Your car's clutches are used to transfer an engine's rotational power to the transmission and onto the wheels. Clutches work by disengaging the engine's power from the transmission to prevent the driveshaft from spinning. Without one, the only way to stop the motor from spinning your car's wheels is to turn the vehicle off. Clutches also support constant gear changes in both manual and automatic transmissions. With all that being said, a malfunctioning clutch makes it very difficult to drive your car, if not impossible. 

These are the top three signs of clutch failure:

Hard to Press Clutch Pedal

Your clutch pedal is located on the floor to the left of the brake pedal. If you notice that it becomes harder to press the clutch pedal down or if it seems to get stuck to the floor, it's likely that the hydraulic linkage utilized by the clutch has failed. The solution can be a simple readjustment, but another possibility is that a hydraulic fluid leak has caused a shortage of pressure in the system. If that were the case, then a complete replacement of the clutch might be necessary. 

Slipping Gears

If your car slips out of gear for no apparent reason, then the clutch plate is most likely overworn and needs replacement. However, another frequent cause of this is an oil leak trickling onto the clutch plate, which causes excessive greasing that induces the clutch slipping.

Burning Paper Smell

Is there a burning paper smell when you drive your car? This foul odor can signify that your car needs a clutch adjustment, especially if you see any smoke supplementing the scent.

Clutches typically run for 50,000-100,000 miles before they need to be replaced. However, they can be burned out earlier if not appropriately maintained. If you experience any of the warning signs mentioned above, then you should not ignore the signs. Our trained technicians can properly diagnose your issues and give you a fair estimate. Bring your car to Complete Automotive Repair Specialists today to prevent further damage to your transmission.