A clutch working in excellent condition can last for up to 100,000. Factors that determine the lifespan of your clutch include its make, model, and year, as well as the clutch type and your driving habits. Consequently, bad driving habits such as performing stop-and-go during traffic, heavy loads, and dumping the clutch increases the likelihood of clutch failure.
To detect the first signs of clutch failure, you need to pay extra attention to your vehicle. Being vigilant of unusual noises, irregular clutch pedal behaviour, and normal performance will help you determine the presence of a clutch problem and its potential causative factors.
What are the Primary Signs of a Slipping Clutch?
Clutch slipping refers to a worn-out clutch material. This condition means that your clutch only engages through friction. If there is no material to produce friction, then your clutch won’t engage properly.
You will notice the first signs of your clutch slipping, your vehicle will start moving slowly while the engine revs higher. You may also notice that your clutch releases sooner than expected without the presence of required pressure.
What are the Causes of a Slipping Clutch?
- A warped or weakened pressure plate
- Bent, misaligned, or damaged clutch linkage
- Clutch linkage requiring adjustment due to cable binding
- Cable housing is filled with rust
- Contaminated clutch assembly due to leaking engine or transmission
- Damaged motor mounts
If you neglect repairing your clutch, it will continue to turn the input shaft that can result in unwanted grinding and prevent your vehicle from going into gear.
Here are some of the most common reasons why your vehicle is suffering from clutch sticking issues:
- The presence of air in the hydraulic line
Air takes up space which in turn impacts your vehicle’s hydraulic system. The presence of air will lead to difficulty in building enough pressure within the hydraulic system.
- Faulty master clutch cylinders and/or leaky defective slave
Leakage prevents the cylinders from building the necessary amount of ideal pressure.
- Broken or stretched clutch cable
Clutch cable requires the right amount of tension to engage effective push and pull motion.
- Misadjusted linkage
Whenever you hit the pedal, your vehicle’s linkage transmits the wrong amount of force.
- Mismatched clutch components
Not all aftermarket or OEM parts will complement and work efficiently with your clutch system.
What are the Major Symptoms of Clutch Master Cylinder Failure?
- Clutch pedal makes unusual noises during engagement and disengagement
A problem with the clutch release mechanism or clutch fork occurs when you hear noises when depressing the clutch pedal or when the engine is off.
The clutch fork is a mechanical releasing device that facilitates proper engagement and disengagement of the clutch. Other causes include the lubricant drying out and a worn-out clutch fork. A cable or connection may result in scraping, clunking, or squeaking sound.
- Clutch pedal produces a chattering noise upon acceleration
Whenever your clutch vibrates, this means that the clutch disc is losing grip on the flywheel. The possible causes of chattering or vibrating are as follows:
- Worn-out flywheel
- Worn-out or damaged pilot bearing
- Glazed clutch disc
- Hotspots on the pressure plate
- Warped flywheel or pressure plate
- Worn-out clutch disc lining
- Oil-contaminated or burnt clutch disc lining
- Worn-out splines with the clutch disc hub
- Weakened or broken pressure plate diaphragm spring
Pulsating Clutch Pedal
The presence of wobbling or vibration inside your transmission, you will feel your clutch pedal pulsating. The cause may be warped flywheels which may require adjustments of the release lever. If you feel pulsation or vibration began after servicing the transmission system, the possible cause may be a misaligned transmission housing with the engine.
Clutch Pedal Remains Stuck to the Floor
A clutch pedal that remains stuck on the floor can mean that you are suffering from binding problems with the release bearing or linkage. It is recommended to check if the springs in the linkage are not overstretched to ensure the proper adjustments can be made to fix the issue. It is also ideal to inspect the release bearing and check if the pedal stop is in place.
Spongy or Loose Clutch Pedal
Check the release bearing or clutch for if your clutch pedal feels loose or spongey.
If your vehicle features a hydraulic clutch release mechanism, it is imperative that you check the following:
- The presence of air in the hydraulic system
- Check if the pipe or hose is leaking
- Leakage in the connection
- Low fluid in the reservoir
- Faulty center valve in the master cylinder
- Leaking piston primary seal in the master cylinder
If you suspect failure in your clutch system, it is best to have a skilled auto mechanic to identify its specific cause. A car mechanic shop in Sydney will have the equipment and tools that will ensure accurate diagnosis and immediate resolution to keep you safe and secure on the road. At HP Automotive, we leverage years of industry experience to provide excellent service from start to finish. If you want to schedule an appointment or additional enquiries, you may call our direct line on 02 9979 8372 today.