Like a Doctor, But For Your Car

Why The Clutch Might Be Slipping With Your Manual Car

If you are operating a manual vehicle, you might notice that your car is not accelerating even if your RPM is rising. If this is the case, your clutch might be slipping. Your engine might become louder, but your car will not experience more power as a result. This most often occurs when you shift to a higher gear. This is usually the result of a slipping clutch.

A Loss of Engine Performance

When your clutch is slipping, you'll begin to experience a decrease in engine performance. You might find it more difficult for your vehicle to drive up a hill. You might also find it difficult to pull heavy objects with your vehicle like you were able to in the past.

A Burning Smell

There are several other warning signs that your clutch is slipping. For example, you might begin to notice a burning smell. The severity of the burning smell depends on how often your clutch is slipping. 

A Change in Your Clutch Height

You might be used to your clutch pedal being a particular height, and then the height might suddenly change. This is another symptom of a slipping clutch.

How to Solve the Problem

If your clutch is slipping, you'll want to have the problem corrected as soon as you can so that you're able to operate your vehicle safely. When a clutch is slipping, it cannot be repaired and will need to be replaced by an auto shop. There are very few situations where you may be able to repair a slipping clutch, such as if you have a leaking main seal.

A worn-out clutch should only be replaced by a mechanic experienced with working on manual transmissions or by an individual who is experienced with working on their own vehicle.

Where to Locate the Clutch

The clutch can be found between the transmission and the flywheel. The clutch relies on a friction material that is similar to what is found on the inside of your brakes. The friction material is used to grab onto the flywheel. However, the material wears out over time.

The Long-Term Consequences

Once the clutch has worn out completely, the engine will spin freely because it is not able to grab onto anything. Not every clutch wears out, and some clutches are able to last the entire life of the transmission.

However, if the clutch is worn down, the flywheel might become damaged and might need to be replaced as well. For this reason, it's important to have the problem corrected as soon as possible by an auto repair shop.

Visit an auto repair shop for more information.


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