Welcome to another edition of Atlantic Hyundai’s Automotive Decoder! Today, we’re shedding some light on some technical terms and know-how about manual transmissions, and when it’s time to take your car to the shop!
You’ll know it’s time to bring your car in for a clutch replacement or service when you notice the following: difficulty in shifting gears, a high-pitched squeaking or a growling noise, you can rev your engine but it’s difficult to actually accelerate, you notice that pressing the pedal feels spongy, sticky, or it vibrates or feels loose, or your transmission may make noise even while the car is in neutral.
If your clutch is slipping, you’ll notice that feeling as you release the pedal, because the engine will rev higher but your vehicle will move slowly by comparison.
If the clutch pedal remains depressed to the floor after engaging, you may have issues with linkage or release bearings, the clutch cable could be broken, among other things.
If you hear grinding, it means that the clutch disc is still engaged, and the transmission input shaft is still spinning even when you’ve depressed the clutch pedal. This becomes an issue because the gears will grind and eventually damage your transmission.
If you notice any of these things happening with your vehicle, give our automotive service center a call today! We’ll get you all squared away and back on the road in no time.
Here are some important terms to know when you bring your car in for a service on its clutch:
Clutch bushing & linkage
The parts of the mechanical connection between the clutch and clutch pedal in a non-hydraulic clutch system.
Clutch fluid
The liquid used in a hydraulic clutch system that helps disengage the clutch from the flywheel.
Clutch fork ball stud
The pivot point for the clutch fork in the clutch housing of a manual transmission.
Clutch lines & hoses
In a hydraulically actuated clutch, the tubes that carry fluid between the clutch master cylinder and the slave cylinder.
Clutch master cylinder
In a manual-transmission vehicle with a hydraulically actuated clutch, a small-bore hydraulic cylinder mechanically connected to the clutch pedal that actuates a slave cylinder, which in turn actuates the clutch fork that disengages the clutch when the clutch pedal is depressed.
Clutch pedal
A pedal located on the floor of the vehicle to the left of the brake pedal that, when depressed, disengages the clutch from the flywheel.
(Definitions from Edmunds)
