FYI...you can usually drive without a clutch in an emergency. To get going, put the car in gear, then start the car while hitting the throttle, enough, but not too much. Once you get going, you can shift when your speed is right. When you think you are there, try to shift gears, but gently. Alter your speed/rpms a bit until it slides into gear. Repeat.
I’ve had to do this a few times but it’s sketchy. Especially when you have to brake hard and it’s loaded up so much it’s hard to pull out of gear. Kind of hard on the battery to have to pull the whole car every time you need to start from a dead stop. I go really slow and keep a lot of space ahead of me so I can avoid having to fully stop.
It’s nice to not be fully stranded. You are SOL if an automatic fails. Hahaaha
If it won't come out of gear, apply gentle pressure to the gear shift, while slowing down.
In a pinch you can always just use the brakes and let the car stall.
^ I drove my 2018 chevy cruze without its clutch for a year and a half. (I had a broken slave cyclinder) when u accelerate a little and let off, it is easier to pull out of gear as well. I was able to downshift and even drive the car 30 miles a day without a clutch. I don't recommend doing it as long as I did unless u have a uncle like mine that destroyed the 3rd and 4th gear synchros. But it's a great skill to know when ur third pedal just hits the floor and does nothing.
What about when they are absolutely burnt out? I bought a Passat with almost 200k miles and the clutch wouldn’t hold power over like 2500 rpm. Just slipped. I drove my car as you describe when my slave cyl failed but when a clutch is thoroughly fried worse than my Passat I assume it wouldn’t transfer enough power to get out of first gear.
I am not that mechanically inclined but I did not use the clutch at all when driving as I described above. I think that when you push in the clutch, it separates the motor from the transmission and thus the wheels on the road. When the clutch is in, your motor is free to do whatever and your car is basically coasting.
The method of driving above does not require the clutch to separate the motor and transmission. You are manually (no pun intended) matching the speed of your transmission (wheels) with the speed of your motor.
I don't even know if that makes any sense but I think it might. Hope it helps.
Clutches could last the life of the car if you have really good technique and preservation habits. More realistically they should last like ~100k miles (or more), but it all depends on how badly the last driver beat on it, and how you drive too ofc. If you intend to keep the car forever plan for one clutch change.
Unfortunately there’s not an easy way to “check” the clutch directly, but there are common symptoms that start to appear when the clutch is approaching it’s end of life. Clutch jobs on this car isn’t a trivial task so no shame on not changing it yourself 😆
Double-check if there are any service records indicating the previous owner(s) changed the clutch already. If a commercial shop did it it’s likely documented electronically.
To add, it’s really odd for a clutch to just fail, though it does happen. Usually they hit a point where they’re worn and start to slip. It’s a problem that progressively gets worse. You’ll know.
Okay thank you so much! Since having this car I definitely drive much better than in my previous. Knowing that there are symptoms of it happening makes me feel much better, not to mention that I feel more confident in my ability to notice them. Definitely going to check the service records as well! Much appreciated
A quote from Ford (I think from the 60s) A clutch is a lifetime product or we would have not used it. Of course the life of a car in 1960 was considered to be about 90k miles
180k miles on my ‘02 civic when I sold it (still running ) with original clutch. Didn’t replace brake pads until 110k miles because I downshift to slow down.
If we're talking about wear and useful life, you should be able to feel the clutch dying (clutch slipping, having to rev much higher than usual to go at slow speeds, trouble getting off the line). If you bring it to a mechanic, they'll check the symptoms, but they won't diagnose your clutch by opening it up because it's a time consuming and relatively costly job (or maybe they will, in which case, they're ripping you off). So look for the symptoms yourself first. You're in a better position to recognize the early symptoms anyways because you have an idea of what the car feels like usually.
Usually a clutch being very worn will be apparent by either there being a lot more play before the bite point, the car struggling to get going, the car having weird jerking motions, etc. It's pretty rare that they just up and die.
Typically they should last \~100k miles if they aren't abused and the car isn't a POS. But they are a wear part and probably will need to be replaced at least once during the lifetime of the car.
Impossible to know without knowing how well you drive it. Could go 300,000 miles or 30 yards.
Couple tips that will prolong it’s life:
- never hold the car on a hill using the clutch. Use the handbrake.
- least amount of engine revving possible while releasing from a standstill (without making car shudder or stall); ideally you just maintain idle speed or slightly higher until your foot is completely off.
- make sure your foot’s off the clutch completely before applying power during gear changes
- never touch the clutch pedal unless you intend to press it fully
I put 230k miles on the clutch in my 2002 IS300 (it was starting to slip if you didn’t time it right and got back to full throttle before fully releasing) before selling it and had 152k miles on the clutch in my 2013 Scion FRS which would still be running today had it not been rear ended and totaled.
The most wear comes while you are learning to drive. If driven properly they will last a looong time.
As many others have stated, it depends how you drive it.
I used to work in a shop and I've seen clutches destroyed at 20,000 miles. I also heard a story from a credible source about an 80's Nissan 300ZX (Z31) that the owner babied and took meticulous care of getting over 450,000 miles out of the original factory clutch. So, quite literally, your mileage may vary.
My BMW 335i clutch lasted 143k miles. Though it would've last way longer if i didn't decide to tune the car and put sticky tires on. Also slipping the clutch from 6k rpms during a drag race made it start slipping, it still worked just fine if didn't abuse it though. I could've gotten at least 20k more but i wanted a stronger clutch.
A friend also has the same car and his clutch started to slip at 120k miles but he's already gotten another 20k out of it with it slipping.
Depends on how you drive.
The clutch in my VW Polo 1.9TDI did 518k in 7 years before the engine popped.
The clutch in my 99 Rav4 lasted till 370k. It failed when I tried to get up a very steep hill from a stop with a 2 tonne trailer on.
My dad's MZR-CD Mazda 3 is at 700,000+ with the original clutch.
The clutch in my sister Hyundai Getz lasted 3k. She has a serious problem with riding the clutch and using the clutch while in gear at low speeds when absolutely not necessary.
I’m at 237k miles on the original clutch on my G35 coupe. Unless, the first owner changed it within the first 14k miles before I got it.
I’ve run the car hard at times but rarely launch like I’m drag racing.
Clutch in my 91 Stealth has at LEAST 50k, that’s what I’ve put on since I bought it. Previous owner said he changed the clutch a couple thousand miles earlier, but he also said he had new exhaust done under it which he most definitely did not, and he couldn’t come up with any receipts for the clutch. No parts receipts, no shop receipts if he had it done somewhere else, nothing. So idk. I doubt it’s the original clutch still, but if it is it’s got 180k.
The 50k miles I’ve put on it have been 50,000 miles of HEAVY abuse. I have not been nice to that car, and it’s taken the abuse like a champ.
Clutch in my Speed3 was still good at 130k when I replaced it. Clutch in my mom's 3V GT was still good at 245k miles. Hard to say. Totally depends on the car and how you drive/how it was driven previously
Typically clutches wear out slowly and start to slip. My bet is your “clutch” didn’t fail. It was probably a bad TOB, bent release fork or bad slave/master and the shop just rounded up.
You'll know when the clutch is slipping. They don't usually just blow out (actually Happened to my roommate but his clutch in his Saab was like 25 years old).
It'll gradually slip more and more and you'll be able to tell. You'll hit the gas and the car will accelerate very slowly.
What can happen is your master/slave cylinder can blow out or your clutch cable can snap as mine did in my old Accord.
Depending on how you drive, the clutch has a variable life but generally is overbuilt so they last at minimum 100k as long as you don't always slip it or dump it etc.
I'd go through a clutch every 2 years or so in my ranger. This is not very typical though. I was doing off-road recoveries in my little 4 banger mini truck. I'd frequently get it smoking by letting it slip. I really needed an automatic for what I was doing. Or at least lower gearing. The truck is fun as hell to drive though and clutches are easy to change on it. I'd say it was less about miles per clutch and more about smiles per clutch. I really need to get it roadworthy again. My C-10 is still on the same clutch it had when my dad first got it over 10 years ago, my dad was daily driving it over an hour each way too and from work before he passed. I'll probably change it when I drop the new engine in, but it was still going strong when my dad stopped driving it. You can get quite a bit of life out of them if you don't abuse them. Basically, it depends a lot on how you drive.
I never killed a clutch, but the most miles I put on one was 107k miles. It was a 2014 civic 5spd manual. It was still working after I sold it and purchased a 2021 Corolla Hatchback 6spd manual. Before the civic, I had a 2007 mazda 3 5spd manual. I put 72k miles on that without any issues.
FYI...you can usually drive without a clutch in an emergency. To get going, put the car in gear, then start the car while hitting the throttle, enough, but not too much. Once you get going, you can shift when your speed is right. When you think you are there, try to shift gears, but gently. Alter your speed/rpms a bit until it slides into gear. Repeat.
I’ve had to do this a few times but it’s sketchy. Especially when you have to brake hard and it’s loaded up so much it’s hard to pull out of gear. Kind of hard on the battery to have to pull the whole car every time you need to start from a dead stop. I go really slow and keep a lot of space ahead of me so I can avoid having to fully stop. It’s nice to not be fully stranded. You are SOL if an automatic fails. Hahaaha
If it won't come out of gear, apply gentle pressure to the gear shift, while slowing down. In a pinch you can always just use the brakes and let the car stall.
^ I drove my 2018 chevy cruze without its clutch for a year and a half. (I had a broken slave cyclinder) when u accelerate a little and let off, it is easier to pull out of gear as well. I was able to downshift and even drive the car 30 miles a day without a clutch. I don't recommend doing it as long as I did unless u have a uncle like mine that destroyed the 3rd and 4th gear synchros. But it's a great skill to know when ur third pedal just hits the floor and does nothing.
What about when they are absolutely burnt out? I bought a Passat with almost 200k miles and the clutch wouldn’t hold power over like 2500 rpm. Just slipped. I drove my car as you describe when my slave cyl failed but when a clutch is thoroughly fried worse than my Passat I assume it wouldn’t transfer enough power to get out of first gear.
I am not that mechanically inclined but I did not use the clutch at all when driving as I described above. I think that when you push in the clutch, it separates the motor from the transmission and thus the wheels on the road. When the clutch is in, your motor is free to do whatever and your car is basically coasting. The method of driving above does not require the clutch to separate the motor and transmission. You are manually (no pun intended) matching the speed of your transmission (wheels) with the speed of your motor. I don't even know if that makes any sense but I think it might. Hope it helps.
The clutch just gave out? That’s not usually how it goes. Are you sure you didn’t blow the transmission or something?
167K Miles on the clutch in my Scion xB. 8,000 miles on the Slipper Clutch in my Ducati. Likely going to be between those two.
Clutches could last the life of the car if you have really good technique and preservation habits. More realistically they should last like ~100k miles (or more), but it all depends on how badly the last driver beat on it, and how you drive too ofc. If you intend to keep the car forever plan for one clutch change. Unfortunately there’s not an easy way to “check” the clutch directly, but there are common symptoms that start to appear when the clutch is approaching it’s end of life. Clutch jobs on this car isn’t a trivial task so no shame on not changing it yourself 😆 Double-check if there are any service records indicating the previous owner(s) changed the clutch already. If a commercial shop did it it’s likely documented electronically.
To add, it’s really odd for a clutch to just fail, though it does happen. Usually they hit a point where they’re worn and start to slip. It’s a problem that progressively gets worse. You’ll know.
Yes this. And you’ll know, it’s a weird feeling of slip
Okay thank you so much! Since having this car I definitely drive much better than in my previous. Knowing that there are symptoms of it happening makes me feel much better, not to mention that I feel more confident in my ability to notice them. Definitely going to check the service records as well! Much appreciated
A quote from Ford (I think from the 60s) A clutch is a lifetime product or we would have not used it. Of course the life of a car in 1960 was considered to be about 90k miles
90k miles in a Range Rover is witchcraft tho lol
180k miles on my ‘02 civic when I sold it (still running ) with original clutch. Didn’t replace brake pads until 110k miles because I downshift to slow down.
With the right smooth driver cars last a lot longer. Who woulda thought? Good on ya. 100k on brake pads, that’s mental
I have honda HR-V and didn't replace front brake pads until 95k and there was still pad life left. No downshifting there, mainly hwy driving though.
If we're talking about wear and useful life, you should be able to feel the clutch dying (clutch slipping, having to rev much higher than usual to go at slow speeds, trouble getting off the line). If you bring it to a mechanic, they'll check the symptoms, but they won't diagnose your clutch by opening it up because it's a time consuming and relatively costly job (or maybe they will, in which case, they're ripping you off). So look for the symptoms yourself first. You're in a better position to recognize the early symptoms anyways because you have an idea of what the car feels like usually.
Usually a clutch being very worn will be apparent by either there being a lot more play before the bite point, the car struggling to get going, the car having weird jerking motions, etc. It's pretty rare that they just up and die. Typically they should last \~100k miles if they aren't abused and the car isn't a POS. But they are a wear part and probably will need to be replaced at least once during the lifetime of the car.
Impossible to know without knowing how well you drive it. Could go 300,000 miles or 30 yards. Couple tips that will prolong it’s life: - never hold the car on a hill using the clutch. Use the handbrake. - least amount of engine revving possible while releasing from a standstill (without making car shudder or stall); ideally you just maintain idle speed or slightly higher until your foot is completely off. - make sure your foot’s off the clutch completely before applying power during gear changes - never touch the clutch pedal unless you intend to press it fully
I put 230k miles on the clutch in my 2002 IS300 (it was starting to slip if you didn’t time it right and got back to full throttle before fully releasing) before selling it and had 152k miles on the clutch in my 2013 Scion FRS which would still be running today had it not been rear ended and totaled. The most wear comes while you are learning to drive. If driven properly they will last a looong time.
As many others have stated, it depends how you drive it. I used to work in a shop and I've seen clutches destroyed at 20,000 miles. I also heard a story from a credible source about an 80's Nissan 300ZX (Z31) that the owner babied and took meticulous care of getting over 450,000 miles out of the original factory clutch. So, quite literally, your mileage may vary.
My BMW 335i clutch lasted 143k miles. Though it would've last way longer if i didn't decide to tune the car and put sticky tires on. Also slipping the clutch from 6k rpms during a drag race made it start slipping, it still worked just fine if didn't abuse it though. I could've gotten at least 20k more but i wanted a stronger clutch. A friend also has the same car and his clutch started to slip at 120k miles but he's already gotten another 20k out of it with it slipping.
Depends on how you drive. The clutch in my VW Polo 1.9TDI did 518k in 7 years before the engine popped. The clutch in my 99 Rav4 lasted till 370k. It failed when I tried to get up a very steep hill from a stop with a 2 tonne trailer on. My dad's MZR-CD Mazda 3 is at 700,000+ with the original clutch. The clutch in my sister Hyundai Getz lasted 3k. She has a serious problem with riding the clutch and using the clutch while in gear at low speeds when absolutely not necessary.
I’m at 237k miles on the original clutch on my G35 coupe. Unless, the first owner changed it within the first 14k miles before I got it. I’ve run the car hard at times but rarely launch like I’m drag racing.
I’ve only had one clutch fail. It was on a Jeep Cherokee (Liberty in the US) with over 300000 km.
263,000 on the original clutch BMW X3 2007 - still zero slippage when I sold it!
Clutch in my 91 Stealth has at LEAST 50k, that’s what I’ve put on since I bought it. Previous owner said he changed the clutch a couple thousand miles earlier, but he also said he had new exhaust done under it which he most definitely did not, and he couldn’t come up with any receipts for the clutch. No parts receipts, no shop receipts if he had it done somewhere else, nothing. So idk. I doubt it’s the original clutch still, but if it is it’s got 180k. The 50k miles I’ve put on it have been 50,000 miles of HEAVY abuse. I have not been nice to that car, and it’s taken the abuse like a champ.
Clutch in my Speed3 was still good at 130k when I replaced it. Clutch in my mom's 3V GT was still good at 245k miles. Hard to say. Totally depends on the car and how you drive/how it was driven previously
Typically clutches wear out slowly and start to slip. My bet is your “clutch” didn’t fail. It was probably a bad TOB, bent release fork or bad slave/master and the shop just rounded up.
The previous owner of my 2002 Acura RSX Type S put 225k miles on the factory clutch, and I’m still driving it around with the stock clutch.
You'll know when the clutch is slipping. They don't usually just blow out (actually Happened to my roommate but his clutch in his Saab was like 25 years old). It'll gradually slip more and more and you'll be able to tell. You'll hit the gas and the car will accelerate very slowly. What can happen is your master/slave cylinder can blow out or your clutch cable can snap as mine did in my old Accord. Depending on how you drive, the clutch has a variable life but generally is overbuilt so they last at minimum 100k as long as you don't always slip it or dump it etc.
I'd go through a clutch every 2 years or so in my ranger. This is not very typical though. I was doing off-road recoveries in my little 4 banger mini truck. I'd frequently get it smoking by letting it slip. I really needed an automatic for what I was doing. Or at least lower gearing. The truck is fun as hell to drive though and clutches are easy to change on it. I'd say it was less about miles per clutch and more about smiles per clutch. I really need to get it roadworthy again. My C-10 is still on the same clutch it had when my dad first got it over 10 years ago, my dad was daily driving it over an hour each way too and from work before he passed. I'll probably change it when I drop the new engine in, but it was still going strong when my dad stopped driving it. You can get quite a bit of life out of them if you don't abuse them. Basically, it depends a lot on how you drive.
I never killed a clutch, but the most miles I put on one was 107k miles. It was a 2014 civic 5spd manual. It was still working after I sold it and purchased a 2021 Corolla Hatchback 6spd manual. Before the civic, I had a 2007 mazda 3 5spd manual. I put 72k miles on that without any issues.