Many people prefer to drive a manual transmission because it’s fun and leaves them feeling more in control. Miller Brothers Auto Repair can work on your vehicle’s transmission whether it is manual or automatic. One of the most important parts of a manual transmission is the clutch. Here are signs that your clutch is going bad.
Acceleration Hesitation
Depressing the clutch cuts the engine power. This gives you the opportunity to shift gears without grinding them. Once you’ve shifted the gear, you release the clutch and transfer the power back to the engine. If your vehicle is hesitating when you want to accelerate, this is a sign that the clutch is not engaging properly and, as a consequence, it isn’t moving the power to the drivetrain.
Grinding Noises
A failing clutch will also make your gears grind when you shift them. This is because it is unable to transfer the power to the drivetrain as discussed above. If there is still engine power when you shift gears, the gears will grind. It’s important to make sure that you only shift gears when the engine power has been cut by the clutch.
Higher Catch Point
The catch point is when you shift gears. Also called the bite point, this is the position in the clutch when the power shifts and it’s safe to change gears. An older clutch sometimes ends up with a higher catch point than normal. This can definitely be a sign that you have clutch problems.
Hot/Burning Odors
Your clutch should not smell hot. You shouldn’t detect any burning odors when you use the clutch. If you do, this is a sign of a problem within the clutch and, most likely the need for a new clutch. Generally speaking, a clutch will last about 100,000 miles if it’s cared for.
Problems Shifting Gears
Naturally, a problematic clutch will give you problems when you try to shift gears. It may not shift gears through the gear cycle. In other words, you may try to move your gear from first to second but nothing will happen. You may not be able to get your vehicle into first gear. The manual transmission might slip out of gear and go into neutral. Any of these things point to a faulty clutch.
Softness/Sponginess
Finally, your clutch needs to feel the same underneath your foot all the time. Any softness or sponginess indicates a problem with the internal clutch mechanisms and the spring mechanisms.
Miller Brothers Auto Repair in Somerset, WI, would be happy to inspect your clutch if you are experiencing any of these problems. Call us today to set up a service appointment.