In order to extend the life of your clutch, have it adjusted every 6,000 miles. This will likely get you 100,000 miles or more out of the clutch. Buellton Garage can adjust your clutch and we can also replace it when you need a new one. If your clutch or automobile is doing any of the following things, your clutch may need to be replaced, rebuilt, or adjusted at a minimum.
The Bite Point Is High
One thing that happens to a worn clutch is that the bite point changes. Some people also call this the catch point. This is the place in the clutch where you shift the gears. As your clutch wears out, you will notice that the catch point gets higher and higher. Sometimes, we can restore the bite point to its original position by adjusting the clutch. If an adjustment won’t work, we’ll replace the clutch.
The Clutch Feels Spongy
Another indication that your clutch is going bad is a spongy or soft feeling underneath your foot. You want to feel the same amount of resistance each time you press down on and release the clutch. If the clutch gets soft or sinks to the floor without reaching its bite point, this is an indication that the internal mechanisms of the clutch have worn out and need to be replaced.
The Clutch Smells Hot
Your clutch can also smell hot when it is worn out. What is happening is that the clutch is engaging briefly and then disengaging even though you haven’t released it yet. This is called a slipping clutch, and a slipping clutch is a hot clutch. Unfortunately, this is a bad sign. We will most likely have to replace your clutch to fix the problem. In some cases, we might be able to rebuild it.
The Engine Hesitates
A bad clutch will cause the engine to hesitate when you accelerate after releasing the clutch. When you press down on the clutch, you cut the engine’s power. This power needs to be cut so it can be transferred to the transmission to turn the drivetrain. Once you release the clutch, the power goes back to the engine. If this is not a smooth process, your engine will hesitate.
The Gears Grind
Another sign that your clutch is slipping is if the gears grind when you shift them. The grinding happens because you are shifting the gears when the clutch isn’t engaged. You may think it’s engaged because you have it pressed down, but it has slipped out of engagement without you realizing it.
Call Buellton Garage in Buellton, GA, today if you are having problems with your manual transmission clutch. We will inspect the clutch and recommend the proper course of action to fix it.
