Clutch Check

Wear of the driven plate cannot be determined in the installed state. The first sign of wear is clutch slipping.

A slipping clutch is first noticed in top gear when driving under load. Engine speed increases while vehicle speed remains the same. A general idea of wear can be obtained by performing the following test, which should not be repeated too often.

Is the clutch slipping or not?
PROCEDURE

Apply parking brake, start engine.

Engage third gear, slowly release clutch and accelerate.

With a good parking brake, the engine should stall.

If the engine continues to run, the clutch must be repaired.

Is the clutch dragging?
If the gearbox is difficult to shift even when the engine is warm, or shifting is accompanied by scraping or grinding noises, the clutch most likely does not disengage fully, i.e. it is dragging. Damage to the gearbox rarely causes this effect. To be certain, carry out the test with first or reverse gear:

PROCEDURE

Leave the engine running at idle.

Fully depress the clutch pedal, wait approximately three seconds, then try to engage first or reverse gear.

If the gear is engaged with difficulty or gearbox noise is heard, this means the clutch is dragging. The driven disc is not rotating completely freely.

Check the clutch hydraulic system and bleed it.

Repeat the test described above.

Other causes of a clutch that does not disengage are listed in the troubleshooting table at the end of the chapter.