{"id":217405,"date":"2019-09-09T07:00:37","date_gmt":"2019-09-09T05:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/?p=217405"},"modified":"2019-09-09T15:01:10","modified_gmt":"2019-09-09T13:01:10","slug":"take-care-clutch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2019\/09\/09\/take-care-clutch\/","title":{"rendered":"Take care of your clutch"},"content":{"rendered":"

After spending many hours in heavy traffic and at traffic lights, a lot of us can relate to having a stiff left thigh from prolonged periods of exercising clutch control.<\/p>\n

Dewald Raft, chairperson of the Motor Industry Workshop Association (MIWA), a proud association of the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI), warned that incorrect clutch control is the most common mistake motorists make causing their vehicle\u2019s clutch to burn out.<\/p>

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\u201cWe advise motorists to never regulate the vehicle\u2019s speed in heavy traffic conditions by means of clutch control.<\/p>\n

\u201cInstead apply the park brake at traffic lights and select neutral until it\u2019s time to take off.<\/p>

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\u201cAlso don\u2019t press the clutch pedal unnecessarily while driving or when the vehicle is stationary,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Ranft said the reason clutch control \u2013 also known as controlled slipping \u2013 leads to clutch burnout is because prolonged slipping time causes clutch temperatures to rise excessively.<\/p>\n

Racing starts have much the same effect.<\/p>\n

However, installation errors and other components related to the clutch can also add to this increased slipping time.<\/p>\n

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ALSO READ:<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s safe to say that drivers as well as clutch installers can both play a very big role in this unfortunate phenomenon, which can cost anywhere from R2 000 to R20 000 to repair, depending on the vehicle type and availability of parts,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Besides quality of installation and driving style, other variables that play a role in the life expectancy of a clutch are general levels of vehicle maintenance, road conditions, as well as the vehicle\u2019s normal labour load.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s why it varies.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome people need clutch replacements after only a few thousand kilometres, while others drive with the same original clutch in their vehicle for ten or even twenty years,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Apart from minimising the use of clutch control, here are more ways to preserve the life of your vehicle\u2019s clutch:<\/strong><\/p>\n