dgk996

I was looking at an 03 Turbo (~20,000 miles) last night. The clutch was very, very stiff. I have a 99 C2 and it's clutch is fairly easy (~15K on clutch).

Is this normal for aTurbo? If not, what is this a symptom of?

turbo4 me

Sounds like the accumulator is going-

rmc1148

Agree check for leakage at front clutch reservoir could be bad slave along with the accumulator.

dgk996

Thanks !!

uschoice

Or check to see if it was changed over to the GT2 setup.

Vendetta NY

Hopefully it's this.

-V

rmc1148

Would be nice for him.

FL-03Carrera

I had that issue, it was the accumulator.

blockhed

check for gt2 set up or upgraded clutch

autobonrun

Same here. Smooth now with new accumulator.

Macster

Stiff clutch? When? Prior to engine start? This can be normal if the car has sat unused a while. A "long" while. Or the clutch pedal was depressed/released a number of times which depletes any "boost" or power assist stored in the clutch accumulator.

Upon engine start -- well, within 20 seconds according to the factory manual -- the clutch power assist system should be recharged and the clutch action once again requiring less effort.

A stiff clutch when the engine running is not a common state. With the engine running even if the clutch accumulator won't hold any boost after the engine is shut off the clutch should still have the benefit of the boost as the power steering pump is running.

Might offer that a stiff clutch in other cars, other Porsches, is often a sign of a worn clutch. The disc has worn, lost thickness, and this results in the clutch hardware losing some of its mechanical advantage and the result in the clutch becomes harder to work.

I do not know if the same disc wear causes the Turbo clutch to be come harder to operate.

One might feel some mild pulsing from the clutch pedal as the malfunctioning clutch accumulator is not there -- so to speak -- to dampen the power steering pump's pumping action.

As others have offered a stiff clutch with the engine running can be due to the car having been treated to the GT2 clutch modification.

I'm not sure how to tell if this mod has been done to the car in question.

Kevin

As many have mentioned, failed accumulator..

Without starting the car, pump the clutch pedal 15 times. A failed accumulator will be heavy/stiff pedal thru the entire process. If it starts out easy and then gets harder to depress>> you might have a GT2 slave conversion or a aftermarket RACE pressure plate.