Can a clutch slip intermittently?
Discussion
See my thread here: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... for specifics of my clutch slipping.
But is it possible for a clutch to slip intermittently? (Maybe because of temperatures or other variables). The 'Head Mechanic' at my local dealership said that if the clutch was slipping it would be constant. I tried replicating the 'clutch slip' I'd seen earlier that day with him in the car to no avail - I had since tried to replicate every day pretty much since and have covered ~250 miles without it happening since...
Any ideas? Not much out there on Google regarding the intermittence of it...
But is it possible for a clutch to slip intermittently? (Maybe because of temperatures or other variables). The 'Head Mechanic' at my local dealership said that if the clutch was slipping it would be constant. I tried replicating the 'clutch slip' I'd seen earlier that day with him in the car to no avail - I had since tried to replicate every day pretty much since and have covered ~250 miles without it happening since...
Any ideas? Not much out there on Google regarding the intermittence of it...
Edited by S9JTO on Wednesday 16th May 13:49
I say yes, intermittent clutch slip is definitely possible.
Reference a) - I broke a gear linkage, lost 1st and 2nd, and drove home just slipping the clutch in 3rd to get moving. Clutch was still pulling ok when I got home, but was slipping slightly. When I went to move the car next there was enough slip so I could leave the car idling and drop the clutch in gear and nothing changed.
Reference b) - SWMBO was learning to drive, and was mega hard on the clutch, after a period of her driving the clutch was glazed enough that I could just floor it and get slip. She passed, and no longer did hill starts, and now 50k miles later the clutch is still working fine, just a touch high!
Reference a) - I broke a gear linkage, lost 1st and 2nd, and drove home just slipping the clutch in 3rd to get moving. Clutch was still pulling ok when I got home, but was slipping slightly. When I went to move the car next there was enough slip so I could leave the car idling and drop the clutch in gear and nothing changed.
Reference b) - SWMBO was learning to drive, and was mega hard on the clutch, after a period of her driving the clutch was glazed enough that I could just floor it and get slip. She passed, and no longer did hill starts, and now 50k miles later the clutch is still working fine, just a touch high!
Sustained clutch slip is likely to lead to damage that promotes increased clutch slip, but if there is some external cause other than wear on the friction surfaces then the clutch slip could stop when that goes away, as long as the clutch hasn't suffered too much damage.
For example of the clutch slip is due to something jamming in the release mechanism and preventing the clutch from clamping properly, the clutch might be OK after the mechanism un-jams.
For example of the clutch slip is due to something jamming in the release mechanism and preventing the clutch from clamping properly, the clutch might be OK after the mechanism un-jams.
GreenV8S said:
Sustained clutch slip is likely to lead to damage that promotes increased clutch slip, but if there is some external cause other than wear on the friction surfaces then the clutch slip could stop when that goes away, as long as the clutch hasn't suffered too much damage.
For example of the clutch slip is due to something jamming in the release mechanism and preventing the clutch from clamping properly, the clutch might be OK after the mechanism un-jams.
This sounds most like my symptoms - I’ve read somewhere it could be the master/slave cyclinder, does that make sense? If so, is there anyway I (a mechanical noob) could inspect this?For example of the clutch slip is due to something jamming in the release mechanism and preventing the clutch from clamping properly, the clutch might be OK after the mechanism un-jams.
GreenV8S said:
Depends whether you think you can get the car home with the problem happening, and are then willing to put the car on stands/ramps and grovel around underneath in a dark and filthy environment checking the operation of the clutch release.
Could easy drive it home, the ‘slip’ only happens if I plant it and even so only happens for a second or twoI don’t have access to stands/ramps however so I’m guessing that’s not gunna happen. Could drive it to my local dealer or other specialists however! (Which in fairness the dealer did tell me to do so next time it happens)
If the friction disc was worn it would happen all the time. I'd suggest looking for a mechanical fault, if they say the friction disk is OK. I'm not familiar with the Seat setup, but I have seen a worn fork mechanism cause slippage on the LT77. The release bearing might not be sliding freely either.
Edited by 4x4Tyke on Wednesday 16th May 19:01
Yes I had a similar problem, where the clutch slipped intermittently.
The friction material was pretty much OK.
What caused the problems was part of the clutch plate springs had broken, and the broken bits occasionally got trapped between the clutch plate and the flywheel, preventing the friction material from engaging properly.
What I found what when the revs were high I had a problem and when low usually not. Probably because centrifugal force was causing the bits of metal to spin to the outside (or not).
A new heavy duty clutch plate solved the problem, the cheaper one just wasn't up to the job.
See here for more details:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
The friction material was pretty much OK.
What caused the problems was part of the clutch plate springs had broken, and the broken bits occasionally got trapped between the clutch plate and the flywheel, preventing the friction material from engaging properly.
What I found what when the revs were high I had a problem and when low usually not. Probably because centrifugal force was causing the bits of metal to spin to the outside (or not).
A new heavy duty clutch plate solved the problem, the cheaper one just wasn't up to the job.
See here for more details:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
adam quantrill said:
Yes I had a similar problem, where the clutch slipped intermittently.
The friction material was pretty much OK.
What caused the problems was part of the clutch plate springs had broken, and the broken bits occasionally got trapped between the clutch plate and the flywheel, preventing the friction material from engaging properly.
What I found what when the revs were high I had a problem and when low usually not. Probably because centrifugal force was causing the bits of metal to spin to the outside (or not).
A new heavy duty clutch plate solved the problem, the cheaper one just wasn't up to the job.
See here for more details:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Thanks that's interesting and seems I could be having early symptoms of your issue. Did your symptoms becoming increasingly prevalent over time or just came on one day and were persistent?The friction material was pretty much OK.
What caused the problems was part of the clutch plate springs had broken, and the broken bits occasionally got trapped between the clutch plate and the flywheel, preventing the friction material from engaging properly.
What I found what when the revs were high I had a problem and when low usually not. Probably because centrifugal force was causing the bits of metal to spin to the outside (or not).
A new heavy duty clutch plate solved the problem, the cheaper one just wasn't up to the job.
See here for more details:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Also, would a clutch plate be covered by warranty typically or is it still classed as wear and tear?
It's usually heat related, they don't slip as much when cold. Engines shouldn't be driven hard when cold and don't create as much power when they are, turbo power delivery is much more linear, but also it could be fluid related, sometimes bleeding it off at the slave and putting fresh fluid in can cure it. When it gets hot it can boil and any impurities in there will cause issues.
I was crawling in heavy traffic in the hot sun the other weekend for quite a while, when I set off the clutch slipped, especially in third. Before then there wasn't a hint of it and it hasn't done it since either despite racking up a few hundred miles and being driven quite hard. Also some are adjustable at the pedal for biting point.
I was crawling in heavy traffic in the hot sun the other weekend for quite a while, when I set off the clutch slipped, especially in third. Before then there wasn't a hint of it and it hasn't done it since either despite racking up a few hundred miles and being driven quite hard. Also some are adjustable at the pedal for biting point.
S9JTO said:
Thanks that's interesting and seems I could be having early symptoms of your issue. Did your symptoms becoming increasingly prevalent over time or just came on one day and were persistent?
Also, would a clutch plate be covered by warranty typically or is it still classed as wear and tear?
Yeah id did get worse over time as more bits of metal broke off and entered the gap.Also, would a clutch plate be covered by warranty typically or is it still classed as wear and tear?
I would have thought this fault might be under warranty, but simple friction material wear would be wear and tear, unless within 10k miles.
I've just had my clutch replaced, but it was a very weird clutch slip... as far as i'm aware, the common 'slip' is when engine revs continue to rise and you don't pick up speed etc.
My clutch slip - when accelerating the car revs would climb normally to 1800 then slow down, get to 2200 and then suddenly drop down to 1800 and slowly climb and again drop and this would continue to repeat until the car had managed to get past 2200 revs or there was no more significant engine load (climbing hill etc)
It was very intermittent, sometimes not for days, then suddenly all the time, then days would pass... no rhyme or reason to it.
Had the clutch replaced recently and its now all good.
My clutch slip - when accelerating the car revs would climb normally to 1800 then slow down, get to 2200 and then suddenly drop down to 1800 and slowly climb and again drop and this would continue to repeat until the car had managed to get past 2200 revs or there was no more significant engine load (climbing hill etc)
It was very intermittent, sometimes not for days, then suddenly all the time, then days would pass... no rhyme or reason to it.
Had the clutch replaced recently and its now all good.
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