Question:

I have a 2002 Explorer Sport.  It has always been a little touchy on the clutch particularly in reverse.  When I bought it I felt the free play wasn’t right so I took it to the dealer who said (we can all repeat this together) "they are all like that".  Now at 20K the clutch pedal suddenly (one second to the next) developed essentially 2" of free play.  It still released and did not slip.  I drove it about twenty miles to the dealer. While the clutch was a little harder to use there was not trouble shifting and no slippage. The dealer called, the clutch is "completely burned up".  He says the hydraulics failed and took the clutch out.  They are replacing it under warranty so that is not a big deal but the whole thing doesn’t add up.  If the clutch was slipping why no smell.  If the clutch was okay before the hydraulics went I would think there would be some burning to take it out in twenty miles. Oh yes – the clutch is on back order one week down time. Anyone have any thoughts?

Response:

I have noticed the same on my 2001 F150 xl 4.2l.  It typically goes away after a day or two. I never noticed any difference in the clutch so I never took it in. Seems to happen more in the summer months as I can’t recall it doing this in the last couple months.  I am now over the warranty so I’ll just be gentle from here on out. Scott – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I have a 2002 Explorer Sport.  It has always been a little touchy on the > clutch particularly in reverse.  When I bought it I felt the free play > wasn’t right so I took it to the dealer who said (we can all repeat this > together) "they are all like that".  Now at 20K the clutch pedal suddenly > (one second to the next) developed essentially 2" of free play.  It still > released and did not slip.  I drove it about twenty miles to the dealer. > While the clutch was a little harder to use there was not trouble shifting > and no slippage. > The dealer called, the clutch is "completely burned up".  He says the > hydraulics failed and took the clutch out.  They are replacing it under > warranty so that is not a big deal but the whole thing doesn’t add up.  If > the clutch was slipping why no smell.  If the clutch was okay before the > hydraulics went I would think there would be some burning to take it out in > twenty miles. > Oh yes – the clutch is on back order one week down time. > Anyone have any thoughts?

Response: