Is my clutch slipping?

[DC_BS]

Hey everyone, first post here. Owner of a 1.9 SDI 2000 diesel model, hope I've posted in the right section!

When doing 60mph yesterday on the motorway I was bringing up the car to speed and had my foot all the way on the accelerator pedal. However the speed of the car didn't change and the speedometer clock stayed on 60 for a few seconds. Revs was between 2/3 on the rev counter. There was no smell or crunching noises but I can't help but suspect the clutch may be on its way? It didn't happen again when doing 70mph once I got into the middle lane. Lower gears it was fine too.

Do tyres play a role in this at all? The front two need changing as they're near their tread depth limit. Changing them out tomorrow. Just wondering why the speed of the car didn't change and I was pressing the accelerator all the way down.

Or is it something else? Wheels? Tranmission/Gearbox?

[alexperkins]

Welcome - ive moved your post

Sounds like the clutch is potentially slipping. Youd feel the tyres skidding if that was the case

Did the revs freely increase when you pushed the accelerator down further without the speed increasing?

[DC_BS]

Thanks Alex, I knew it was in the wrong section!

Yeah took it for a free test at Halford's Auto Centre and they said its going.

Did a few tests earlier such as putting the car into 2nd gear then releasing the clutch, the engine stalled after 4-5 seconds. Then I went down a quiet road, put it into 4th and eased off the accelerator. It stalled when I slowed down.

The revs remained the same despite the accelerator down to the floor. I took it to the test centre fine earlier doing up to 4th gear and drove it back alright. They quoted £380 for a new clutch which isn't too steep considering other places want in the £500 region. Might be able to squeeze some short drives out of it though I don't want to damage the gear box. If I can get it to the test centre again I'll be ok.

[alexperkins]

That's not a particularly bad price for a clutch change

[DC_BS]

Yeah esp for a VW!! I think cos the guy behind the service desk thought I'd go somewhere else so wanted to haggle for my custom!

Gonna give them a call tomorrow morning and try and book it in before the weekend. Hoping it can survive for a few more days, certainly not going to go back on the motorway on it.

[DC_BS]

Booked in tomorrow morning for clutch replacement! They tried giving some bull about the gearbox possibly being faulty but they'll strip it down and have a look. I drove it fine to and from the autocentre yesterday, and even went up hills and there was no over revs. Haven't driven it since and I am hoping it'll survive the trip to the auto centre which is less than a mile.

If they do discover something wrong with the gearbox then I'd find it hard to believe. This motor has had 4 new wheels fitted and a new cambelt too.

[alexperkins]

Gearbox will likely be fine. Tough as nails on the diesels.

Dont think the SDI has a Dual Mass Flywheel, but if it does, youll want to convert it to a Single Mass Flywheel as DMFs are a pain in the bum.

[DC_BS]

Hmm, I don't want to hazard a guess as to how much a new gearbox would be!

Didn't know about the DMF, I spoke to someone about it and apparently that model has a clutch cable too? They quoted £380 yesterday which was printed on the invoice along with the tyres. If they try and say its more then they can't go back on it if its written?

[alexperkins]

Yeah, all cable clutches on the 6N2 - wont necessarily need replacing. Just make sure they replace the release bearing

If they are doing the work quoted with a price, they cant really go back on it without talking to your first. They should really stick to the quoted price.

[DC_BS]

Wow you know your shizz Alex!! Its nice to talk to someone who can give me advice and is knowledgeable!

So the release bearing is the most important part of the clutch? I'm not 100% clued up on how it works. Trying to think how much more they'd want to add on and what for, you know these places like to make up work that doesn't need doing, but cos I gave them my custom yesterday with the tyres they said they'd do it for less than the £400 original price. I can't really go any higher than that ideally.

[alexperkins]

A clutch looks like:



The small bit is the release bearing, which is operated by the clutch pedal to move the clutch friction plate in and out

The friction plate is the thin larger disk

The clutch housing is the larger item

A dual mass flywheel version has another bit attached that looks like (purpose is described in the image)



I dont think yours has one mind you - its SMF from what I can tell.

They shouldnt need to replace anything else as part of a clutch replacement. Friction plate, housing and release bearing is generally enough

The only other thing that will need replacing that they may not replace unless requested is the sleeve, which wears down and can cause a rough clutch pedal:



VW part number is 085141181. GSF/Euro etc sell them

[DC_BS]

I see, so all those 3 need replacing?

[alexperkins]

Just updated the post - all four bits need replacing

[DC_BS]

Right ok, I can't see any history of a clutch change in the service handbook, so it must have been on its original clutch, this car is 15 years old and done over 125,000 miles!! Pretty impressive unless there was a change but there was no record.

[alexperkins]

Thats fairly decent mileage for the original clutch - quite possible its never been changed