Did you know that your clutch should be adjusted every 6,000 miles? This keeps the catch point where you are used to it and helps to extend the life of the clutch. Righter’s Auto Repair can adjust your clutch when it needs it, and we can also rebuild it or replace it when the time comes. If you take excellent care of your clutch, you should be able to get as much as 100,000 miles or more out of it. If your clutch is going bad, you will notice one or more of the following symptoms.
Sinking to the Floor
A clutch that needs adjusting or replacement will sink to the floor without catching. Even if it does catch, the clutch might feel soft or spongy underneath your foot. This can indicate that the internal mechanisms of the clutch have worn out and need to be replaced. If we can replace them without replacing the entire clutch, we will. Otherwise, we may be left with no alternative other than to replace your clutch to resolve the problem.
Hot or Burning Odors
You may also start to smell hot or burning odors if your clutch is going out. This is a sign that the clutch is not staying engaged. The clutch should stay engaged until you release the clutch pedal. If you smell hot odors, the clutch is likely slipping out of engagement. This not only creates the odors we just mentioned but also causes problems with the power transfer between the engine and the transmission.
Hesitating Acceleration
When there is a problem with this power transfer, your vehicle will hesitate to accelerate after you release the clutch. This is an indication that the transmission does not have enough power to turn the drivetrain. This is also an indication that your clutch needs to be replaced. Again, you can expect to get about 100,000 miles out of a factory clutch that is well cared for.
Problems Shifting Gears
If the clutch is slipping, you will have problems shifting between the gears. In fact, you might even have problems getting your vehicle into gear. It’s important to have the clutch inspected at the first sign of gear shifting problems. This helps prevent further damage to the clutch.
Grinding Gears
Finally, if your gears grind every time that you shift them, this is a sign that your clutch needs to be replaced. Shifting gears should be quiet and seamless. The only thing you should hear is the difference in your engine’s RPMs.
Call Righter’s Auto Repair in Grand Ledge and Lansing, MI, if you are experiencing any of the clutch problems listed above. We’d be happy to help.
