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How Do You Know When Your Clutch Is Going Out?

Cars with manual transmissions are a lot of fun to drive, especially if you’re adept at doing so. But one big problem is that your clutch can go bad, which makes the driving experience a lot less fun. Regular wear and tear over time is going to take out every clutch, no matter how perfectly you drive your car. If you’ve got some bad clutch habits, though, Tri Valley Auto Repair & Diesel warns you might need to replace your clutch sooner.

The Clutch Pedal Is Making Some Noise

When you press in the clutch pedal, there shouldn’t be a lot of noise associated with that action. All of the bearings and parts involved should be flowing smoothly. If you are hearing noises, that is a sign that you might have more wear than you realize. Some of the noises you might hear could be squeals or squeaks, but you might also hear a metallic sound.

You’re Hearing Grinding Noises

Grinding noises are always bad when it comes to using a manual transmission. Assuming that you’re depressing the clutch pedal fully and you’re able to navigate the gears on the stick accurately, you shouldn’t hear grinding noises. If you’re doing all the right things and you are hearing grinding sounds, that’s a sign that things inside the clutch aren’t lined up the way they should be.

Neutral Is Noisy, Too

While you’re listening for strange noises, how does neutral sound? Neutral should be super quiet, other than regular engine noise, which shouldn’t be too loud, either. In neutral, your car, truck, or utility vehicle is out of gear. If you hear grinds, squeaks, squeals, or other noises, something isn’t right with your clutch or possibly the manual transmission.

You Can’t Get the Car into Gear

The worst sign of a bad clutch is you won’t be able to get your car into gear. This can mean that the clutch is in such bad condition that it’s not engaging at all. Driving the car when it’s in this condition may not be easy to do, and know that if you try it, you may run the risk of seriously damaging the clutch further and the transmission, as well. That’s a really expensive repair to have to take on.

Your vehicle is never something to guess about. Give us a call at Tri Valley Auto Repair & Diesel in Limon, CO, and we can look into what’s happening with your car. We’ll give you all the information you need to make the right decision about taking care of your car.

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