Know How You Can Keep Your Car’s Clutch Functioning Smoothly

Statistics suggest that manual cars may just disappear from UK’s roads in the next 10 years. Till that happens, you are stuck with a stick shift. This means that you will have to keep an eye out on the clutch. The clutch must be healthy and functional.

From tyres to air conditioning, every single part obviously requires maintenance over time. But coming down to your manual vehicle, the clutch is the first part that may lose its edge. All you need to do is run a few regular checks and smarten up with some simple maintenance tips. Have you ever wondered how you can keep your car in peak shape?

Read on!

Common clutch problems

Your car clutch will wear out with time. Although it would be innocuous to say that it wears down every time you shift gears, it is a factor that needs most of your attention!

To explain the action and function of a clutch as simply as possible, it connects your car engine to your vehicle’s wheels. It helps the wheels engage and disengage with the engine. So, every time you put your car in neutral, your car engine is running, but the clutch has already disengaged them with the transmission.

The most common problems with a clutch come up while engaging with the transmission. A hard time shifting through the gears is the first sign of your car clutch wearing out. The situation aggravates when you end up jerking your car forward even when it’s in neutral. That’s when your clutch is unable to disengage properly.

Some issues might be much more subtle and difficult to ascertain as typically clutch-related problems. A dull acceleration, even though you have no problems revving your engine, may or may not be a clutch problem.

There are numerous similar issues that may start from a weary clutch. The only way you can be sure about them is with professional assistance. Before you go for a Clutch Replacement based on your pre-conceived notions, head over to experts at auto garages such as MG Autos instead for a proper diagnosis. They can help you with a whole range of car services, from new tyres to engine diagnostics.

Top two clutch maintenance habits

Your clutch will stay in top shape if you remember these two golden rules.

Let your clutch be

Don’t press on the clutch pedal unless you have to. The amount of force you put on the pedal is directly transferred onto the clutch which engages or disengages accordingly. A half-engaged clutch will wear out faster than you can utter ‘clutch’!

First gears are everything

More than 50% of the total clutch wear happens when you put or shift from the first gear. That’s when the whole engine power engages to the flywheel with its full brunt. Try to ease into first gear and smoothly shift out of it. If you’re having problems going into first even with your best efforts, you may have engine issues. A TerraClean service can sort things out.

Keep your clutch in proper running conditions and avoid replacing it at all. Have a safe and happy drive!