Signs Your Clutch Is On Its Way Out

How a clutch works

In a manual car, the clutch connects the engine to the gearbox. When you press the pedal, it separates them so you can change gear. When you lift your foot, a friction plate is squeezed between the flywheel and a pressure plate, and the engine drives the wheels again.

That friction plate wears a little every time you pull away or change gear, much like a brake pad. How long it lasts depends heavily on how and where the car is driven. Lots of stop-start traffic, towing and hill starts all wear it faster.

Slipping

The most common sign of a worn clutch is slipping. You press the accelerator, the engine revs rise, but the car does not speed up to match. It is often most obvious in a higher gear, going up a hill or overtaking.

You may also notice a hot, burning smell, a bit like burnt paper. A slipping clutch only gets worse, and it can leave you without drive at all, so it is worth having it checked as soon as you notice it.

A high biting point

The biting point is where the clutch starts to grab as you lift the pedal. As the friction plate wears thinner, the biting point tends to move higher, until the car only starts to move when the pedal is almost all the way up.

This creeps up slowly, so you may not notice it in your own car. If someone else drives it and comments on it, or it feels very different to a newer car, it is a good reason to get it looked at.

Judder, noises and a heavy pedal

Other signs point to different parts of the clutch. A shudder or judder as you pull away can come from a worn or contaminated plate, or from a worn dual mass flywheel, which many modern diesels and some petrol cars have.

A whirring or rumbling noise that changes when you press the pedal often points to the release bearing. A pedal that feels very heavy, spongy or sticks to the floor can mean a problem with the hydraulics, such as the master or slave cylinder. Crunching or difficulty getting into gear can also be a clutch that is not fully letting go.

Not every one of these means a whole new clutch. That is why we check the car first and tell you exactly what we have found.

Making your clutch last

A few habits make a real difference. Keep your foot off the pedal when you are not using it, and do not hold the car on the clutch on a hill. Use the handbrake instead. Sit in neutral at long traffic lights rather than with the clutch pressed down.

Pull away smoothly with no more revs than you need. Riding the clutch and fast, slipping starts generate heat, and heat is what wears the friction plate out.

If you tow a caravan or trailer, or carry heavy loads, expect the clutch to work harder. Take a little more care pulling away, especially on slopes, and the clutch will thank you for it.

Getting it checked

If your clutch is showing any of these signs, we can road test the car and check the pedal, hydraulics and gear change. We will tell you whether it needs replacing now or has life left, and if it does need doing we will explain what parts your car needs and give you a quote before any work starts.

We look after drivers across Walsall, Pelsall and Brownhills. Call us on 01922 682200 or book online.