What makes a clutch burnt out

When you release the clutch pedal, the moving clutch disk makes contact with the pressure plate of the flywheel, causing significant friction and heat.

If you "ride" the clutch, stepping too frequently on the pedal and repeatedly disengaging and reengaging the drivetrain, the friction can create enough heat to actually burn the clutch facings. This can ruin both the disk and the flywheel assembly.

The most telling sign of a burnt clutch is the smell it gives off. If the clutch facings start to burn, the smell will resemble that of burnt toast. Shifting before the clutch is fully disengaged — or letting the clutch pedal out without being completely in gear — is a clutch killer. Over time, it will become harder and harder for the clutch to catch as the disc starts to wear down, warp, or get jammed up by broken pieces of the damper springs.

Rollback is tricky, and kind of scary, so you might find that sweet spot on your clutch that allows you to brake the car without actually being on the brakes. The solution? Stop rollback by pulling the emergency brake while on a hill, not completely, but enough to keep your vehicle from rolling. Wearing down the clutch is the aftermath of increased pressure and heat on the clutch plate, which files or shaves down the plate making it glass-like and smooth.

Since a clutch works by creating friction between the grooves of the two plates pressing together, a smooth plate changes the kinetic energy the clutch produces. This can happen due to "riding" the clutch, meaning the vehicle driver rides with his foot on the clutch and weakens the springs on the pedal, which alters the performance of the clutch.

A technician needs to remove the manual transmission to inspect the clutch components. Most clutch repairs use a complete kit that includes a replacement clutch disc, a new pressure plate, pilot bearing, and a thrust bearing.

Otherwise, you could be facing another clutch repair in the not-so-distant future. Clutch replacement costs vary significantly depending on the make and model as well as the components required. Most clutches can last 80, to ,km — some drivers can even get more than ,km!