New clutch, replace fluid?

[Padawan]

All Ball may need a clutch replacement to cure the known "won't shift from Park" issue (depends upon what the technicians find). I'm curious if a clutch replacement on the 451's automated manual requires the transmission fluid to be drained? I wouldn't necessarily think so, but I recall reading one thread in which the owner's repair order listed transmission fluid along with the clutch replacement.

[GHammerly]

Yes, just as with FWD drive trains the axles come off for transmission removal, without draining the fluid it would spill out through the axel holes dousing the poor technician with gear oil while wrestling to separate the tranny from the engine.

[Padawan]

Well, All Ball will indeed be getting a new clutch. The only question is when. Apparently, both the clutch and the OEM fluid are on backorder, so I have to bring him back once the parts are in stock. No solid estimate as to when that will be.

[forestacademy]

It may not be the frluid on back order.

I just had mine done for the same reason. They replace the cluch with a new one with Nickel in the center hub, all new part number. They also put a bunch of special Merc labeled greese on the center hub, That may also be on back order. The Fluid looked relativly normal. My smart center didnt have a pump to put in the fluid so he just stood their squeezing the bottle against the wheel to get it in to the car.

I got to stand around in the shop and watch them put the thing back together. The hardest part was putting in the air intake canister that holds the filter.

After all is back together they need to reprogram the car and take it out for a drive to relearn the car to the new cluch. Just like in the old days when you would get a new clutch in a car you had to relearn how to use the clutch or you would be leaping off the line. The car drives smoother than ever now. Bigger difference than the 2.0 upgrade.

And in case you are wondering, this is the cluch that now comes in t
he 09's

[Padawan]

Forest, do you happen to have the part numbers from your repair order?

[TMACK]

Yeah, part number.
And, how many miles pasted before you had to have this done?
Tom

[forestacademy]

Qty FP Number Description
1 A-001-252-66-05 Clutch Plate
2 75W90 75W90 Fluid

Milage 14,532 = under warranty

Not the "Clutch" plate that was bad, but the certer hub that has issues

[jefferios]

I have had issues twice where my car didn't switch into reverse mode, it has not happened for awhile now. Should I be concerned forest?

[TMACK]

Hmm. That does not bode well.

Did you also happen to get the spec on the tranny fluid?
I ask because my Mini is quite specific and the stuff is hard to find, and I believe it is the same OEM.

[Padawan]

Jefferios - I don't think it's cause for immediate concern, but you might want to bring the car in to have them run a diagnostic on the clutch/transmission, especially if your car is still under warranty.

Forest - Thanks for the numbers!

TMACK - All Ball has around 10,000 miles right now. As for the transmission fluid, smart specifies "BOT 328" (can be ordered at your smart dealer) as the factory fill. A regular GL-4 75W-90 gear oil is the smart recommended alternative, and isn't difficult or expensive to source.

Note that your car appears to be a 2009 model, so it already has the updated clutch.