do I need a new clutch?
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Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Gaithersburg Maryland
do I need a new clutch?
I'm pretty sure my clutch is slipping but I just wanted to confirm. When I'm in 3rd or 4th gear around 1800 RPM, and I WOT, I feel a sudden surge of power and the engine will rev to about 2300rpm, then I can feel some hesitation and will drop back down to about 2200rpms and then continue to go up as normal. Is this a sign that my clutch is going or could it be something else? I don't experience any issues when launching on 1st gear and no slippage on the 1st -> 2nd gear shift at wot.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Phila Suburbs 2023 C8 & 2013 650ix
It doesn't sound like a slipping clutch to me. Sounds like an engine problem. Take the car out on the highway and at around 40 mph put it in 5th gear, depress the clutch, simultaneously floor it and pop the clutch. If you have a bad clutch the engine will accelerate but the car won't. If dropping the clutch brings the engine RPM right down to where it should be for that speed and then accelerates as normal then the clutch is good.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: Champaign IL
If the clutch is slipping, you should see a sharp increase in RPMs (due to the drastic reduction in load). You should actually "feel" a reduction in power with the increase in RPMs. The RPMs may or may not drop depending on how the clutch is worn. A test is to put the car in reverse with the E-brake on and drop the clutch. If the car stalls immediately, your clutch is fine.
---Matthew Hicks
---Matthew Hicks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: New Castle Del.
St. Jude Donor '09
Best way to test a clutch is in 6th gear at low RPM... thats when the most load is on the clutch... if its not too bad you might feel it in between gears when racing or something.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: Bradenton FLORIDA
It doesn't sound like a slipping clutch to me. Sounds like an engine problem. Take the car out on the highway and at around 40 mph put it in 5th gear, depress the clutch, simultaneously floor it and pop the clutch. If you have a bad clutch the engine will accelerate but the car won't. If dropping the clutch brings the engine RPM right down to where it should be for that speed and then accelerates as normal then the clutch is good.
This is how we have tested them for over 35 years & it still tells the story.
Instructor
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From: Champaign IL
---Matthew Hicks
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Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
From: Gaithersburg Maryland
It doesn't sound like a slipping clutch to me. Sounds like an engine problem. Take the car out on the highway and at around 40 mph put it in 5th gear, depress the clutch, simultaneously floor it and pop the clutch. If you have a bad clutch the engine will accelerate but the car won't. If dropping the clutch brings the engine RPM right down to where it should be for that speed and then accelerates as normal then the clutch is good.
I got a quote from Tony's Vette shop near me, $1000 in labor to replace the clutch. That's just insane.
Anyone else have worn clutches at 17k miles?
Last edited by dollar99; May 23, 2008 at 11:45 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,405
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From: New Castle Del.
St. Jude Donor '09
I just tried this test this morning. Cruising at 50mph, 6th gear, disengaged the clutch, reved to about 4500 rpms, dropped the clutch.... Engine kept reving but my car did not move any faster. I think I just destroyed the clutch for good. Well, at least I know for sure what the problem is. Thanks.
I got a quote from Tony's Vette shop near me, $1000 in labor to replace the clutch. That's just insane.
Anyone else have worn clutches at 17k miles?
I got a quote from Tony's Vette shop near me, $1000 in labor to replace the clutch. That's just insane.
Anyone else have worn clutches at 17k miles?
if you feel like taking a ride im about 2 hours from you and i charge 700 in labor.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Phila Suburbs 2023 C8 & 2013 650ix
A clutch should be good for a minimum of 50,000 miles and more like 75,000 or more under normal use. If you haven't abused the car, I would suspect a defective clutch from the factory. If that's so, it would be covered under the drive train warranty with states "clutch linings are covered when replacement or repair is the result of defect in material or workmanship." That's the direction I'd try.
