Another Clutch Fire

[krweatherl]

Yesterday I had the privilege of rescuing my niece and her 2 dogs as her 2018 JLU burned to the ground alongside the freeway. She was on her way to my house so I could install her new ARB Stubby front bumper. She was on the freeway @70mph said traffic slowed she pushed the clutch to downshift, clutch pedal went to the floor stayed, she pulled it back with her foot and pushed again and it stayed down again, as she was try to figure that was happening another driver waved her over because there were flames coming out from under her Jeep. Within seconds after she got stopped and got herself and her dogs out the Jeep and the grass in the median were fully engulfed in flames. The clutch recall had been performed the day before.

Short video of the bell housing.

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[rharr]

Shift happens

 

[krweatherl]

I’ve been following this clutch issue for a couple years, there’s been at least 2 Recalls to address a clutch that’s not strong enough to hold the torque generated. FCAs answer in both recalls has been an ecu reflash (reducing torque generated to equal clutch capacity?) instead of replacing the clutch with one with a proper torque rating.

I’ve been a heavy haul lowboy truck driver (200,000+lb loads)
for over 30 years. Around 1997 the company I was working for at the time built a new truck from a W900 Kenworth glider kit. We used the then new 550 hp Cat engine that developed 1850 ft torque but put the same clutch used behind the 425 Cat that developed 1450 ft torque. As you can imagine it didn’t turn out well. I could walk through that clutch with an empty trailer let alone with a load. Our answer to that problem was not to detune torque output to to equal clutch capacity. We replaced the clutch with one rated to handle the torque, never had a problem after.

I understand FCAs reluctance to replacing all those affected 2018-2020 JL & JT clutches but isn’t reducing torque output really just a bandaid trick to cover over the real problem to avoid the expense of a true fix? If it weren’t for the sharp eyed driver who alerted her to the emergency developing under her feet this could have turned out very differently and they could have a problem much larger than replacing a few thousand clutches.

 

[Escape.idiocracy]

Oh my goodness…

first of all- glad everyone is ok.
second most important thing! Glad there are still young ones out there driving around with three pedals!!!

third is on me- I have never heard of this issue….. Crazy?? Also- noted above I would love to know the science behind Derating the torque and how that’s supposed to help….. if this happens crazing at 70mph torque was already low with the use of OD/ 6th gear…… seems like a pressure plate or fork issue- but I’m just a keyboard warrior with an opinion ??‍

 

[21Moja]

I would love to say nail them to the wall but I know that is easier said than done...Glad everyone Is ok!!

 

[krweatherl]

Links to both clutch recalls that I know about.

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2020/RCRIT-20V124-1465.pdf

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2021/RCRIT-21V028-6608.pdf

 

[NachoRuby]

Oh my goodness…

first of all- glad everyone is ok.
second most important thing! Glad there are still young ones out there driving around with three pedals!!!

third is on me- I have never heard of this issue….. Crazy?? Also- noted above I would love to know the science behind Derating the torque and how that’s supposed to help….. if this happens crazing at 70mph torque was already low with the use of OD/ 6th gear…… seems like a pressure plate or fork issue- but I’m just a keyboard warrior with an opinion ??‍

Since the recall was just performed the day before, the timing seems too weird to be coincidental. The first recall required new hydraulic hoses and sleeves. I wonder if they somehow screwed up the clutch bleed? I could see the clutch getting stuck partly in/out, and slipping like crazy if it weren't bled properly, creating a ton of heat. That's just too coincidental to be chance.

But maybe the clutch was already slipping from wear, therefore generating excess heat even at 70 mph (constantly slipping). Like if the clutch were already on its way out. Derating it when it detects excess slippage (or heat) is supposed to keep you from riding it too much and overheating it.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

Thank God she and the dogs got out! The silver lining here is the insurance value for a write off is so much higher than if she had tried to sell it (before it burned to the ground).

 

[Maximus Gladius]

So just going to through this out there for those that research upgrading clutches, does Centre force make an upgrade like a stage 2 clutch? Would an upgrade have saved this meltdown from happening? Was she outside warranty and could have upgraded?

 

[NachoRuby]

So just going to through this out there for those that research upgrading clutches, does Centre force make an upgrade like a stage 2 clutch? Would an upgrade have saved this meltdown from happening? Was she outside warranty and could have upgraded?

Center force and South Bend make upgrades. But I think the clutch wasn't bled correctly/well. We haven't seen a clutch fire in a few years on this forum, since the recall first happened, and for the owner to have just had the recall done, and then have it burn up is very coincidental. I know, correlation doesn't equal causation, but the timing seems odd.

 

[rharr]

in all seriousness, its a hard one to prove. Manufactures treat clutchs as wear items, like brake pads because there is no single use case that can be applied to a clutch. The user has full control of the system and the user is human and unpredictable unlike a auto tranny. I'm not saying this is the case but the OEM can easily argue the clutch caught fire cause the driver likes to rest her foot on the peddle as she drives, causing a slight slip. Try to prove them wrong....

My dad had a issue with a 2010 mazda 3 6sp, clutch burned out in 30k, (he has about 50 years of manual driving never having a clutch issue before) so his assumption was mazda used crap parts and when he talked to the dealer they said so sorry, but that is a consumable part.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

At least she doesn’t have to prove she doesn’t rest her foot on the clutch. It’s a write off, get paid, start over.

 

[bd100]

In a case like this, a probable clutch fire the next day after clutch work, does the insurance company try to go after the dealership to recover costs?

 

[Mtpisgah]

My wife has a manual 2018 JLR. I have known about the clutch issues and have considered a Centerforce or Luck as a replacement. The dealership made an adjustment when they performed the last recall and it is better, but it still worries me since it was not replaced.
I have told her about the issues but she did not fully understand it until this weekend when I showed her a picture of one that exploded. Now she may be on board for a new clutch.
And she has always driven a manual and has done very well with them, her CRV had 220k miles on the original clutch. The WRX only made it to 80k, but that was probably more my fault than hers.

 

[JET_83]

Yesterday I had the privilege of rescuing my niece and her 2 dogs as her 2018 JLU burned to the ground alongside the freeway. She was on her way to my house so I could install her new ARB Stubby front bumper. She was on the freeway @70mph said traffic slowed she pushed the clutch to downshift, clutch pedal went to the floor stayed, she pulled it back with her foot and pushed again and it stayed down again, as she was try to figure that was happening another driver waved her over because there were flames coming out from under her Jeep. Within seconds after she got stopped and got herself and her dogs out the Jeep and the grass in the median were fully engulfed in flames. The clutch recall had been performed the day before.

Short video of the bell housing.

That’s a good reason why I wouldn’t touch one of these manuals

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