Do I need a new clutch?

[RKS]

It seems as if my clutch has a lot of free-play in the pedal. It doesn't seem to engage until I have the pedal almost to the floor. I used to feel resistance from the top of the pedal but now it seems like on the last few inches.

I've driven manuals for a while but I'm still not sure if I need a new clutch or a minor adjustment. I know what a 'slipping' clutch feels like where the RPMs shoot up and the car catches up slowly but that is not the case here. I can put it in 3rd at about 20 MPH and I still don't have any 'slipping'.

 

[woodie1]

It would help if you gave us more info: Car, engine, mileage, etc.

Guessing it is an adjustment issue though.

 

[CallMeJoe]

What car? Some have self-adjusting cable clutches, but that's older technology. I think most newer cars have hydraulic clutches, which shouldn't need adjustment but could be low on fluid.

 

[Ferocious]

Sounds like it needs an adjustment.

With the car in neutral try pressing the clutch all the way down and then let it out very slowly....like 30-60 seconds.

 

[dotcom173]

try to get the car moving in 3rd gear. if the car doesnt stall, then the clutch is slipping, and therefore wearing out. if it does stall, then it is probably still fine, probably. maybe try it in 4th even, because ive been able to get the car going in 3rd, it just took a lot of effort.

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: dotcom173
try to get the car moving in 3rd gear. if the car doesnt stall, then the clutch is slipping, and therefore wearing out. if it does stall, then it is probably still fine, probably. maybe try it in 4th even, because ive been able to get the car going in 3rd, it just took a lot of effort.

It definitely is possible to get a car going in third gear..you just end up slipping the clutch a lot.

Sounds to me like the pedal just needs to be adjusted.

 

[Colt45]

Ain't much to adjust on a hydraulic clutch... Probably have air in the line, or the seals are shot in the MC. Or you just forget how it used to be and it's fine.

 

[RKS]

It's a 02 Nissan Maxima with the 3.5 VQ and 110K miles. Prior to this I had a 95 Maxima (5 Speed) that didn't need a clutch until it was over 150K miles.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: RKS
It's a 02 Nissan Maxima with the 3.5 VQ and 110K miles. Prior to this I had a 95 Maxima (5 Speed) that didn't need a clutch until it was over 150K miles.

Did you buy it used? An inexperienced driver can easily wear out a clutch in 30k miles or even less.

 

[RKS]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: RKS
It's a 02 Nissan Maxima with the 3.5 VQ and 110K miles. Prior to this I had a 95 Maxima (5 Speed) that didn't need a clutch until it was over 150K miles.

Did you buy it used? An inexperienced driver can easily wear out a clutch in 30k miles or even less.

It had 29 miles when I got it.

When I first learned how to drive I wore/burned out a clutch in under 6K miles. Parallel parking, hills everywhere, a small turbo-charged car, no concept of earned money, and the desire to lay rubber all led to a shortened life.

I called a local transmission shop and they seem to think (as other here); it is probably a master/slave cylinder related issue.