Your clutch is what helps you shift the gears in a manual transmission smoothly. Unfortunately, clutches don’t last forever, even if you are an expert at driving a stick shift. We here at Boulevard Auto Repair are going to list the common signs that your clutch is going bad so you know what to look for while you’re driving your car, crossover, SUV, or truck. If you suspect your clutch is going bad, bring your vehicle to our shop as soon as possible to avoid further damage.
Your Car Is Noisy in Neutral
You shouldn’t hear anything when your car is in neutral except the engine idling smoothly, but this won’t happen if your clutch is going bad. If your engine is making strange sounds, press the clutch in to see if the noise stops. If it does, a bearing is going bad somewhere in the clutch assembly. If pressing down on the clutch doesn’t stop the sound, there’s a lot more going on in the transmission or engine.
You’re Hearing Chirps or Squeals When You Press the Clutch
There can be other issues, too. For instance, if you’re hearing squeals, chirps, or other sounds when you press in the clutch pedal, that can mean that the pilot bearing or the throwout bearing are wearing out. These bearings keep other parts of the clutch from rubbing against each other and wearing out faster, so when they start to have trouble, they’ll let you know by making noises.
You’re Hearing Grinding Sounds
Grinding noises are never good to hear from your clutch. This means that something isn’t working properly, possibly the pressure plate or the release mechanism. When you press in the clutch pedal, the clutch is supposed to release so that you can smoothly shift gears. Grinding noises mean that isn’t happening and you’ll have more problems brewing in your transmission if you keep driving.
You Can’t Seem to Get Your Car in Gear
If you’ve got the clutch pedal all the way to the floor and you feel like you still don’t have the room you need to get the gear changed, that’s a problem. It can mean that there’s still something catching, even if you’re not hearing those grinding sounds. It can also mean that there’s another issue with your clutch, so it’s a good idea to make an appointment quickly to have the situation examined.
Are you worried that your clutch is in need of repair or replacement? Contact us at Boulevard Auto Repair in Sherman Oaks, CA. We can diagnose the problem with your clutch and get it corrected before you start to develop bigger problems in the transmission.