Overheated Clutch Issues
We have had a couple of customers come in recently with the same issue – what they believed to be an overheating car but in actual fact upon inspection, it’s a worn clutch.
So, we thought we would highlight this issue in this month’s blog and bring a little more awareness on how to spot a clutch that could be about to give up the ghost. It’s such an essential part of the car, it’s really important to be able to recognise these signs and get them seen sooner rather than later. Changing a clutch isn’t as straightforward as changing tyres or oil, there’s no real guide as to when it should be replaced, it’s all down to your driving style and the environment that you drive in.
You should expect your clutch to last between 20k to 150k miles – we know that’s quite a big range, but it really is down to the driving style and driving environment that dictates these numbers.
The Three Main Symptoms of a Worn Clutch
If you notice any of these issues whilst driving, it may be time to replace your clutch –
1. Burning smell – this is why people initially assume it’s the car overheating
2. “Slipping” out of gear
3. Soft or spongy clutch
Burning Smell
The burning smell you’ll experience with a worn clutch is similar to the smell of burning rubber. It’s a sure sign that it’s overheated and the clutch plate is wearing thin. You’ll spot this most commonly in slow-moving traffic (one customer had this issue when crawling around in heavy traffic at a drive-through safari park, so lots of clutch movement and stop-starts).
Slipping out of Gear
Any clutch that slips out of gear during driving, even if it’s only on the odd occasion, must be replaced immediately. It is an indication that the clutch is worn or potentially an oil leak from the crankshaft that’s lubricating the clutch plate.
Soft or “Spongy” Clutch
A soft clutch is an early sign that your clutch is beginning to fail. Try and drive your car for a short distance and keep your attention to how your clutch feels and how far you let the clutch out before the gear catches. If you have to, allow your clutch to come out most of the way, that is also a sign of a worn clutch.
This is an early warning sign that your clutch is beginning to fail. Test on a short drive to see how your clutch feels and how far you let the clutch out before the gear catches. If you need to allow the clutch to come out most of the way, that’s also a sign of it wearing out.
Still not sure?
If you’re still not sure if your clutch is ready to be changed change, try this simple test – when you’re in first gear, rev your engine and change directly into fifth – if your engine continues to rev high, it means that your gear has not caught on properly and the clutch has some kind of problem.
Clutch Replacement
A clutch replacement is not the cheapest of jobs unfortunately, the price can vary depending on the vehicle.
If you have any concerns with your clutch, book in with us for an inspection and we can let you know what the next course of action needs to be and the subsequent cost to enable you to prepare for the outgoing.