When the engine revs climb but the car barely picks up speed, the clutch is usually losing its grip, and MTS Garage Services can find out why and explain your options clearly.
You press the accelerator on a hill, the engine note rises, and the car seems slow to respond. That is the classic feeling of a clutch that can no longer hold the drive. It tends to appear first when the car is loaded, towing or pulling away uphill, then gradually shows up in everyday driving.
At MTS Garage Services, a family-run garage in Hayes, we look at slipping clutch repair as a diagnosis first and a job second. Drivers from Southall, Uxbridge and Hounslow bring us cars and vans of all makes, and we only recommend a new clutch once we are confident the clutch itself is the problem.
The symptoms are usually easy to spot once you know them. Revs rise in a higher gear without the speed to match. There is a burning smell after a hill start or a long queue. The pedal bites very high or very low, or feels different from how it used to. Some drivers notice that the car judders when pulling away. None of these proves the clutch is worn on its own, because oil contamination, a stretched cable or a hydraulic fault can feel similar. That is why we check before we recommend replacement, rather than guessing and fitting parts you may not need.
A road test comes first, so we can feel the fault for ourselves. After that the checks depend on the vehicle.
Reaching the clutch means separating the gearbox from the engine, which is why the job takes real workshop time. Clutch kit replacement Hayes drivers need normally covers the friction plate, pressure plate and release bearing, fitted together so they wear evenly. The flywheel is inspected at the same time, and if it is damaged or worn it is far cheaper to deal with it while everything is apart than to come back later. Where there is a leaking seal, we will point it out so the new clutch is not contaminated shortly after fitting.
A slipping clutch rarely gets better by itself. Continued slipping generates heat, which can damage the flywheel and turn a simple replacement into a larger repair. It can also leave you stranded if the clutch fails completely. Call us and describe what the car is doing. We will explain the fault, recommend the work and give you a clear estimate before anything is started. If you would like to read about related faults, see our pages on dual mass flywheel replacement and clutch hydraulic and cylinder repairs.
Call us on 0208 843 9091 or send the form below and tell us about your vehicle.
Pictures are for illustration purposes only.
“These guys are brilliant. Super-friendly, super-knowledgable and first class service.”
“Great bunch of lads. Always very helpful and take care of our cars. Well priced and they are happy to explain what is wrong or needed and offer advice.”
“Work complete to excellent standards 4.2 Audi A8”
The giveaway is revs rising without the road speed following, especially under load or uphill. An engine problem usually shows as power loss with revs that stay low or hesitate. The only reliable answer is a road test and inspection, which is how we start.
You can for a while, but it is not wise. Each slip heats the clutch and can mark the flywheel, which makes the repair larger. It can also let go without warning. If the car is getting worse, book it in sooner rather than later.
Only if it needs it. We inspect the flywheel when the clutch is out and tell you what we find. A dual mass flywheel with play or heat damage is usually sensible to deal with at the same time, because the labour overlaps, but the decision is yours.
Not always. A high or inconsistent bite point can come from the hydraulic system, such as a slave or master cylinder, or from air in the line. These are quite different repairs, so we check the pedal and hydraulics before we say the clutch needs replacing.
Tell us about your vehicle and we will be in touch.
Prefer to talk? Call 0208 843 9091. Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8:30AM - 5:30PM, Saturday 9:00AM - 1:00PM, Sunday closed.
MTS Garage Services, 5 Chesterfield Way, Hayes, Middlesex, UB3 3NW