What Are the Symptoms of a Slipping Car Clutch?
2 Answers
Symptoms of a slipping car clutch: 1. When starting the car, even after fully releasing the clutch pedal, you still feel insufficient power or difficulty in starting; 2. While driving, the vehicle speed does not increase correspondingly with the rise in engine RPM, resulting in poor driving performance; 3. When the car is heavily loaded or driving uphill, or on muddy and soft roads, the slipping becomes more obvious, and in severe cases, a burning smell may emanate from the clutch. Causes of clutch slipping: 1. The clutch pedal free play is too small, and the release bearing frequently presses against the diaphragm spring, keeping the pressure plate in a semi-engaged state; 2. The clutch pressure plate spring is too weak or broken, or the screws connecting the clutch to the flywheel are loose, all of which can cause the clutch to slip.
I've been driving for over a decade, and clutch slippage feels particularly noticeable. When you step on the accelerator, the engine revs shoot up, but the car speed crawls like a snail—especially frustrating when going uphill. No matter how hard you press the gas, the car just won't pick up speed, struggling even on gentle slopes as if hauling a load of bricks. In summer, a burnt smell wafts through the car, like an electrical short circuit—a clear sign of overheating clutch plates. Even worse is stop-and-go traffic; the clutch pedal gets heavier and stickier underfoot, making it clumsy to operate. Once, this issue ruined a long trip—I drove nervously, afraid to step on the gas, and eventually had to call for a tow, wasting an entire day.