What are the common faults of the clutch?
2 Answers
Common clutch faults include: 1. Clutch slippage: When the car starts in low gear, the vehicle cannot start or has difficulty starting after releasing the clutch pedal; 2. Incomplete clutch disengagement: When the engine is idling, stepping on the clutch pedal results in gear collision sounds and difficulty engaging gears; 3. Starting shudder: When the car starts in low gear, gradually releasing the clutch pedal and slowly pressing the accelerator pedal according to operational procedures causes the clutch to engage unsteadily and produce vibrations, with severe cases even causing the entire vehicle to shake; 4. Clutch noise: Abnormal sounds occur when the clutch is disengaged or engaged.
Last time my own manual transmission car made a squeaking noise when I pressed the clutch, and the inspection revealed that the release bearing was shot. Clutch slipping is also quite common—when the RPMs spike but the car lacks power going uphill, it's mostly due to worn friction discs. Another scenario is difficulty shifting gears, feeling like something is stuck, which could mean a warped pressure plate or issues with the shift fork. Hydraulic clutches require special attention—if the master cylinder leaks, the pedal will go limp and won't press all the way down. That annoying shuddering when starting? Nine times out of ten, it's because the clutch disc is soaked in oil or the pressure plate is uneven. If you smell burning, don't push it—pull over immediately. I've seen people grind their friction discs until they smoke. If you encounter any of these issues, get them fixed early—delaying could even damage the flywheel.
