Advice on driving with dodgy clutch

Savvy_Sue

Hi, we have a Toyota Yaris semi-automatic, 2010.

We noticed the engine was occasionally 'racing' and not changing up, then after a long hill it was clearly ready to stop.

Breakdown attended, by which time everything had cooled down, so verdict was OK to drive home / to garage, we'll follow you.

Local garage can't fix it, say it has to go to main dealer, so it's booked in for Tuesday. They say should be OK to drive, take it easy.

It's 6.5 miles. Any advice on HOW to drive in this situation? Keep speed down, avoid rapid acceleration, or anything more than that? We usually drive it on automatic, is it best to do that or attempt the semi bit?

Obviously not bombing up the motorway ...

Joe_Horner

Speed isn't a particular problem with a failing clutch, but acceleration is and so are hills.

Gentle acceleration, build speed (gently) before any hills to help you get up them, and ideally change down manually for hills if the car's likely to change down anyway - that way you can make the change before the load builds up.

Aylesbury_Duck

As above. Plus, if you can, drive at a time when you will be in less traffic. At least the schools are off but if you can avoid the rush hour, do so. The idea is to maintain a steady speed rather than having to accelerate and decelerate all the time.

wgl2014

+1 on above advice. If you hear the revs rising with no acceleration then back off the accelerator a bit.

For a short drive it shouldn't present too much of an issue.

Rolandtheroadie

I'd probably have taken it to an auto specialist rather than a main dealer.

chrisw

Rolandtheroadie wrote: »

I'd probably have taken it to an auto specialist rather than a main dealer.

Agreed, or get a diagnosis and estimate from the main dealer then phone around a few specialists before committing.

AdrianC

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Hi, we have a Toyota Yaris semi-automatic, 2010.

So the MMT box - effectively a perfectly normal manual, with a pet robot doing the gearchanging and clutch pedal.

We noticed the engine was occasionally 'racing' and not changing up, then after a long hill it was clearly ready to stop.

Sounds like the clutch is slipping.

It's 6.5 miles. Any advice on HOW to drive in this situation? Keep speed down, avoid rapid acceleration, or anything more than that? We usually drive it on automatic, is it best to do that or attempt the semi bit?

Just drive normally, quietly, sensibly. Try to do it at a time when there won't be much traffic. Try to read the road ahead so that you don't need to stop at red traffic lights, for instance - instead, just glide slowly towards them so you arrive as they change. It's most likely to slip when there's most torque being applied - so accelerating from rest, in higher gears, and climbing hills.

Savvy_Sue

Thanks for all the advice. Problem is, the local garage advised that the job can only be done at the main dealer, I don't remember exactly what she said because my head is stuffed full of cold, but it was something about having to 'match' the clutch to the gearbox. I'm guessing this was when they phoned to get prices.

If DH has got capacity on Monday I may see if he can phone some auto specialists. Main dealer will give estimate before any work is done, but not before seeing the vehicle, appointments are made through a central calls system, so they know nothing ...

AdrianC

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Problem is, the local garage advised that the job can only be done at the main dealer, I don't remember exactly what she said because my head is stuffed full of cold, but it was something about having to 'match' the clutch to the gearbox.

I suspect the gearbox's pet robot needs persuading of the new clutch.

Ah - yes...
http://www.blue-print.com/mmt/INF134_MMT_Clutch_Kit%20ADT330265_266_274.pdf
Doesn't look terribly hard, but I can understand them being a bit wary. That's not the same as it being "dealer only", though.

If DH has got capacity on Monday I may see if he can phone some auto specialists.

I wouldn't bother. It's not an "auto box" - it's a perfectly normal manual clutch change, with the caveat of the computer.

Joe_Horner

AdrianC wrote: »

Ah - yes...
http://www.blue-print.com/mmt/INF134_MMT_Clutch_Kit%20ADT330265_266_274.pdf.

What on earth were they smoking when they came up with that procedure?

"Sit on the passenger seat back-rest for 7.294 seconds then, while performing 2 anti-clockwise pirouettes and reciting your choice of Wordsworth (backwards), bounce your head on the gear lever to spell hocus pocus in Morse code within 3 seconds...." :eek:

AdrianC

Joe_Horner wrote: »

What on earth were they smoking when they came up with that procedure?

"Sit on the passenger seat back-rest for 7.294 seconds then, while performing 2 anti-clockwise pirouettes and reciting your choice of Wordsworth (backwards), bounce your head on the gear lever to spell hocus pocus in Morse code within 3 seconds...." :eek:

...or plug it in to the official diagnostic kit.

At least you can't do it by accident.