Yesterday, I parked my car on a steep hill facing upwards and put it in second gear (as always). I forgot to put the handbrake on and when I let the footbrake off, the car started to roll back jerkily but slowly.
I thought the clutch should hold the car but it didn't.

Does this mean my clutch is going?

If so, how much is it to have a new one fitted?


Please help and let it be good news!!

Rich

 

Rich,

from the explaination given it's very difficult to tell if the clutch is worn or not. The reason your car moved jerkily is that it's probably just turning the engine over.

A better way to tell is accellerating hard and short-shifting up from say 1st-3rd to see if you get clutch slip.

Andy

PS. if you leave your car in gear, then 1st gear is a better option because it take more effort to turn the engine over and acts as a better "brake".

 

Cheers for that, Andy.

I think (hope) I'm worrying prematurely, as the clutch doesn't slip when on the move.
The slope was bloody steep too, so it may have been too much for the transmission to hold on its own.

Someone also referred me to the owner's manual which actually says as much.

Rich

 

I'd agree with Andy but it would have to be a bloody steep hill

Try putting the car in top gear at about 30mph and floor it. The car will vibrate and sound horrible but if your clutch is knackered it will definately start to slip.

 

Cheers Guys,

Tried the old 30mph trick, no problems.

So it looks like I'm ok. The slope in question was my driveway which is about 50-60 degrees at the top (v. steep).

Rich

 

Just wondering, if your clutch was going, why would it slip in 5th at 30, but be less likely to in say 1st at 20. I'm assuming that's the case as everyone always says test the clutch out in higher gears at lower speeds. Surely the load through the clutch is much greater in 1st while accelerating and so more likely to slip.
I feel a clutch engineering lesson coming on...

[This message has been edited by scoobysnacks (edited 30 May 2001).]

 

Higher torque / turning force between the clutch plates in a high gear at low revs, with your foot down. It very rarely slips in 1st, a little in 2nd and so on.

Although there is a great deal of speed in 1st, the force is relataviley lower due to the gearing / force against the clutch. ie less resistance of the g box.

Hope that makes sense.

 

Yes thanks.