Things That Can Go Wrong With Your Vehicle’s Clutch

It may surprise you to know that your car has at least one clutch, even if your transmission is an automatic. In fact, your vehicle might have several of them. A clutch is a relatively simple component that connects two rotating shafts and allows them to spin at the same rate. It can also disconnect the two shafts, allowing them to spin at different rates.

For example, consider the tires on your car. They’re connected to the engine and rely upon it for propulsion. The engine is constantly spinning, even if you’re sitting at a red traffic light. Because your tires are not spinning constantly, a clutch is needed to reconnect the tires and engine when the traffic light turns green.

Unfortunately, clutches are like all auto parts: they can fail from normal wear and tear. Below, I’ll describe a few problems that you might eventually experience with your car’s clutch.

The Slip

When your vehicle’s clutch is engaged, it is supposed to slip in order to prevent jerking. This is the case whether you’re starting from a dead stop or changing gears. Normally, when you remove your foot from the clutch pedal, the component should establish a smooth connection between the engine and the transmission. If you notice excess slippage, there’s a problem. A little leads to a lot because the heat generated from the friction makes it even more difficult for the clutch to grip its position. So, it slips even more.

The Jerk

Technically, this problem is called “chatter.” It’s characterized by a lurching or jerking motion when you engage the clutch. The most common cause is oil on the linings. However, there are several factors that can contribute, including a warped flywheel, misaligned chassis, and even a damaged CV joint.

Grinding Or Growling

When the bearings are severely worn, vibrations inside the clutch actuator can produce squealing, grinding, or growling noises. Like chatter, a lot of factors might be involved. For example, the bearing retainer might be damaged, the release bearing may have failed, or the disc may have been installed poorly. Different causes lead to different noises. A squeal may be caused by a malfunctioning pilot bearing while a growl can be caused by a transmission bearing.

The Stubborn Link

If you press down on the clutch pedal, but the clutch refuses to disconnect, you’ll be unable to shift into gear. You’ll probably hear a loud grinding noise and your engine might stall. This can happen if the release cable breaks, if the hydraulic line has air in it, or the clutch disc has become warped or bent. It can also be caused by a leaking master clutch cylinder.

If your car’s clutch fails, you should have a mechanic replace it as opposed to doing the work yourself; the job is usually labor-intensive. Make sure the replacement that he installs meets OEM specs. Your clutch is one of those systems with which you do not want to take chances.

Basics Of Replacing Your Timing Belt

There are a lot of circumstances – and not all of them are car-related – that can potentially prevent you from getting to work in the morning. Your car’s timing belt is one of them. Most people have heard of them, but are still not entirely clear what they’re for or what they do. Frankly, they’re just glad to have a mechanic who knows what they’re doing when replacing it.

Essentially, this part plays a critical role in the management of the cylinders inside your car’s engine and at what rate those cylinders are ignited. Without this crucial functionality, your engine simply cannot run. That’s the main reason why you need to periodically inspect it to make sure it’s in good working condition.

Does it Need to be Replaced?

The easiest way to verify whether or not you’re due for a replacement is to check your car’s owners manual. (If you’ve been reading my articles, you’ll know that I keep pressing this point.) Depending on your car’s make and model, a different mileage point will be suggested at which you should have your timing belt replaced (or, at least inspected).

That interval is typically between 60,000 and 90,000 miles, but it can be less or more in some cases. If you don’t have access to your owners manual, you can either try to locate the information online, or simply visit to your local auto parts retailer and they should be able to tell you. They’ll have large reference manuals in which they can find the information.

Often, a lot of drivers make the mistake of assuming that since their timing belt is “squeaking” that it needs to be replaced. Despite what your mechanic may tell you, that’s not always the case. It’s not uncommon for it to make a bit of noise in very cold conditions, or in older vehicles. However, if you’re concerned, consider visiting your mechanic. He can usually tell very quickly just from looking at the part whether it needs to be replaced.

The Cost of Replacement

If it turns out that you do need to have the timing belt replaced, expect to pay approximately $30 to $40 for the part itself. That’s only an estimate; the price will vary slightly based upon the type of vehicle you’re driving. Also, it’s likely that you’ll end up paying approximately $100 to $150 for the labor involved. Ultimately, budget about $200 total to have the work performed.

Your car’s timing belt will eventually need to be replaced. The bottom line is that you should always check your owners manual. And when you have a few minutes, pop the hood and inspect the belt yourself.

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