How to Diagnose a Slipping Clutch in Your Car

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For many drivers, shifting a standard transmission automobile is an essential part of the driving experience. Unfortunately, if you drive in a highly congested area with many stops, you may have developed some bad shifting habits that can result in a slipping clutch or stripped gears. The following steps will help you to diagnose a slipping clutch in your car.

Steps

1. 1
   Notice if you smell something burning coming from under the hood. This may be old oil or electrical wiring, but it can be the first sign of a slipping clutch.

   
   
2. 2
   Push down on the clutch pedal. Your clutch needs to be replaced if it takes all of the pedal movement to disengage the it.
3. 3
   Inspect the clutch face on any vehicle that has an inspection port on the clutch housing.
   • Crawl under the vehicle while it is not running. Make sure the emergency brake is set and wheels are blocked, so it cannot roll on its own.
   • Once you are under the vehicle, you should see a plastic cover on the bottom side of the clutch housing. Using a screwdriver, snap off the cover. This is a small viewing window of the clutch face.
   • Use a flashlight to look at the faceplate of the clutch. If the ceramic face is scarred, or if you see bare metal on the face the clutch, it needs to be replaced.
4. 4
   Take the car for a drive. See if it takes more RPMs from the engine to achieve the right speed. This can also be an indicator your car needs a clutch replacement.
   • While driving down the road in 2nd gear, put the car in 3rd or 4th gear then let out the clutch. If the RPMs of the engine go up, but the speed of the vehicle does not, it is time to replace the clutch.
   • Another way to establish if your clutch needs repair is to test it in a parking lot. With it stopped but running, put the car in 2nd or 3rd gear and let out the clutch. If it does not stall, but the RPMs go up and the vehicle does not move, the clutch is bad and needs to be replaced.

   
   

Tips

• The smell of burning rubber or oil can also be just that. This could be caused by a leaking rear main seal on the engine dripping oil on the faceplate of the clutch. The smell is most likely oil from the engine if you get chatter or a stutter when you let out the clutch and engage the engine.
• You can cause excessive wear on the clutch if you drive with your foot resting on the clutch pedal. You should keep your foot off the pedal when driving unless shifting or starting the vehicle.

Warnings

• The clutch pedal movement may not be the best indication of the condition of the clutch, since not all automobiles depend on a hydraulic clutch master cylinder for release. Some automobiles are dependent on a mechanical release and the clutch will often require adjustment only as it wears down.

Things You'll Need

• Wheel chocks
• Flathead screwdriver

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