Clutch Recall (FCA W12 | 20V-124) For Gladiator Manual Transmiss [overheating clutch pressure plate]

[kostik76]

Some details on what triggers this IED? I guess my kids not riding shotgun until the fix. Assuming it is heat related is it due to the tendency to ride at low RPM in higher gear leading to possible slippage which leads to overheating? or is this more due to frequent shifts more like city driving in traffic? I mean reading details on the recall none of us should be driving this thing but some of us have no choice. What is the deal?

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[kostik76]

Looks like all JT’ 6 speeds built through 2/20/2020 are involved. Guess we have to wait till 4/22 for our surprise. I felt that clutch sucked from day 1. Dealer says it’s “normal”.
B.S.— It’s weak and has no clamping power! I guess the focus group says we all want weak, mushy clutches! “ It’s what the people want”.

Mine feels fine, but again it is a truck and i am not expecting sports car performance. What bothers me the most is stalling out in mud on 4x4 trying to start moving without digging. feels like i should have kept my 2016 Sahara...

 

[kostik76]

The only time I've smelled my clutch is when backing up hill slowly, as to parallel park, or to back into a short, up-hill driveway with a closed garage door...Both times it smelled like an upright vacuum belt when the brush roll gets stuck. I'll be avoiding backing up hill now that I know about this...

If you are not riding your clutch when doing what you described you probably should have it looked at. once clutch is fully engaged there should be no smell only if it slips. if it slips it will only get worst. you can test it by trying to move from full stop on a high gear, if you do not stall your clutch is done...

 

[kostik76]

If those that want to continue driving the time bomb you could always get a ballistic blanket and wrap around the bell housing

lol, why do not you add a heater while you at it?

 

[Bbannongmu]

"Just buy us this:
https://www.quadratec.com/p/centerf...l-jeep-wrangler-jl-and-gladiator-jt-KDF157077
"

agree. Hey FCA, just give me a Centerforce Clutch. I think it will be a big upgrade and will (unofficially) raise towing capacity

 

[Maximus Meridius]

The only time I've smelled my clutch is when backing up hill slowly, as to parallel park, or to back into a short, up-hill driveway with a closed garage door...Both times it smelled like an upright vacuum belt when the brush roll gets stuck. I'll be avoiding backing up hill now that I know about this...

What problem I had with my JK that I traded for my JT was it wanting to slip the clutch backing up even a slight hill. And drastically worse if I was moving my trailer (1700# pop-up) backing up to park it etc. The hill assist which basically holds the brakes on so you don’t roll backwards on a hill, for people that have problems pulling out on a hill and drifting and slipping the clutch. Well hill assist works when backing up a hill too. So when I was backing UP a downhill grade with my trailer or even w/o it, it would fight the brakes being applied and want to smoke the clutch. I found out how to shut down the hill assist on the JK and never had the problem again. With the new JT’s you can shut it off by going through the radio, much easier. The first thing I did when I took delivery of my truck was shut it off.
I was hoping the clutch would be better on the JT over the JK, but I feel it is unfortunately even weaker. Just my opinion!

 

[Paladin_JTR]

agree. Hey FCA, just give me a Centerforce Clutch. I think it will be a big upgrade and will (unofficially) raise towing capacity

My thoughts exactly! Its dumb that a manual gets rated an entire 3000 pounds less than an automatic when manuals do not face the over-heating stress issues that autos will. The unofficial...or well speculation for that low number when compared to the auto was the clutch.

 

[drBassman]

The first thing I did when I took delivery of my truck was shut it off.

Yes, I the first thing I did before leaving the dealer lot @ delivery was turn off the hill start assist...

 

[Gatorized]

agree. Hey FCA, just give me a Centerforce Clutch. I think it will be a big upgrade and will (unofficially) raise towing capacity

This might be just your excuse to get one -
FCA has a longstanding policy and practice of reimbursing owners who have incurred the cost of repairing a problem that subsequently becomes the subject of a field action. To ensure consistency, FCA, as part of the owner letter, will request that customers send the original receipt and/or other adequate proof of payment to the company for confirmation of the expense.
What’s the difference in price between a stock clutch replacement and the center Force?

 

[redrider]

Manual clutches are tricky to get right. My first road bike, a Kawasaki 400 two stroke triple ate clutch plates monthly after porting, polishing, milled heads, chambers etc.$$$. In went Barnett components, Stronger springs and proprietary friction plates lasted much longer. The lever required greater hand strength to operate but I/we got used to it quickly back then. I now have five bikes, 3 with dry clutches(Guzzi), 1 wet(Benelli) and 1 semi-wet(Norton sintered bronze plates. All have what most others consider "Hard to operate/stiff" levers. I do not notice it because I am used to it and they never slip under any heavy load. Ever. Point being that in their quest to sell to the modern human physique, Jeep and others have reduced the spring pressures to barely adequate minimums for the sake of perceived comfort and no complaints. My 2C. Flame away.

 

[wannajeep]

I was hoping the clutch would be better on the JT over the JK, but I feel it is unfortunately even weaker. Just my opinion!

Clutch and gearing on my '14 JK was way better than my '20 JT. But I love the JT so much I'm just forgiving it and adapting to it.

 

[firemedic2714]

My JTR clutch is the lightest clutch I've ever driven. It's so effortless. I've had very little clutch smell and when I have, I know why: it's because I rode it longer than it liked (reversing up a hill, rush hour traffic, 4 wheeling, etc.). My JKU clutch was exactly the same. Not the weight of it, but when and why it heated up. All four of my cars have manual transmissions and when I drive them, I have my foot on the clutch as little as possible. IMO, this is the key to clutch longevity as it lessens heating up of any of the components including the pressure plate. So if you tend to "ride the clutch", I suggest you change the way you drive for good or at least until FCA has a fix for this.

 

[Nick]

Has anyone else noticed that when you run the RPMs up close to red line the clutch feel like it disengages? At first I thought this was intentional like a rev limiter but now I'm not so sure.

 

[5JeepsAz]

Think the wiring harness move is fire prevention. Even if it's just a wick.

 

[redrider]

Has anyone else noticed that when you run the RPMs up close to red line the clutch feel like it disengages? At first I thought this was intentional like a rev limiter but now I'm not so sure.

Exactly how we would describe the beginning of the end for our motorcycle clutch. Things really were crappy back then as the Asians did and still do design components with barely enough material to do the job. The Japanese are an island country with limited resources so it stands to reason not to engineer things with any "extra headroom". It also seems that others have adopted this manufacturing mindset. As long as it lasts past the term of the loan...

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