Content

• To step
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities

For many drivers, driving a manual car is an essential part of the driving experience. Unfortunately, if you drive in a busy area where you often stop, you may have developed certain incorrect shifting habits that could lead to a slipping clutch or a worn gearbox. You could read a book about it or even take a course to learn how to identify a slipping clutch, but here's a start on identifying this problem. These details are specific to hydraulically operated couplings and may not apply to couplings with mechanical connections.

To step

1. Know what your link is doing. Although a clutch / pressure group will slowly wear down over time, at some point clutch performance may noticeably deteriorate and a seasoned driver will notice the slip by feeling the clutch engages. Here are a few simple signs to watch out for:
   • Change in the speed at which the engine is running, without noticeable acceleration. If you accelerate and the car holds up before accelerating, it could mean that the clutch is not transmitting the increase in RPM through the transmission to the drive wheels.
   • Change of the point on the clutch pedal where the driver feels the clutch begin to engage.
   • Change in the perceived power of the motor when a load is being pulled. A slipping clutch reduces the amount of power transferred to the drive wheels.
2. Notice if you smell anything burning from under the hood. This could be the result of an oil leak or even damaged electrical wiring (both serious, but unrelated to the clutch), but it could also be a sign of a slipping clutch.
3. Depress the clutch pedal. Your clutch may need to be replaced if you only have to press the pedal slightly before the engagement stops. There should be approximately 2 to 4 cm of clearance on the pedal before the clutch begins to disengage. If it disengages earlier, it is an indication that your clutch is not slipping (i.e. not partially disengaged) when the pedal is not depressed.
4. Check the clutch fluid level. Look at the clutch fluid reservoir, next to the master cylinder. The reservoir should be either completely filled or to somewhere between the minimum and maximum marks in the reservoir. Refill the reservoir if necessary.
   • Some cars use the clutch master cylinder. If so, make sure there is brake fluid in the master cylinder.
5. Go for a drive by car. Check whether more revolutions per minute are needed to get the car up to a certain speed. This could also be an indication that the car's clutch needs to be replaced.
   • If you are driving in 3rd gear, downshift to 2nd gear and release the clutch. If the revolutions per minute do not increase immediately, it may be time to replace the clutch.
   • Another way to determine if your clutch needs repair is to test it in a parking lot. Drive the car in 3rd or 4th gear and, with your foot still on the gas, press the clutch and release it again. The motor should immediately slow down in revolutions per minute. If the revs don't drop when you release the clutch, that means the clutch is worn out and slipping.

Tips

• You can cause serious wear on the clutch if you drive with your foot on the clutch pedal. You must keep your foot off the pedal while driving unless you are shifting gears or starting the car.

Warnings

• The movement of the clutch pedal may not be the best indicator of clutch condition, as not all cars use a hydraulic clutch master cylinder to release it. Some cars have a mechanical pop-up system in which case the clutch will need to be adjusted regularly as it wears down.

Necessities

• Wheel chocks
• Flat screw driver