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Clutch & gearbox

Clutch slipping or revs rising without acceleration

A slipping clutch is no longer transferring all of the engine's torque. It normally shows up first in high gear, uphill or under load.

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Symptoms drivers describe

  • Revs climbing without the car pulling harder
  • Slip most obvious in third or higher, uphill or loaded
  • A burning smell after hill starts or towing
  • A high biting point on the pedal

Possible causes

  • A worn clutch friction plate
  • Oil contamination from a leaking crank or gearbox seal
  • A failing pressure plate or release mechanism
  • A worn dual-mass flywheel
  • Hydraulic release faults preventing full engagement

What you can do

  • Avoid towing or heavy loads until it is repaired
  • Note the mileage and how long it has been slipping
  • Ask us to quote including the flywheel option, which is often assessed on strip-down

How we check it in the workshop

We road test to confirm slip and check hydraulic operation, then assess the clutch, flywheel and seals on removal so the quote reflects what is actually worn.

Is it safe to keep driving?

Book it in. A slipping clutch usually deteriorates and can leave you unable to drive.

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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 Clutch & Flywheel ReplacementClutch and flywheel are a matched pair. When the flywheel is worn, a new clutch alone will not fix judder or noise.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

Helpful reading

Go deeper on this fault

What affects the cost of a clutch replacementTwo similar cars can differ widely. Most of it comes down to the flywheel and how the gearbox comes out.Read more

Clutch & gearbox

Other symptoms in this group

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 Engine revs but the car does not moveIf the revs rise and the car stays put or barely pulls, drive is being lost somewhere between the engine and the wheels.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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