Hey guys is there a good way to test if you clutch is going? I've got 80,000kms on my 1.8t 5spd and this morning I was going up a hill and my rpm went up 500 or so and then dropeddown to normal again.It was about 5 deg (Celcius) above freezingandthe road was a bit wetso im hoping thats all it was.

 

How far do you have to release the pedal befor the clutch is engaged? You could try putting the parking brake on and releasing the clutch, you should be albe to tell if it slips.

 

Hey operator,

If you listen to the car guys on NPR, they have a way to test if you need a new clutch. What you want to do is go somewhere where there are no cars, like an abandoned parking lot or something, and pull up the parking brake. Ease on the gas and off the clutch, but keep increasing the power. What you are trying to do is come off the clutch completely while the car is not moving. The car shouldn't move (If it does your clutch is probably perfect or you didn't pull the parking brake hard enough). The car should stall out pretty quickly, but if the car still revs and you have completely disengaged the clutch, you need a new clutch.

DB

 

while driving ~25 mph put it in 5th gear and floor it. if it slips outa gear its starting to go. if it bogs your clutch is still good

 

well dont quote me on this but but my dad told me that when going from a stop shift from first into 3rd, if the car RPMs go up it time for anew lcutch if it bogs but goes your good. again dont quote me on this but my dads been driving stick since the late 60s onverseas until we moved to america and learned of the wonders of the automatic.

 

That's the same idea Chaos mentioned - put it up into a gear that's considered "high" for the speed you're going, and nail it. If it's gonna slip, it'll slip then. If your clutch holds when you do this, then you can breathe easy.

 

**** okay. parking lot idea. though it may work...thats going to burn your clutch. bad idea. whoever said about the 25 mph in 5th gear, almost got it.

what you want to do it be in 5th gear at aorund 2800 rpm. this is where your torque band really kicks in. while cruzing there, floor it. if your RPM's jump a bit and settle as the turbo kicks, you are on your way out. also, you can tell if you are flooring it around that RPM and when you let off the gas, your RPM's drop a little or you get a solid jerk, which would be the engine slowing back down to the transmission speed in a hurry.

 

^thats what happens on a clutch that slips alot. but if its not regularly slipping than you may pass that test yet still have a clutch thats about to go. doing it at a much lower rev will reveal it more. if the car starts to jerk and bog down than your clutch is fine, if the rev's raise really high without going anywhere than you need to get a new clutch soon. or at least thats what i was told

 

i also heard that a leaking rear seal can cause the clutch to slip due to oil on the clutch plate.