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Clutch & gearbox

Engine revs but the car does not move

If the revs rise and the car stays put or barely pulls, drive is being lost somewhere between the engine and the wheels.

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Symptoms drivers describe

  • Revs climb with little or no acceleration
  • Burning smell after trying to pull away
  • Loud bang or clunk followed by no drive
  • Drive lost only in higher gears or under load

Possible causes

  • A worn or contaminated clutch
  • A failed clutch hydraulic system
  • A broken driveshaft or CV joint
  • Internal gearbox or differential failure
  • A failed dual mass flywheel

What you can do

  • Stop trying to drive it — further attempts can cause more damage
  • Note whether there was a noise when drive was lost

How we check it in the workshop

We confirm clutch operation and release travel, inspect driveshafts and joints, and check gearbox function before advising.

Is it safe to keep driving?

The car is not usable. Recovery to our Iver workshop is normally the sensible next step.

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Related repairs

How we can help

Clutch Replacement in IverCommon signs of clutch wear can include a high or slipping pedal, judder and difficulty selecting gears. Symptoms often build up gradually, and catching them early may save the flywheel as well.Read more Dual Mass Flywheel ReplacementA dual mass flywheel absorbs engine vibration through internal springs. When those wear out, you hear it long before the clutch gives up.Read more Gearbox Repair in IverNot every gearbox complaint needs a gearbox. Linkages, mounts, clutch hydraulics and oil condition cause many of the symptoms drivers assume are terminal.Read more Vehicle RecoveryBroken down, non-runner, or a car that needs moving? We tow and recover cars and light commercials across West London, Berkshire and South Buckinghamshire — and bring them straight to our own garage for repair.Read more

Clutch & gearbox

Other symptoms in this group

Clutch slipping or revs rising without accelerationA slipping clutch is no longer transferring all of the engine's torque. It normally shows up first in high gear, uphill or under load.Read more Crunching or grinding when changing gearCrunching often means the clutch is not fully releasing rather than the gearbox being worn out — which is worth establishing before any gearbox work.Read more Car judders when pulling awayJudder can be transmission or engine related. Whether it also happens while driving at steady speed helps separate the two.Read more Car will not go into gearWhether it will not select from rest or fights you between gears tells us whether to look at the clutch release system or inside the gearbox.Read more Clutch pedal soft, spongy or stuck to the floorA change in pedal feel is usually hydraulic. It often appears before the clutch stops working altogether, so it is worth acting on.Read more

Want this looked at properly?

Send us your registration and describe the symptoms — we will tell you what the next step is.

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