Roygarth

What are symptoms of a dying clutch?

At weekend I was doing 80mph in 4th, dropped to third and floored it. It's very dificult to explain what happened! Normally when I do this the revs shoot up immediately, on this ocassion it seemed like the car was slipping the clutch!? As though something was catching up with something else? As I said it's very difficult to explain!

Thanks in advance!
Piers
1990 C4 Coupe
54K miles
(probable top end rebuild required, probable new clutch required, what price I get the grand slam of 964 ownership.... a new flywheel!!??)

tonytaylor

I know what you mean, I think, it`s like the clutch doesn`t disengage fully.
I think mines on the way out as well at 55k

Roygarth

Any more out there? Perhaps we can get a volume discount from a specialist?!

johnfm

Get a tiptronic!!


Sorry

Roly Baldwin

I've had two go on me since 1998, the first replacement only lasted 25k miles.

I first suspected my pocket was about to lighten for the second time when pulling away hard, changing up from third to fourth. The engine speed took slightly longer than normal to drop back to that dictated by road speed.

This delay increases to the point where too much throttle causes the engine to rev almost freely despite being in gear. At this point you have to start driving like your mother if you want to get anywhere at all.

I hate it when this happens.

Roly
'90 C4 Nice new clutch & flywheel

tonytaylor

Roly Baldwin,
So how long do I get after noticing the problem on changing gear? I was thinking of a track day next week.

Roly Baldwin

Tony,

IF your clutch is failing and IF we have the same type of failure then you may have to cancel your track day.

When my clutch began to fail, I had no choice but to drive with a very light right foot. Even with this type of use it didn't last long - 50 miles perhaps. A track day would have killed it.

Let's hope your problem's something else...

Roly

tonytaylor

Roly
Thanks for the info - I suspect it`s something else (although I still suspect the clutch is nearing the end of it`s life)or even more likely , something else as well as worn clutch, as this problem has been present intermitantly over the last 2000 miles and doesn`t do it every gear change.

Randall G.

Classic sign of a worn clutch disc: clutch released, give the car gas, the engine revs, but the car doesn't go any faster.

The friction part of the clutch disc is worn away, and the disc is slipping against the flywheel.

Check out this link:

<a href="http://www.howstuffworks.com/clutch3.htm" target="_blank">Slipping Clutch and How a Clutch Works</a>

<img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

tonytaylor

So far I have experienced no slipping once in gear, even at peak torque or peak power - it`s also been dyno`d recently, which I would have thought would show up slipping.I was wondering if the clutch cable or releted items may be seizing , hence,the clutch not immediatly engaging fully.
(am I clasping at straws here? )

Roygarth

I think I read somewhere that a way to check clutch is to go flat out in 3rd, if you get to ???MPH at redline it's OK. Is this true? What is the MPH at redline in 3rd?

Piers

DaveK

About 98mph.

I thought the common way was to stick the handbrake on and then try to pull away slowly. The car should stall - if it doesn't, but the revs rise then your clutch is slipping.

Dave
90 C4

Christer

I had my clutch replaced in February this year. Before that, for about 2 months the clutch was slipping intermittently. I didn't find it difficult to realise that the clutch was shagged, but then I have had slipping clutches before.

Piers, I don't know what to say. I could tell you that hopefully JZM might find that you don't need a new clutch...but it sounds like it to me!

Get on down to JZM - in fact I will be there on Saturday so perhaps we can drown our sorrows together (although I don't remember seeing a pub near to JZM...)

Adrian

Guys,
The last thing you do is change the clutch. This gets a tad expensive especially when it is still perfectly serviceable.
When the clutch is gone, it slips and you notice and you can also smell it especially of you have the rubber centred clutch.
Now a techincal point. On a 964 there is no clutch cable. The clutch system is hydraulic. So the first thing you have to do is bleed the clutch hydraulic line. Then you inspect for leaks around the slave cylinder. A good percentage of clutch related faults are simple adjustment, or air in the lines a lube of the clutch pedal mechanism that sort of thing.
The handbrake test is the best I have found for really knowing if your clutch is gone as suggested by Dave. However be warned I also know that many handbrakes are out of adjustment and you may drive away with the handbrake still activated. If this happens fix up handbrake.
Oh one last thing. Wearing out of new clutches quickly is often based on trying to save money. Replace the whole assembly, yes it costs a few dollars more but what is the point of installing a new clutch plate of an undated design with the old thrust bearing which is not only worn out but now the wrong one.
Ciao,
Adrian
911C4

PS: Handbrake is mechanical. Cable operated.

Richard 92 C2

hmmmm, thank heavens I drive a decent car (doesnt have pinstripe though!)

Heres a "tip" for you guys with clutches ......

Ok, I'll get my hat and coat!


<img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />