any ideas what's causing this intermittent problem?

 

Bye bye TOB.

Prepare yourself for a new clutch kit and TOB.


You can try bleeding it, but I doubt it will help at all.

 

Clutch kit? The clutch still grabs like a champ. As for the TOB, Ive done some research and it definitely doesn't make the noise that bad throw out bearings make when they go bad.

 

it doesn't have to make noise to have a bad tob, mine lost pressure a bunch when I did high speed pulls. u need new tob trust us. and while ur at it get new clutch and clutch pipe.

 

As a preliminary measure, I'd scope out the lines on the outside for any leaks. The pipe is plastic if I recall right, that thing may have cracked.

 

Its that plastic formed line. It doesnt really crack, it blows.

 

These cars do not typically make noise when they fail. They lose pedal pressure from a blown seal, but do not typically leak either.

 

Then why is my clutch pressure on and off. Why wouldn't I be feeling a limp pedal all the time? Also, how much is this TOB to get installed?

 

Because that is just what they do. I have blown 3 of them and one of mine was a failure so bad people were astonished it never leaked.

Basically, the seal starts to rock back and forth and lets in tiny air bubbles. Those bubbles move around in the lines. That is why it is hit and miss.

Also, if you let it go long enough the brakes will start to get squishy too.

You have to drop the transmission. So new TOB and install a new clutch too since it is out anyways.

 

chances are you blew the tob or you blew the clutch master ESPECIALLY if this is your first car that u learned to drive stick on...... best bet is to take it to the dealer or a reputable shop to diagnose this for sure. we can sit here and tell you things all day but theres a number of things it can be.

 

mine was on and off as well. it will cost ya to replace tob, tob is 80 bucks and the labour to replace will range from 500-1000 depending on shop. u have to pull the tranny to replace it.

 

plastic? the one I got off ced was metal

 

I replaced mine with the OTTP stainless one.
I have the stock OEM one in my garage, it is plastic for sure. Formed and rigid, but still plastic.

 

The clutch will still grab with a bad tob/slave. The problem arises with disengaging the clutch.

 

Haha just do yourself a favorite get a GMPP clutch kit. I got a 10' with 87k miles probably the stock clutch. I'm about to order 1 just cuz I know I'm gonna need it soon, no issues yet but that's how life works haha
/thread

 

Where exactly is this line?

 

It's under the hood.

Follow your clutch master cylinder. It goes from that to the top/front side of your transaxle.

It's a lot easier to see if you remove your fuse box / bracket.