Gave my GF my car to drive today she's just learning, we stopped at a light and she paniced because there were cars behind us. She put the car in 3rd gear instead of 1st, so obviously the cars not moving so she gives it more gas (4k-5k rpms), while I'm next to her yelling "put it in 1st, you're in 3rd", so she takes it out of 3rd and puts it back in 3rd and does the same exact thing again.. Never smelled a clutch so bad in my life. We got home fine, then after an hour I go to drive the car again and my car won't go into gear, I have to shut it off put it in car in gear while the engines off, then start it with the car in gear. It's the only way I can move the car.When you start the car, even though the clutch is pushed all the way, the car tries to move, makes alot of grinding noises, bu it moves. It's very hard to get into other gears, I have to pull and push with almost all my power. when shifting, even though the clutch is all the way down, the car reacts to the gear I put it in, the car kinda revs a little (clutch all the way down still) because the clutch is effed up, I'm assuming.. what could I have done, carrier baring?? clutch??? or maybe the trans?? what could she have effed up?? And please don't talk any sh** about letting my GF drive my car, cause I'm not in the mood really..

 

damn that sux! are you still running the original clutch?...was there any slipping before GF dropped the clutch?....when the car is turned off will the car go into gear easily, or do you still have to force it?...it may be a linkage problem, usually when the clutch goes bad you can still shift into gear and you just don't go anywhere....I have a feeling that revving the car and dropping it into third a couple times shouldn't really harm anything...when you start in gear and take off in first, does it pull the same as it always has, or does it feel different?....I'm sure someone on here has had similar problems, I'm just trying to get a better idea of your situation....

 

Yes original Clutch, No slipping at all before. when the car is off it goes into the gears like butter.The car runs fine, it's just the shifting part, once in the gear the car runs fine untill I have to shift again..

 

definately sounds like something is out of whack...how many miles are on the original clutch, I would say the average lifespan of an a4 clutch is roughly 60-75k anything more should not be expected (although I have heard of a4 clutches running about 80K)

whish I knew I just have not run ito this prob. as of yet, gl!

 

130k on original clutch here

sorry to hear this

id say your clutch is toast

 

I got about 88k on my original clutch. I'd say you're clutch is shot or something else clutch related- Throw Out Bearing? I don't know but it's obvious something is broken, I'd have it looked at ASAP.

 

Definately get a new clutch and pressure plate.. Probably a throw out bearing like mentioned above.. but even if its not bad, replace it while your in there.. cheap insurance.

If this is your only driver, you can syncro the gears when you shift, pull the shifter out of gear and lower the engine rpms' 1500 or so, varying the throttle untill it the shifter just slips into gear. I do it all the time when im lazy, takes a bit of skill..

PS dont be mad at the girl, just make sure you get some damn good sympathy (sex) from her... Hey, its your fault you didnt teach her how to locate the gears in a panic... I've taught 10 people how to drive stickin my Porsche, before they ever ONCE turn the car on, they have to learn were all the gears are without looking by memory, then they learn the friction spot on the clutch, emergency stops, how to aviod stalls, downshifting, bla bla bla.. in a school parking lot on the weekend. once they've had at least 2 hours of confident driving, then they can hit the streets ( assuming they have had years of experience driving an auto)..

Anyways, thats a bitch job to fix... Good luck!

 

I just got a new clutch on my 97 B5, the old one did 102,000 miles, which im told is good .
Whilst my mechanic was in thr ewe swapped out all the seals and bolts for new ones, replaced all the bearings , clutch and preasure plate, and flushed the gearbox and put in new transmition oil.

Also blead and toppe dup the hydrolic clutch an d reconditioned / calibrated the flywheel (a new one is about £500 and my old one is now like new).

its worth doing all this whilst you are havign the clutch changed, save you having to go back to that area for repairs for another 80-100k miles.

 

If the clutch doesn't slip, try adjusting it.

 

if you cant adjust, your clutch is done. i think your clutch was close to done before your GF practiced on it and she just finished it off. lol but these type of clutches arent made for beginners.

NEXT TIME you wanna teach your GF how to drive stick, use a JAP car. they're clutches are stronger and can handle tha abuse.