Manual transmissions are becoming a thing of the past but some of us still love to drive them. Nothing beats the feeling of control you get when you drive a stick. Even if you take good care of your vehicle, machine parts only last so long, and your clutch is no exception. Is your clutch going out? AutoFix confirms it might be if it’s doing any of the following.
Change in Clutch Pedal Feel
If your clutch pedal feels different it’s time for an adjustment at a minimum. If it’s loose, spongy, sticking or vibrating, you may need more than an adjustment. Your clutch pedal should operate smoothly and you should be able to feel the catch at about the same place each time you change gears. If you notice anything strange underneath your foot, have your clutch pedal and clutch inspected.
Grumbling or Squeaking
Your clutch shouldn’t make noise either. You might grind the gears the first few times you drive the vehicle until you get used to the clutch feel, but after that, gear shifts should be silent from the pedal and the clutch. Squeaking could just mean your pedal needs to be oiled; grumbling is a sign your clutch needs more than oil. Either way, have the issue checked out to avoid additional damage.
Poor Acceleration
If you can get your engine to rev but your car, truck or SUV doesn’t accelerate as it should, your clutch is definitely going. The clutch engages the transmission gears, and if your vehicles revs without acceleration, it means that the clutch has not engaged first gear, reverse or whatever gear you have the transmission in. Don’t put getting this fixed as it can further damage your transmission.
Gear Slips
The above holds true while the vehicle is in motion, too. If you suddenly lose acceleration while you’re driving, it could be that the transmission slipped out of gear. You should have difficulty shifting between gears or staying in the selected gear once you’ve released the clutch. If you do, you’ve got clutch trouble and/or possibly transmission trouble. Fighting to get or stay in gear is a sure sign of trouble.
Burning Smell
Finally, if you’ve ever bled your clutch you know it smells like burning rubber. If you notice a burning smell while shifting gears, drive to an auto service shop as soon as possible. As with brakes, a new clutch might smell as if it’s burning temporarily, as can a dirty clutch, but ultimately you shouldn’t smell anything coming from your clutch. If you do, again, head to an auto service shop for a quick check.
AutoFix in Franklin, TN, works on both manual and automatic transmissions. Call us today if you noticed any of the above signs.