Smooth Shifting With Precision Awareness - Signs Your Clutch Is Going Out

With the wide availability of automatic transmissions across the automotive landscape, using the clutch in a vehicle is almost a lost art. Too many people now rely on machinery and computers to shift from one gear to another, so if you've been raised as a driver in that culture, you might struggle to stay aware of concerns which may arise through your pedals.

If your clutch totally fails, however, your vehicle will be rendered useless and helpless. Rather than finding yourself struggling to deal with that kind of emergency situation, the guide below should provide you with some important warning signs that you can use to monitor potential clutch damage.

Unusual Odors

While it might be easy to be suspicious of feeling things through your clutch pedal, your nose will never lie to you. If you're in your vehicle every day, it's easy to become accustomed to the regular sights, sounds, and especially smells. When those change, there's likely a problem.

If operating your clutch causes a burning smell to enter your vehicle, there's probably an issue with misapplied friction and grinding gears. This can be one of the earliest warning signs of clutch damage, so it's important to stay aware of your environment and be prepared to act quickly to repair it.

Increased Pedal Pressure

Even manual clutches now enjoy some hydraulic assistance in their design, so when your clutch is operating correctly, you should be able to apply consistent pressure in order to secure reliable shifting results. When that pressure changes, it's likely because the performance of your clutch is starting to slip.

Take note of how far you have to depress and then let off your clutch pedal before the gears shift. If that interval is increasing, it's likely a sign of mechanical wear and tear that you need to be sure to address before the clutch fails entirely.

Hesitant Shifting

Ultimately, the primary function of your clutch is to shift smoothly between gears in your transmission. If it's failing in that task, then it's likely time for a serious repair that can restore the performance you desire. Rather than fighting with your transmission and grinding from one gear to another, bring your clutch in for maintenance in order to restore its prior performance and guarantee that your vehicle can shift smoothly. This can allow you to enjoy your manual transmission the way you've always dreamed of rather than grinding and clanging down the road.

Contact a repair shop, like Arringdale's Engine Rebuilding & Auto Repair, for more help.