How to tell if your car needs a new clutch

Do you own a car with a manual gearbox? The clutch plays a vital role in starting and driving your vehicle, particularly when shifting gears. Identifying when your car’s clutch needs replacing can be difficult as the clutch is not inspected during an MOT test. If you’re worried about your clutch when driving, we’ll explain some of the signs that your clutch needs replacing in our guide. 

The clutch is spongy 

Have you noticed your clutch feels spongy when using the clutch pedal in your car? Do you press down on the clutch pedal and feel less resistance when upshifting or downshifting? Is the clutch disengaging? These are signs that your clutch could end up disengaging erratically, causing significant damage to your car’s clutch system. 

Shifting gears is difficult 

While driving, you should notice a seamless gear shift. A clutch that doesn’t disengage and engage properly can lead to grinding gears, thus causing more damage to the clutch and gearbox. One way to learn if you have clutch issues is to turn off your engine and change gears while the car is stationary. If you can change gears, it’s likely to be an issue with the car’s clutch. 

A higher biting point than usual 

The more you use your car’s clutch, the higher the biting point will get over time. If you are raising the clutch higher than usual to reach the bite point, it’s a sign that you need to replace your car’s clutch with a new one. 

Fluid leaks from under your car or under the gearbox 

Is there clutch fluid starting to leak from under your gearbox or underneath the car? This could mean that there is a leak in your car’s clutch system. Low clutch fluid could reduce the effectiveness of your clutch pedal, particularly when changing gears. We recommend topping up your clutch fluid and seeing if it goes down quickly. If the clutch fluid struggles to stay in your vehicle, you should replace the clutch immediately. 

Identifying when your car needs a new clutch will ensure your vehicle continues to shift gears seamlessly. Do you want to reduce the amount of wear and tear on your gearbox? Learn more about how you can use double clutching via our guide. Stay on top of your vehicle’s health by booking an MOT or service at your nearest PTA branch today.