How do you know when your clutch is going bad?

[John's 1995 Venom 550]

I have seen a lot of posts on clutch replacements, but how do you know when you need a clutch replacement. This is my first manual transmission car. What are the signs?

Thanks,

John

 

[Ulysses]

The smell of burning clutch. Loss of power coupled with clutch slippage when clutch is out. You will experience difficulty moving from a stop, driving up hills, etc. The engine will rev higher than normal to get at speed.

A way to test is to drive to a big empty parking lot and park the car. From a stop with the clutch in, your foot on the brakeand the engine running, slowly let the clutch out. If you can let the clutch out a couple of inches without bogging the engine, then the clutch is slipping

 

[Qualitywires.com]

Doug levin also told me that if the clutch pedal is hard to push down, that is a sign of wearing out. has something to do with the heat taking the toll on the clutch. I don't want to quote him, but maybe he will see this and add to it.

 

[bad viper]

Ihad mine upraded to larger one at 17,000 miles
then replaced that one at 70,000 miles and
believe me I drive this car! I don't agree with 20,000
mile replacement as a blanket statement.

 

[Qualitywires.com]

How much is a clutch job? Stock replacement and labor at a dealership?

 

[Supercharged Vipermad]

Heres me 5 cents worth

The best way I have found. Put the car in 3rd (running of course) let the clutch out and floor the gas. If the RPMs go up faster than the car moves thats a give away your clutch is hosed. The Pedal on my NSX was to low to the floor and was hard to push in. I had the clutch replaced and the problem was still there. It needed to de "adjusted" but heck, aI had a new clutch at least

Ruth