You are driving along and the gears grind when you shift them. This has been happening a lot lately. You cannot figure out why. You’ve been driving a manual transmission for years, and you are known for your smooth gear shifts. Unfortunately, grinding gears are a sign that the clutch is going bad and needs to be replaced. Let’s talk more about this below and other symptoms of a faulty clutch.
Changes In Pedal Feel
As the clutch gets too old, the internal mechanisms start to wear down. This can cause the clutch to feel different underneath your foot. In most cases, the clutch will not give you as much resistance as it normally does. In other words, it will feel softer. The clutch can also sink to the floorboard easily if it needs to be replaced. If your clutch feels different, head to our shop right away.
Changes in Bite Point
Aside from changes in the resistance level, the bite point will also change in an old clutch that needs to be replaced. In most cases, the point at which you shift the gears gets higher and higher. This can be one reason why you are grinding your gears when you shift them. The muscles in your leg and your arm remember the bite point in a specific place. Unfortunately, the clutch is biting in a different place.
Overheating/Hot Odors
If you have noticed something hot inside your automobile lately, it could be the clutch. Unfortunately, when the clutch wears out, it will start to slip and overheat. What this means is that the clutch disengages prematurely. Unfortunately, this can also make your gears grind because the power has slipped away from the transmission and back to the engine. Your clutch will also smell hot.
Problems Shifting Gears
Aside from making the grinding noises, the manual transmission may also fight you when you try to shift gears. You will feel as if you are forcing the transmission to shift gears. This can cause damage to the transmission, so it’s a good idea to have your vehicle towed to our shop if you are having problems shifting the gears. There’s no point in causing unnecessary and added damage.
Problems Accelerating
Finally, your automobile is going to have a hard time accelerating after you release the clutch if the clutch is slipping. Again, this means that the power is with the engine rather than the transmission. As such, the transmission will be unable to turn the drivetrain and get your wheels in motion.
We are here to help, so call us today for a service appointment for your automobile. We can inspect the clutch and replace it if necessary.