The lifespan of a manual transmission’s clutch can vary greatly. Generally, a clutch will need to be replaced once you’ve put 100,000 miles on your car, but if you’re hard on the clutch, you’ll need to have it replaced sooner than that. Naturally, if you go easy on the clutch, it might last longer. Gulf Breeze Automotive & Diesel Repair cautions that if you notice any of the following signs listed below, your clutch may be going out. We can adjust it or replace it depending on which will resolve the problem.
Sponginess
A soft or spongy clutch can indicate that there is air in the hydraulic system if you drive an automobile with a hydraulic clutch. This can also indicate that the clutch’s internal mechanisms are wearing down, especially if your clutch sinks all the way to the floor without engaging. Your clutch should give you the same resistance each time you use it. If this resistance changes, have your clutch looked at.
Burning Smells
You probably burned the clutch a couple of times when you first learned how to drive a manual transmission. If you suddenly smell that same odor, it’s possible that the clutch is wearing down. The smell of a burning clutch indicates that the clutch is slipping. You may also hear your clutch rattle when you aren’t depressing and releasing it to change gears.
Speaking of Changing Gears…
Anytime it becomes difficult to change your gears, this is a sign that there’s a problem with the clutch. If you’ve been driving your automobile for a long time, you know how smooth and easy it is to shift through the gear cycle. If you find that when you make the gear shifts your automobile is not going into the appropriate gear, there could be a problem with your clutch or manual transmission.
Higher Catch Point
Another sign that your clutch is going bad is a higher catch point. You got used to where the catch point was when you first started driving your automobile. If you’ve noticed that this point has changed, your clutch needs to be adjusted or replaced.
Acceleration Hesitation
If your vehicle hesitates when you accelerate, it’s possible that the clutch is not capable of powering the wheels anymore. This, too, is a sign that your clutch is slipping. Rather than engaging and giving your vehicle the power it needs to accelerate, the clutch is not engaging. A final sign that your clutch is going bad is grinding gears. If you’re experienced in driving your manual transmission, your gears shouldn’t grind when you shift them. If they do, call Gulf Breeze Automotive & Diesel Repair in Gulf Breeze, FL, to schedule an appointment for a clutch inspection.