How To Tell If Your Clutch Is Worn Or Slipping

Clutch slipping symptoms

When it comes to taking care of your car's clutch you could spend weeks learning how to diagnose each and every issue. To make things quicker, and easier, we've put together 3 simple checks you can do to make sure your clutch is working as it should.

When driving a manual car, the clutch is arguably one of the most important components, and keeping it in tip top condition should be a high priority.

• Check 1: Move your foot up and down on the clutch pedal - is it engaging and disengaging properly? You should be able to feel it through your foot.
• Check 2: Turn the engine on, push the clutch down, and put the car into gear. As you pull away pay attention to how smoothly your car starts to move. The transmission should be easy and efficient. If you change gear and the engine begins to shake, stick or hesitate then your clutch could be slipping. Driving in a quiet place, such as empty grounds or a clear car park, is the perfect way to test your clutch’s response.
• Check 3: As you usually would, begin to drive off from first gear, paying extra-close attention to any abnormal behaviour. Carefully monitor your cars response and take your time setting off.

From a start bring your clutch up very slowly and give your car some throttle to prevent your car from stalling. When you release the clutch the car should set off very slowly. If, when you’re driving, you notice any grinding, squeaking or burning smells then it’s likely that your clutch is worn and needs to be replaced. At this point we’d recommend calling your local garage.