Your Land Rover is made of many components. Some are hardwearing, others fairly delicate. Each plays an important role though in getting you from A-2-B or enjoying that off-road experience. Thankfully, enough of these parts give you a clear indication when something isn’t right. It might be via the onboard diagnostics or could be through a sudden change in performance.
The clutch is one essential part of a Land Rover you don’t want to see stop working, luckily it will give you plenty of signs that all is not right.
In this edition of our blog, we look at the clutch and how you can tell if it is failing.
What is the clutch for?
Whether it is years since you passed your driving test, or have only recently removed the L plates, you probably haven’t given much thought to what the clutch of your Land Rover actually does. Put simply, it transfers power from the engine to the wheels, allows you to change gears and sees that the vehicle doesn’t stall when you are stationary.
Over time it can wear out and eventually stop working altogether. As we said in our intro though, it should give you plenty of warning that all is not right before it gets that far!
If you own an automatic vehicle, you’ll have no need for a clutch as you’ll not be changing gear manually.
How to tell if your clutch is going
There are a host of signs that your clutch is going, and it would be best to book in with a Land Rover service centre once anything becomes noticeable. In our opinion, do not wait for one issue to turn into two. The moment the vehicle exhibits problems, let us know and our team of technicians will get things back to how they should be!
We’ve highlighted the key signs of a clutch failing so you know when it’s time to get it looked at.
Sticking clutch pedal
Quite a common problem and noticeable through the pedal being slow in the pedal returning to its normal position. This is caused by the clutch cable being worn or the oil being contaminated. On occasion, you may also notice that the pedal vibrates too, and we know that isn’t normal!
Changing gears is becoming more difficult
If you attempt to change gears and find the previous fluid motion is no longer there, your clutch could be going. You might notice a grinding as you try and change gears or attempt to reverse, this is a sign that the clutch is wearing down.
A burning smell is noticeable
If you start to notice a burning smell in your Land Rover, it could be a host of things, but a clutch is among the most common. If you are changing gears and the smell increases, it is more than likely your clutch. This is often caused by the friction of a slipping clutch and should be addressed as soon as possible.
You hear a rattling sound
If you hear a rattling sound which only gets worse as the clutch is used, you could have a significantly worn clutch. In instances like this, look to get it replaced as soon as possible.
Slipping clutch pedal
When the clutch slips, it is normally the first thing you notice in a faulty clutch. It’s common, especially if the clutch has endured a fair bit of wear and tear and has been on the vehicle for a considerable time. As you try and engage it, you’ll notice it slip. The changes between gears won’t be as fluid and you might notice that you can still rev the engine but don’t seem to gain any speed. As various issues could lead to a slipping clutch, it would be advised to book a service as soon as the problem is spotted.
Clutch pedal feels too soft
You need to exert a small degree of force to engage the clutch but when it is worn down, you will notice even the most delicate of applications can see the pedal respond much more than it should. If you notice the pedal starts to soften up, you are probably noticing the first signs of significant wear.
What causes a clutch to go?
In many cases, simply general wear and tear. Like everything in your vehicle, it has a lifespan before it needs to be replaced or repaired, and a clutch is no different. It could be thanks to erratic or bad driving; it could be through age. Either way, a trained mechanic will be able to assess the extent of the wear and make an observation as to what may have caused it.
If, for example, you only had a new clutch installed in the last year, you have relatively low mileage and your clutch is already going, the signs indicate it could be more how you use the clutch than anything else.
Other factors also come into play too. A broken or loose clutch cable, for example, could see a sudden breakdown occur. Leaks in the hydraulic line could also see an instant clutch failure.
Gradual failure is also fairly common. Where your clutch starts to slowly perform worse and worse, it could stem from any of the following:
- A stretched cable
- Low levels of hydraulic fluid
- Failing master clutch cylinder
A detailed service will help establish what has caused your clutch to go and help you gain insight into what you may need to change with your driving style.
How long should a clutch last?
This will vary per vehicle. You can see anything from 30,000 to 100,000 miles from one clutch before it needs replacing. On average though, around 50,000-60,000 miles is the expected lifespan of a clutch before it needs replacing.
As touched upon, its lifespan depends on how you use it, but there are some things you can do to ensure you get maximum use.
How can I prevent my clutch from going?
Quite simply, take good care of it, and change it before it is completely worn down. There are four main things to do that will help preserve the life of your clutch.
- Book Land Rover servicing as per the regular schedule
- Avoid using the clutch to control speed. Just stick to the brakes or accelerator
- Always put your vehicle in neutral when in traffic and apply the hand brake rather than using the clutch
- Always release or press the clutch fully when it’s needed
If you are concerned about clutch failure in your Land Rover and have noticed any of the signs we’ve mentioned in this guide, speak to our team right away. A faulty clutch could lead to accidents and needs to be rectified right away. Our experienced team has more than 40 years of experience servicing Land Rovers across Kent and London, ensuring they are road-safe and in the best possible condition. Book your service today for full peace of mind.