Clutch Slipping????

taza

taza

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Joined
Oct 30, 2010
Messages
3,820
Location
Perth, Western Australia
Hi I think my clutch is slipping but would like a second opinion. I notice a shudder at 2000rpm if i rev it to that then take off and keep it at that until the clutch is completely released. I have tried the slipping test; ie. putting it into a higher gear, hand brake on then slowly releasing the clutch. I can release it 2/3rds of the way before it stalls. What do you guys think? Is it time for a new one. The car is 9 years old with 130,000km (81,250miles). I did also burnt the clutch quite badly while offroading to the point where white smoke was coming out the engine bay but that was 5000 or so miles ago.

Oh I have also replaced the master and slave cylinders and the clutch fluid 1600miles ago because the clutch was sticking to the floor and not releasing once pressed. Thats all sorted now though.

Any help would be great.
Thanks
Taza
 
Find a hill, put the car in 5th gear at say 80km/h. If the revs rise but the car does not increase speed, then you will need a new clutch. What you are trying to do is load up the clutch. If it increases speed in proportion to the revs, it is ok.

Is it a turbo? I know with the WRX's that cold shudder is common, and generally occurs when you take off in the morning UP a driveway. Not sure about NA because even though I have one, my driveway goes down from the house. If it is cold shudder, a bit of a clutch slip will clean the face of the mating surfaces, but the shudder will probably return. Trick then may be to be careful about taking off when cold.
 
2.0L N/A it is. It is worse before it has warmed up. Ok thanks

Went and tried that and it was fine. The car just felt difference than usual this morning and I was worried because I know it has to be replaced but it has to last till January otherwise I will have no car till I can pay to get it done.

Also when I replace it is there a better aftermarket one I can get thats more heavy duty for offroading or will I have to get another one the same?
 
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I don't know much about the clutches for NA cars. I know with the turbos it is best to stick with standard clutches and not heavy duty ones. Once it does start slipping, replace it straight away before it does more damage. But from what you have said the clutch could have a fair bit more life in it- but who knows. It also seems like it is cold shudder. When you take off from home first thing- do you go up a hill or driveway?
 
Rally said:
When you take off from home first thing- do you go up a hill or driveway?
Click to expand...
No its basically flat surface for the first 8km or so. But when the engine is cold it doesnt run very well, very shuddery and changes gears is very rough and needs a bit of throttle to get going but once its warmed up it seems fine. The shuddering is still there but less intense if there at all. Its probably there 1/6 times when the engine is warmed up, it could be my driving style though.

I dont ride the clutch but when I take off quickly (40% of the time) I sit on it as im releasing it up to 3000rpm in 1st. Thats probably not good for it.
 
Clutch test:

Put the nose of the car against a sturdy tree or building.
Set parking brake
Start car
Put in 5th
Let clutch out and do everything in your power to keep the engine running.

If the clutch is good no matter what you do the engine will stall. If you can keep the engine running for any amount of time the clutch is on its way out.
 
From experience - worn clutches,
- worst case is slipping & makes grinding noises - means pins are touching metal-metal.
- before worst case, slipping clutch after hard acceleration specially hilly areas, revs goes up but speed doesnt - clutch on its way out or needs tightened up.
- other case people mis-understood that is not the clutch, if revs goes up and speed goes up but car does not speed up to match the speed on the speedo - then its centre diff in the gearbox that is slipping - centre diff needs replacing..

Best test to work out if its slipping as it said above - what I've done to confirm other people's cars is to put parking brake on tight as possible, put in 5th and take off like you would - if it slips - worn clutch, if it stalls hard - then clutch is ok.
Cheers
AP
 
Should the car stall straight away when doing that test? Because I can pull my foot 2/3 of the way off it before it stalls.
 
Just make sure that your tests themselves do not wear the clutch out itself. If you are waiting only till January, and you still have drive with no obvious slippage, just take it easy for the next few weeks and hopefully you'll get there.
 
I'm going to be bored until around Autumn. I don't like summer and find it too hot and humid to do much. Bring on Autumn- by then I should have my sump guard. Let us know how things go
 
Im used to the heat in summer. Most days are 40+ degrees and my second house doesnt have air con. So you just sweat it out :raspberry: The only bad thing about summer is that its always sooooooooooo windy (40+ km/hr most days) :(
 
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