Brought a 2003 used car recently (20000 miles on clock) and the clutch burnt out in first week! Warranty covered it because obviously it wasn't down to me! But, how is it possible to burn out a clutch after 20000 miles? Was the previous owner a particularly bad driver or is it the design of the car? If latter I need a driving lesson because I have a history of burning out clutches (but not after 20000 miles) and don't want to be paying out for a new clutch in 20000 miles time!!!!
2007-02-24 06:17:25 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
The clutch is for seamlessly connecting the power unit to the driving wheels. It is a simple device in use, on a flat quiet road with engine at idle speed,clutch in, first gear selected, lift clutch pedal until the clutch just bites, AND HOLD CLUTCH THERE, you will notice the vehicle start to move, KEEP CLUTCH WHERE IT IS after a few moments you will find the vehicle moving along at tick over speed, it is at this point you will see that the clutch is no longer needed and you can lift it totally. The object of this exercise is to show that high engine speeds and massive amounts of clutch slippage are not necessary to get a vehicle to move. So you see, once the engine speed is the same as the gearbox speed the the clutch is not slipping and the same applies to all speeds.
2007-02-24 06:54:10 · answer #1 · answered by Spanner 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Avoid jack rabbit starts, do not drive around with your foot resting on the clutch pedal, use your brakes when stopped to hold the car and do not ride (slip) the clutch. A clutch should last much longer than 20K miles.
2007-02-24 06:39:46 · answer #2 · answered by adjuster5 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What it sounds like your doing is called riding the clutch which means you are keeping your foot on the clutch as you are driving because as soon as you put pressure on that pedal you are engaging the clutch after selecting gear try to lighten up with your left foot or if on a motorway take it off all together
2007-02-24 06:37:09 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it could be your driving. You can burn out your clutch on a brand new vehicle. I had a clutch last forever on my 89 Mazda with over 250K miles on it. Pump broke on it, but never burnt out the clutch.
The way I drive, is that I ride the clutch only starting out in 1st. After that quick press and release. If you are smooth in shifting into other gears, you are wearing out your clutch.
And do not rest your foot on the pedal.
2007-02-24 06:33:23 · answer #4 · answered by sven_kirk 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I gotta question your odometer reading on that ride.
A reading of 20K on a 4 yr.old car is pretty low.
Blowing a clutch @ 20K is unusual unless from hard usage.The low milage suggests a vehicle that hasn't been driven a lot or the reading has been tampered
with.
Sound's like that clutch has been:
A)popped a lot
B)"ridden" a lot
C)"slipped"a lot(commen in hilly areas)
D)shifting or down shifting @ improper engine RPM
A blown clutch @ that milage doesn't sound like the
"Yellow brick road" to me,"ToTo".
My thoughts are,to get a vehicle report on that unit.
2007-02-24 06:53:02 · answer #5 · answered by huppercupper 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
do not rest your foot on the clutch after changing gear and when at traffic lights use the handbreak and move off in first gear this should solve your problem
2007-02-24 06:46:46 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i would just say dont ride the clutch and you should be fine
2007-02-24 06:22:18 · answer #7 · answered by ox 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Maybe they never used their handbreak?
2007-02-24 06:22:01 · answer #8 · answered by Alicat 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋