Even if you take excellent care of your European automobile, there will come a time when the clutch needs to be replaced. Depending on the quality of the part and how you drive, that time might not come until well after 100,000 miles. Still, East Coast EuroWerks advises that your clutch needs to be serviced and adjusted regularly to extend its life. How can you tell when your clutch needs to be replaced? Here are signs that indicate that your clutch is going out.
Acceleration Hesitation
The primary thing that the clutch does when you press down on it is cut the power to the engine. It takes this power and transfers it to the transmission so it can turn the drivetrain. If the clutch is going out, it may not cut the power to the engine completely and, as a consequence, your acceleration may hesitate because the drivetrain does not have enough power to turn the wheels faster.
Grinding Gear Noises
Unfortunately, this can also cause your gears to grind when you shift them. You need that power transferred to the transmission in order to shift gears safely and smoothly. If you have suddenly started to hear your gears grind when you shift them, chances are the clutch is going out and you don’t have the power transferred that you need to the transmission.
Higher Bite/Catch Point
One thing you will notice before your clutch goes out completely is that the bite or catch point gets higher on the clutch. The point should stay in about the same location no matter what. If it gets higher, this is a sign that your clutch is going out and needs to be adjusted at a minimum. It’s possible that we may also need to replace the clutch at this time.
Hot or Burning Odors
Hot or burning odors signal that the clutch is slipping. A slipping clutch is a bad clutch. You shouldn’t smell anything when you press down on and release the clutch. If you smell something getting hot, it’s likely the clutch.
Problems Changing Gears
Naturally, if your clutch is going out you will have difficulties changing the gears in the transmission. It’s important to have your clutch inspected immediately if you are having problems changing gears. Continuing to force the transmission to work can cause serious damage.
Sponginess/Softness
Finally, the resistance that your clutch pedal gives your foot may change if it is going out. It may feel spongy or soft or it may feel extremely hard. Either way, this is a sign that there’s a problem with the clutch.
East Coast EuroWerks in Wilmington, NC, has all of your European automobile service and repair needs covered. This includes the clutch so call us today if you’re having problems.
