i suspect mine is, when i let off the clutch after switching gears it revs a little then goes fine. its also really easy to get a smooth shift, is that normal?

Sounds like it is starting to slip. Get on it hard in first and see if the tach out races the speedo, if so it's slipping.

what do you mean by the tach out racing the speedo?

an extreme example(really really bad clutch), but if you floor it in first and the rpms shoot up to redline but you're only going 15 mph. Basically, the rpms go up faster relative to your speed increasing, than it should; signs of a slipping clutch!

Khiem

I'd say that would be more along the signs of a clutch being TOTALLY gone, not "on it's way out."


Try this: Go and get your car up to about 40mph and place it in 5th gear. Then mash the gas pedal to the floor and hold it there until you hit 70. If the car accelerated gradually and consistantly up to 70; it's PROBABLY fine. If you noticed the engine speed going up slightly quicker than the speed of the car, it might be slipping. Another test---can you bark the tires on the 1:2 shift? If so, it's probably still healthy. If not, it's probably on the weak side but maybe not slipping under normal driving--yet. The final trick I have heard it to try to take off in fifth. It should stall, obviously. If it doesn't, you mike have a bad clutch.


The other thing to do is adjust your clutch cable. If it's never been done, I would be willing to bet a simple adjustment would take care of this for a while. However, sooner or later it will have to be replaced.

Good luck!
Curt B. Shumaker

A buddy of mine told me that if you take off in 3rd without stalling then its still in somewhat good condition, by this im assuming that you've noticed some slippage and it might not be at it's best, hey curt any info on that grille?? Man i got it bad for that grille let me know how much and it wont be a problem thanx brother.........

The best way to tell is if you are in 5th gear on the freeway, and floor it, both RPM/MPH needles should move about the same speed at the same time, If the RPM gauge is faster to an extreme, you can bet your clutch is slipping. Also, you can hear it, like, say you gun it, and it sounds like you just revved your engine but you aren't going anywhere very fast, then all of a sudden the sound drones out, you can bet your clutch is slipping.

I got tired of redline shifts from 1st to 2nd with lots of slipping. I never could get the thing to slip using the 5th gear test. But the quick 1-2 shift resulted in the tach gradually coming down to meet the speedo. Now, almost 2 years after installing a completely new stock clutch over New Year's, 2nd gear still chirps.

G

OT but i cant email, him thru the board and cant PM him so no flames....MEAN...i see you live in NO.VA! Give me a call sometime if you wanna meet up 703-298-4098

The best way to tell if you clutch is slipping is to get going in 1st and around 20mph, drop it in to 5th gear and floor it. If the tach revs up and the car doesn't move (which it really shouldn't) then you're slipping. If it doesn't, you're fine! Works everytime! :D

Ben

hmm starting in 3rd habitually can't be good on the clutch either, can it?????

i did the high rpm in 1st test, its at about 5k and im going 20-25, i tried starting out in third and didnt stall, tried starting in 5th and stalled, did the 40-70 in 5th gear and the speedo and tach move relatively in sync. i still need to try the 1st to 5th test.

Originally posted by 95se-R
i did the high rpm in 1st test, its at about 5k and im going 20-25, i tried starting out in third and didnt stall, tried starting in 5th and stalled, did the 40-70 in 5th gear and the speedo and tach move relatively in sync. i still need to try the 1st to 5th test.

Sounds like the clutch s healthy. However, it might not be as strong as stock in order to handle tire squeaking 1-2 shifts. That doesn't mean that it's bad---just not as strong as stock or with an upgrade.

Curt B. Shumaker

How could we all forget this important fact? What fact, you ask? Well, its the one about your car smelling like rotten eggs and dead animals under your car! You will notice it a little in the car, but when you open that door, it smells like you really have dead stuff under your car. It is the weirdest smell, I really can't describe it? I heard it was the clutch burning from all the slippage. Mine smelled absolutely horrible right before I changed it. I couldn't even get past 40mph.

Ju§tin

Originally posted by Crono1321
How could we all forget this important fact? What fact, you ask? Well, its the one about your car smelling like rotten eggs and dead animals under your car! You will notice it a little in the car, but when you open that door, it smells like you really have dead stuff under your car.

Ju§tin

Damn, I can't believe I forgot about that horrible stinch. You can smell it coming through your AC vents as well, it's stinky.

Originally posted by Crono1321
hmm starting in 3rd habitually can't be good on the clutch either, can it????? oh of course not but it's only a test and shouldn't be done habitually........

Originally posted by shumax
Sounds like the clutch s healthy. However, it might not be as strong as stock in order to handle tire squeaking 1-2 shifts. That doesn't mean that it's bad---just not as strong as stock or with an upgrade.

Curt B. Shumaker

i can chirp 2nd too;)

Originally posted by 95se-R
i can chirp 2nd too;)

With my new JWT PP and 2K1 disc, I am able to chirp going into 3rd with those heavy 16" rims:eek:

;)

Curt B. Shumaker

Damn now I am starting to think I need a clutch. I have 16's and I rarely chirp 2nd. But I never thought the car was slow. I don't think I have ever been able to chirp third. Guess either I dont know how to shift like that or my clutch is old. I think its still stock at 81K. Thanks for the ideas by the way.

Originally posted by Buckwilly
Damn now I am starting to think I need a clutch. I have 16's and I rarely chirp 2nd. But I never thought the car was slow. I don't think I have ever been able to chirp third. Guess either I dont know how to shift like that or my clutch is old. I think its still stock at 81K. Thanks for the ideas by the way.

I doubt you *need* a new clutch. It's most likely a bit weak, but not in need of replacement. When Ben and I took mine out, I still had plenty of disc left. I think it was more of the Pressure PLate getting weak on me.

I will say that I never try and bark third. Just did it once to see if I could:) Now once I get my 14" B13 rims mounted to the Azenis, I am going to try to chirp 4th:)

Curt B. Shumaker