Depending on how many miles you have on your automobile, your manual transmission may be grinding every time you shift the gears because the clutch is going bad. The average lifespan of a clutch is 50,000 miles to 100,000 miles, so if you have that type of mileage on the odometer, it’s possible that the clutch is the problem. Righter’s Auto Repair advises that grinding is just one sign that the clutch is going bad. We are going to list the other signs below.
Acceleration Hesitation
A sign that your clutch is slipping, i.e., it’s not engaging and disengaging properly, is hesitation when you try to accelerate. It doesn’t matter if you are trying to accelerate from a stop or to pick up speed. Your clutch is not transferring enough power to the wheels to give your vehicle the get-up-and-go that it needs.
Burning Smells When You Shift Gears
You may also smell burning odors when you shift gears if your clutch is going bad. Again, this is a sign that the clutch is slipping and it may be slipping because the internal mechanisms have worn out. You may hear squeaking sounds as you depress the clutch along with the burning smells. This is definitely a sign that your clutch needs to be adjusted at a minimum.
Higher Clutch Bite/Catch Point
Another sign that your clutch is going out is a higher bite point. Whether you call it the bite point or the catch point, this is the point where you shift the gears when you depress the clutch. If this place has changed in the clutch, it needs to be adjusted or replaced. The bite point should stay the same in a healthy clutch.
Problems Shifting Gears
You may also start having problems shifting gears. It could be that you are having difficulty getting your vehicle into first gear or reverse from neutral, or you may be having problems shifting through the gear cycle. Your vehicle may slip out of gear once it is in gear. All of these things point to an issue with the clutch.
Spongy Feeling Under Your Foot
Finally, you know how your clutch should feel underneath your foot and if it feels soft or spongy, there’s a problem. Your clutch should give you the same resistance every time you use it. If there is a sponginess to it, it’s definitely going out.
Don’t worry. Righter’s Auto Repair in Grand Ledge, MI, and Lansing, MI, can help. Call us today to schedule an appointment for a clutch inspection.
