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Expert Clutch Service in San Antonio, TX

Clutch Maintenance and Repairs

If you drive an automatic vehicle, chances are, you’ve never even thought about a clutch. That’s because on automatic vehicles, they use a torque converter to adjust when shifting gears. In a manual vehicle, the clutch is a vital aspect to changing gears. As such, it’s important to keep it well-maintained to avoid slipping or other issues. At AAMCO San Antonio North, we’re proficient in repairing and maintaining clutches, no matter the vehicle make or model. Whether you’ve burnt out your clutch from driving or noticed a strange odor or slipping gears, schedule an appointment with us. We’ll happily take a look at your vehicle and make sure you’re safe on the road. Contact us today to book your appointment for clutch service in San Antonio, TX.

Mechanic holding clipboard with open car engine

What Does My Clutch Do?

When you press the gas pedal down in your car, a lot of actions happen. Generally speaking, your engine rotates in rotations per minute (RPM). The transmission needs to match the RPM of your engine with the RPM of your wheels. In a manual transmission, the engine power flow has to be discontinued. To do this, it has several gear ratios to shift into. To shift gears, the clutch disengages the motor to match the speeds exactly. The main part of the clutch is a disc with friction materials. It sits on the flywheel, transmitting the power from the engine to the wheels. When you press the clutch pedal, you discontinue the power flow from the engine so you can change gears. When you let off the clutch pedal, it reengages the engine power with the wheels, and you resume accelerating in your new gear. Ideally, you want to be on and off your clutch quickly to avoid burning it out. To help this, coil springs absorb some of the pressure from reengaging the driveshaft to the flywheel. If the flywheel and the friction plate rub together too much, it’s till for a repair or a replacement.

Proper Clutch Maintenance

Most modern cars use a hydraulic system for activating their clutch. Older vehicles used a cable system. Both require maintenance to avoid expensive breakdown repairs in the future. Clutches and transmissions, in general, have a lot of moving parts. You want to make sure whoever is working on your clutch is experienced and certified. All of our technicians have years of experience and are licensed and certified to work on all makes and models. We understand that manual car drivers tend to have a deeper connection to their vehicle, wanting only the very best. We’ll help you maintain your vehicle according to the service schedule for your model, checking and topping off hydraulic fluid levels, and more.

Clutch Repairs We Conduct

As stated previously, transmissions have many moving parts. Clutches are vital in operating your vehicle. Anything that moves in a vehicle experiences usual wear and tear, no matter how carefully you drive. The places we see the most wear are the flywheel, pressure plate, and bearings. So, when can you tell when it’s time to bring your vehicle in for clutch repairs? Here are some of the most common signs it’s time to bring your vehicle to AAMCO of San Antonio North:

  • Slipping – The pressure plate has a strong friction surface. When there is not enough friction between it and the flywheel, you will experience slipping out of gear and sudden jerks. This is most common going up a steep grade such as a hill or driveway or if you’re towing a heavy load. This is a sign that you have worn out your clutch.
  • Foul Odor – A burning smell could be caused by excessive wear. You may need a clutch adjustment as well.
  • Grinding Sounds – Anytime your car makes grinding or grating sounds, it’s time for a repair. The clutch and transmission are no different.
  • Sticking – This can mean a few different things. If you are having trouble putting your vehicle into gear, even with the clutch pedal all the way to the floor, it may need a slight adjustment, or we may need to replace the linkage or plate.
  • Unresponsive Pedal – Also known as a mushy clutch pedal, it may feel soft. This could be due to air in the hydraulics that we will need to bleed out. If your pedal feels loose, it could be a linkage problem.

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