how can you tell when your clutch is on its way out?

Question

I have a feeling that my clutch in my ford fiesta is not as hot as it used to be. how can i tell for sure without going to a mechanic?

Answer 1

Don't worry, you will know when it is worn out. When you say not as hot as it used to be, you must drive it very hot. When it begins to wear out, it begins to slip. When it is fully worn out, you won't be able to move the car. You can also feel it in the clutch pedal. You begin to "lose" your pedal. Interaction begins at a higher position until there is no clutch left. Take it easy on the poor clutch. A good driver can get many many miles on a clutch.

Answer 2

You can check if its sliiping by seeing how easy it is to stall.
Put it in gear with the handbrake on and try to pull away.
If its slipping alot ie not pulling away then its worn.
Dont do this alot though as you will wear it even more.
There should also be som play at the top of the pedal travel ie should push down slightly without doing anything.
It could also be a clutch fluid leak, does it work better if you push down a couple of time before selecting a gear. Are there problems getting it into gear.
With it in gear and the clutch pedal all the way to the floor do you have to lift off the clutch alot before it bites or does it bite near the bottom, if near the bottom the clutch cable could be stretched or again a hydraulic problem, clutch cylinder leak or low clutch fluid.

Answer 3

When the clutch is bad you will have one or two problems. Either the clutch does not release completely and you cant get it in gear without grinding or you can feel the clutch slip. Assuming it has a mechanical linkage you need to make sure it is adjusted properly. There should be some free travel between the throw out bearing and the pressure plate. The clutch petal should travel a certain distance before you feel it make contact. If it has hydraulic clutch as most newer trucks have it most likely self adjust and no adjustments are necessary.

Answer 4

If you accelerate in a high gear, if the clutch is slipping you will hear the engine increase in speed without the car speeding up as well.
This would be due to the clutch being worn out, or the clutch pedal needing adjustment.

If you have scouring type noise when you depress the clutch pedal, you have problems with the thrust bearing - this pushes on the clutch to disengage the engine.

Answer 5

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
how can you tell when your clutch is on its way out?
I have a feeling that my clutch in my ford fiesta is not as hot as it used to be. how can i tell for sure without going to a mechanic?

Answer 6

Put the throttle pedal hard down, going up a steep hill. If the engine speeds up more than the car does, your clutch is worn out. If you are having trouble getting into gear, then it is the hydraulic or cable linkage from the pedal to the clutch that needs mending or replacing.

Answer 7

Start up engine , LEAVE HANDBRAKE ON, put car in fourth gear, increase the revs a bit ,slowly let clutch out, if it stalls then your clutch plate is probably ok. but if it dosen't stall and you are still stationary then I'd say your clutch is on way out.

Answer 8

Is you hear a rattle with the clutch engaged, that can mean its pins are starting to wear out...

The other biggest is it you find it hard to engage gears and/or minor scrunching noises as you do...

Answer 9

You tell by the way the clutch slip ,IE your foot is on the floor and the car is not pulling away fast .Hope this help

Answer 10

The most obvious thing will be that with the car in gear, while you're driving, the engine speed will increase when you step on the gas, but the car itself will not speed up right away, but if you ease your foot off the gas, the transmission will catch up and match the engine speed.