It is very dangerous to drive a car with a faulty clutch, and failures in its operation can lead to accelerated wear of other parts of the car. To check the clutch, it is often not even necessary to go to a car service: a knowledgeable driver can do it himself.
Instructions
Step 1
Press the clutch pedal several times with the engine off and listen. An alarming sign may be the presence of extraneous noises: knocking, grinding, squeaking, etc. In addition, the pedal must not jam. You can also check the travel by measuring the distance from the pedal to the floor with the clutch disengaged and then with the clutch engaged, and calculating the difference between the two. The size of the working stroke should not exceed 146 mm.
Step 2
Start the engine, hold it at idle speed for a while. Then depress the clutch, wait 2-3 seconds and try reverse gear. If you hear a crunch or other sharp, distinct sound, then the clutch or clutch pressure plate is defective. It’s even worse if the gear does not engage at all. This may indicate a failure of the clutch and the need for urgent repair. Please note: the check only makes sense if the gearbox is working properly.
Step 3
Try changing gears with the engine running. A clear sign of a malfunction is a grinding or knocking noise when shifting gears. Most often, extraneous noises are accompanied by difficult switching off of the transmission. Try to get under way. If the car starts to jerk, there is a possibility that the cause is a faulty clutch.
Step 4
Check the traction while driving. Get to third gear, and then sharply and firmly press on the gas pedal. If the acceleration of the vehicle does not match the increase in revs, then the problem is in the clutch. You will easily notice this: the revolutions of the crankshaft will rise very quickly, in contrast to the speed of the car.
Step 5
Pay attention if there is a characteristic burning smell when the clutch is operating. If you feel it, it means that the friction pads of the driven disc are heating up too much and begin to "burn". This does not always indicate the need for urgent repair of the clutch, but nevertheless, if an unpleasant pungent smell has appeared more than once, it makes sense to seek help from an auto mechanic.
