Car Guys: Clutch question!

[StoneColdGold]

Does the clutch on a manual transmission come into play when you are not shifting???

The reason I'm asking is that I had some work done on my car recently and was told my clutch was close to needing replacement. Well I don't have $800 to replace it... the problem being that I need to relocate to AZ immediately due to certain circumstances. I'm hoping that because most of the 900 mile drive will be in 5th gear on an interstate, I wont have to worry about the clutch.

Am I mistaken?

 

[gwl9dta4]

No, the clutch is fully disengaged when in neutral or in gear, so there is not wear. Also keep in mind that you only NEED the clutch to get into first gear. All shifting into all the other gears can be done with no clutch, you just have to "match rpms'" and it will shift like butter. I drive my GF's Jetta like that all the time, never crunched a gear.

Now in my 300zx it's a little too difficult but still possible. I once drove her car with no clutch to the shop. i had to put it in first with the engine off, then use the starter to start the car in forst and just go, then once moving i shifted into 2nd, 3rd and so on.

But if your clutch is hydraulic, it may already be slipping, so a long highway drive may burn it up 100%. Hard to tell, what kind of symptoms are you getting?

 

[strengthmonster]

Most UK cars are manual. Depends whats wrong with the clutch. If it is burnt out, you'll need a new one. If the cable is snapped and it is locked on normally you cannot change gear but, you can do the following. You can bump start (push it and get it in 1st - it may grind without the clutch). Once it is gong you can change gear by reving then taking your foot off the gas and listening to the engine drop before syncing it in the next gear. Sometimes it will crunch but do it right and it will go in. It is very hard to do though and I wouldn't advise it on a long journey as it will mash your gearbox eventually but if you are on a straight run you can then leave it in 5th most of the way you may be ok. Why noy join a roadside assistance club, push it down the street and say you broke down. They should tow you to the garage if you say you have to be there.

 

[StoneColdGold]

Yeah, I'm familiar with clutch-less shifting. I've gotten pretty good at it... i can even downshit now without the clutch.

I've got a cell phone and triple A, so I guess if I break down in the middle of New Mexico I can at least call someone.

Here's the funny part... the reason I brought my car in to be checked out in the first place was because I was getting some serious hiccups in the acceleration. Most of the time it occured in the lower RPM range of 2nd and 3rd gear, at the beginning of the shift curve. A few times though it hiccupped driving down the freeway in 5th gear. I asked my old man and he said maybe its the clutch. So I get it checked out... I spend $250 on things I didn't even know were wrong (a few belts and the battery), I find out the clutch IS fading fast... but thats now what's causing the problem. They said the hiccup symptom is a problem with the fuel system.

Lately I've been taking each gear higher into the RPM range (3500 to 4000) before shifting, thinking maybe I just have dirty fuel injectors. It seems to have helped, as the hiccupping has all but disappeared.

So given that the other problems have been explained, I guess the only sympom that might stem from the clutch is a "clunk" sound from under the chassis (not the engine) while starting in first gear. It's only happened 3 or 4 times and only seems to happen if I don't give it enough gas while moving from a dead stop.

 

[StoneColdGold]

any more thoughts?

 

[The Ranger]

I'm not the greatest at this, but clutches are pretty easy to replace...pressure plate, throw out bearing...blah, blah, blah.

Now, how far do you have to push in on the cluth to get it in gear, and how far do you let it out to engage the transmission?? Once you're going is it easy to shift??

Clunking sound?? Does it make that sound in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th gear??

Ranger

 

[jeep310]

Rule #1
"If you can't find 'em..........Grind 'em"

 

[rudedawg]

Best way to test if your clutch is going out is to put the emergency brake on (assuming your brakes are good) then let out on the clutch........if the engine doesn't die until the clutch is 75% or more out then you need a new clutch.

Whoever said that the clutch is disengaged when in nuetral or in gear is off a little bit. There are only two possibilities a transmission can be 1) in gear or 2) in nuetral. The transmission cannot be disengaged in both. When you push the clutch pedal in that action disengages the clutch (meaning it pulls the clutch plate back off of the flywheel) when you let out on the clutch that is when it engages (clutch plate meets back up with the flywheel).

So in answer to your first question...... Yes the clutch is in play at all times except when you have the clutch pedal pushed to the floor.......and even then if the clutch isn't set right it can be partially engaged then also. The clutch disc is basically a steel plate, covered with a frictional material that goes between the flywheel and the pressure plate........ if that material is gone in spots or worn down to the rivets you can guarantee that at some point your engine will not be transferring any power to the wheels.

 

[StoneColdGold]

thanks for the info guys.

rudedawg... good explanation. that makes sense. so i assume when i'm told i need a new clutch, that means i need a new plate? in which case... even when i'm just driving down the freeway a bad clutch will be getting worse. FUCK!