Reasons for Clutch Not Disengaging When Hot but Normal When Cold
2 Answers
Reasons for Clutch Not Disengaging When Hot but Normal When Cold: 1. Clutch Wear: The clutch disc is made of asbestos material, the clutch pressure plate is metal, and the rivets in the middle of the clutch disc are also metal. If the disc is severely worn, the rivets will be exposed, causing slippage with the clutch plate at high temperatures. Therefore, it is necessary to check the wear level of the clutch disc. 2. Lever Height Impact: The lever heights are not on the same plane, or there are leaks or gaps in the hydraulic operating system of a hydraulically operated clutch. 3. Improper Screw Adjustment: Improper adjustment of the intermediate drive plate limit screws in a dual-disc clutch, or the separation springs being too soft or broken, or the intermediate pressure plate being excessively worn thin.
I've been driving manual transmission cars for over a decade and have encountered the issue of clutch not disengaging when the car is warm several times. The most common cause is a problem with the clutch slave cylinder. In cold weather, the rubber seals can still hold the hydraulic fluid, but when the car warms up and the fluid temperature rises, the rubber softens or develops tiny cracks, leading to leaks and insufficient pressure. Another issue is when the hydraulic fluid in older cars deteriorates, becoming less fluid at high temperatures, resulting in inadequate force to push the release bearing. There's also the case where the guide sleeve of the release bearing is severely worn. When the car is cold, the gap might still be manageable, but as the metal expands when warm, it can get stuck in that position. Honestly, the quality of the clutch itself is also a factor. Some pressure plates can warp unevenly when hot, leading to incomplete disengagement. My advice is, if you notice this issue, don't force it—get the hydraulic fluid and slave cylinder checked right away.
