Burnt Clutch

Yazmina

I've bought a 2014 Skoda Fabia to replace my 2003 Ford KA. On the old car it wasn't difficult to find the biting point but I'm having a lot of trouble with the new one. Last weekend I was stalling almost every time I had to stop throughout a five mile journey. This weekend I managed to not stall by listening to the engine rather than trying to feel the bite, but I still struggled to get moving. I had to go up a ramp when exiting the supermarket and ended rolling backwards (no-one behind me thank goodness). I tried again, struggled to get up the ramp then there was a burning smell inside the car which lingered for a while. There is also a flashing spanner sign and 'oil insp' on the dashboard.

I can 1. Check the oil
2. Keep trying to find the biting point myself and risk damaging the clutch further
3. Get a driving instructor to help me find the biting point.

Is there anything else I can do?
Cheers.

forgotmyname

Carry on,, it probably needs a new clutch anyway.

When you get the bill for that its an instant cure not to burn another one out.

bobbymotors

Is there anything else I can do?

Yep. Make sure you've got plenty of room on you credit cards so you can buy a new clutch, and then learn how to drive properly.

EdGasketTheSecond

Sounds like the clutch has already gone and is slipping badly hence rolling backwards when trying to go up a slope. If you only recently bought it then the clutch was probably defective already so you may be able to get the dealer to replace?

Yazmina

EdGasketTheSecond wrote: »

Sounds like the clutch has already gone and is slipping badly hence rolling backwards when trying to go up a slope. If you only recently bought it then the clutch was probably defective already so you may be able to get the dealer to replace?

Right. As it's only four years old, 35k miles, MOTed and serviced in November I assumed I must be doing something wrong.

bobbymotors

EdGasketTheSecond wrote: »

Sounds like the clutch has already gone and is slipping badly hence rolling backwards when trying to go up a slope. If you only recently bought it then the clutch was probably defective already so you may be able to get the dealer to replace?

yes, it sounds gone now...but the OP has said they kept stalling it trying to find biting point....which sounds to me like they burnt it out.

System

EdGasketTheSecond wrote: »

Sounds like the clutch has already gone and is slipping badly hence rolling backwards when trying to go up a slope. If you only recently bought it then the clutch was probably defective already so you may be able to get the dealer to replace?

If it was already gone and slipping badly you'd not be able to stall it.

Yazmina

So I'll need to get the clutch looked at, but my other issue is how can I get used to a new clutch? It seems that most people can go from one car to another without any problem.

arcon5

Is it a petrol? Quote often the bite point isn't very strong in some of them anyway so it's a case of increasing engine revs as you raise the clutch and take up the drive. Start accelerating at the right point though and being quite smooth and taking up drive rather than revs on and clutch still partially depressed more than necessary

arcon5

bobbymotors wrote: »

Is there anything else I can do?

Yep. Make sure you've got plenty of room on you credit cards so you can buy a new clutch, and then learn how to drive properly.

So ops here asking for tips that could help her drive in her new car and your advise is to 'learn to drive'.

Aren't you a gem.

Yazmina

arcon5 wrote: »

Is it a petrol? Quote often the bite point isn't very strong in some of them anyway so it's a case of increasing engine revs as you raise the clutch and take up the drive. Start accelerating at the right point though and being quite smooth and taking up drive rather than revs on and clutch still partially depressed more than necessary

Yes. I think this is what I was trying to do but it requires more delicacy than I'm used to.