I know my clutch is on its way SOUTH. But it only really slips when I do some 1/4 mile runs or 0-60mph timings on the GTECH more then a couple times. I know, one thing it never did before that it does now, if I put the car in 1st gear and start drivng slowly around parking lots, the car jerks back and forth...so I gotta bring up the revs or shift to 2nd gear or something...dunno what's UP there. I was wondering though, if the clutch is wearing out and slipping, is it then possible that when I'm accelerating on the HWY like in 3rd gear, I am only getting like say 50% holding capacity instead of the full capacity that a brand new clutch would give?... so in fact my flywheel is spinnning faster then what the clutch is grabbing and transfering to my tranny??

 

The slipping effect is very obvious and very easy to diagnose: you are in gear (even more easy to see) at low rpm, and you floor it. The engine goes up the rpm range, but you dont accelerate (ie the clutch cannot grip on the flywheel). After 1000 or so rpms, the engine stops revving up, and you feel the car starting to accelerate (i.e the clutch has finally "grasped" the flywheel). Thats about it...

The car jerking back and forth is another issue entirely...

 

One way to REAAAALLLY know that isn't great for the clutch but is a good indicator:

Have car running on a flat surface.
Stop car (still running) in N
Pull up E-Brake
Put tranny into 1st
Let out on clutch VERY slowly (not too slowly mind you or you will be blessed with that lovely smell)

The car should stall withing a few seconds, after just letting out a little on the clutch.

Not the best thing for the car, but you'll know if it is slipping.

 

Didnt work for me. Tried it a couple of times, but all I got was the fine smell of clutch flambe'
By that rule, my clutch was fine. When it was removed, the clutch was good only for crickets to ski on

 

I guess that should be restated, if your clutch is completely useless, your car shouldn't stall out immediately.

 

This is from the miata owners.

Drive at like 4000 RPM in 3rd gear, while you are driving, push in the clutch, release it and see if it grabs back at 4000 RPM or near that immediately. If it does, your clutch is okay. If it doesn't, yours is slipping

 

Don't do it in 1st gear...

Stop the car
Put on the brakes
Shift trans into 3rd gear
Try to slip the clutch to see if you can keep the revs up at around 4kRPM

If the revs keep going down no matter how much gas you give it, the clutch is fine.&nbsp If you can keep the revs up with some gas, the clutch is dying.



-Ted

 

This sound safe enough to try, so I'll do this and see what results I get. THanks