Clutch service & repairs

Is your clutch making funny noises or does it feel odd when you press your foot down on it? It's probably a good idea to get that checked out. At Kiwi French Automotive we regularly service cars with hard, soft, sticking and noisy clutches and we are confident we can diagnose your clutch problems and get you back on the road with a minimum of fuss.

Your engine is what causes your wheels to move, but what happens when your vehicle needs to stop? The engine shouldn't stop turning but the wheels need to. The clutch is what allows this to happen. The clutch allows the transfer of power between the wheels and the engine to be interrupted while a gear is being changed or while the car is stationary and the engine continues to run.

A clutch service has a number of similarities to a brake service so people often combine the two. A typical clutch service might include:

• Replace clutch fluid
• Adjust if a cable clutch
• Replacement of clutch master and slave cylinders

• Chirping noise when the clutch is engaged - caused by a worn or fault 'throw out bearing' which is responsible for releasing the clutch
• Slipping clutch plate - the friction material on the plate (disk) is wearing out and needs to be replaced
• Growling noise when the car is idle - a problem with the manual transmission
• Squealing noise when the clutch pedal is pushed all the way to the floor - a problem with the pilot bearing or bushing
• Clutch is difficult or "hard" to push down - caused by the linkage, which transmits the force from the clutch pedal, sticking or binding and hence not transferring the proper force

You should have your clutch looked at if:

• You notice a Burnt 'toast' or 'burning rubber' smell in your car, or smoke from under vehicle
• Your Vehicle is slipping out of gear for no reason
• There is jerky or sticky gear operation
• Your clutch is not disengaging fully, or your clutch is sticking or shuddering

If your clutch is showing any of the problems above - it can mean any number of faults. Clutch problems are difficult to diagnose by symptoms alone because many issues cause the same symptoms, depending on the vehicle and type of engine. The best way to deal with clutch shuddering, slipping or noise is call us at Kiwi French Automotive today.