FIA-F1

Does it feel like a bit of slippage at speed (like random hesitation mixed in during extended acceleration)?
Or is more just in the clutch pedal grip?

John_AZ

A clutch disc will "slip" if contaminated by antifreeze or oil. Do you have any white deposit on the heater control valve above the clutch?

If you have many thousands of miles the clutch will slip just by normal wear on the disc to flywheel reducing the thickness.

The TO throw out bearing making contact with the pressure plate fingers (diaphragm springs) could cause wear until finally not functioning at all.

OEM rubber center clutch discs just deteriorate and chunks of rubber cause failure.

J_AZ

MAGK944

Generally the first signs are a judder or slipping on take off from a standing start. "Slippage at speed" and "random hesitation" during acceleration isn't normally the first signs of a failing clutch. Those symptoms are more likely fuel or ignition related.

Tiger03447

Some of the first indications may be not going into 1st or reverse gears easily..i.e. grinding to get it to go into gear. If it's REAL bad then it will slip...i.e. motor revving but car no going as fast as it should..If it's REALLY bad..then there will be almost no forward motion and you will hear a ZZZZ...ZZZZ sound as the metal plates that the clutch linings are riveted to, contact the flywheel..meaning that they are totally gone...hopefully a little adjustment? on the slave cylinder rod will make good things happen for you..(haven't gotten this far on mine yet..so I don't know if there is an adjustment there or not) Hope this helps some..

Dtron951

I have always heard that if you can take off from a standstill in 2nd gear then the clutch is fine.

odonnell

Someone told me that you can test it by going into 5th at a low speed, and then flooring the throttle. If the revs hold steady, the clutch is fine.

FIA-F1

Ok, good info, thanks. No judder or slipping on take off. No grinding getting into gear, no deposits. After start up, it seems completely normal runs several minutes with no clutch slippage of any type. But then, it sort of has a random hesitation (as though there is slippage with the clutch). It might also feel the same as a misfire but definitely do not hear or see any variation in the rpm's. It just feels like it's mildly slipping off and on every few seconds no matter gear it is in...just subtle but it's there.

Tom M'Guinn

I've had clutches that would shudder badly from a start but hold gobs of power once hooked up. I've also had clutches that were silky smooth from a stop, but would slip under the stressful conditions -- like in 5th gear at lower RPMs and full throttle uphill... (if the tach goes up without a corresponding increase in the speedometer, then either the clutch or the tires are slipping).

Your issue doesn't really sound like a slipping clutch the way you describe it. Tiny hesitations under long sustained heavy throttle are more likely a weak ignition (or other engine management issue).

FIA-F1

I found out what the slippage was...you aren't going to believe this. Turns out the AC belt was not quite tight. I heard a slight squeal at start up. The symptoms I described were there - felt like a hesitation like a misfire but no sign of ignition misses. Also felt like a clutch may be starting to slip, lurching a bit. What was happening was that the A/C belt would randomly slip causing those symptoms. You know how a car would drag a bit when the AC kicked in. Since I tightened the belt, all the symptoms went away. Same with shutting the AC off. Thanks for all your help and suggestions.

bonus12

There you have it!!!