Gearbox and clutch
Slipping clutch: symptoms, causes and what to do
The clutch slips when, as you accelerate, the revs rise but the car does not gain speed to match, especially in high gears, uphill or under load. It is usually a worn clutch disc, although oil or a release system that does not fully let go can also play a part.
See a garage soonGearbox and clutch
Reviewed by Daniel Morales, founder of Reprorace SL, on
Is it serious? Can I keep driving?
Carefully, and only as far as the garage. You can drive gently to the garage, avoiding steep hills, towing and full-throttle acceleration. The more it slips, the hotter it gets and the faster it wears out, and it can leave you without drive.
A careful, general answer: only someone who inspects the car can say whether it is safe to drive. When in doubt, stop somewhere safe and call for assistance.
Most likely causes
- Worn clutch disc: normal wear from mileage and town driving.
- Oil on the disc: a leaking crankshaft or gearbox seal contaminates it.
- Hydraulic release or cable: if it does not let go fully, the clutch never engages completely.
- Dual-mass flywheel or pressure plate: a weak plate does not clamp the disc hard enough.
- More power than planned: engine modifications beyond what the clutch can take.
Listed from more to less common in general; on your car they may be different. A fault-code reading and a check at the garage confirm which one it is.
To understand it better: How often should you run diagnostics on your car? Can I diagnose my car myself?
Car system: Transmission
What you can check yourself
On a hill or in a high gear, accelerate firmly and see whether the revs rise without the car speeding up.
Check whether it smells of burning after a hill start or manoeuvring.
Notice whether the pedal is higher or harder than usual.
Check your records for when the clutch was last replaced.
Safe checks only: with the engine off and cold whenever you look under the hood, without taking anything apart and without touching hot or moving parts.
Related fault codes
This symptom is usually mechanical and does not always store a generic fault code. Even so, reading the faults of every control unit helps to rule out other problems and to reach the garage with data.
How the ECO-LITE helps diagnose it
Plugged into the OBD socket, the ECO-LITE reads the fault codes of the control units that answer, with the freeze-frame data captured when the fault happened, and shows live data on your phone or computer. With your permission, your garage can see them remotely before you bring the car in.
What to look at here: engine speed against vehicle speed: if the revs rise without the speed following in the same gear, the clutch is not transmitting.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a clutch last?
It depends hugely on use: town driving and hill starts wear it sooner. There is no fixed figure.
Must the dual-mass flywheel be replaced with the clutch?
Only if it is worn. The garage checks it when the gearbox is off; if it has play or noise, it is worth replacing at the same time.
Does a slipping clutch store a fault code?
It does not usually store its own. Live data show the gap between engine speed and road speed.
Keep reading
- Transmission: how it works and what fails
- Gears hard to engage or grinding: causes and what to do
- Burning smell in the car: what it could be and what to do
- Car uses more fuel than normal: causes and what to check
- Car symptoms: what they mean and what to do
- Check engine light on: what to do
- How to read and clear your car's fault codes
- OBD fault codes: what each one means