The clutch is a small mechanical component in your car that delivers power from the engine to the wheels. Its function is pretty simple. So, does stalling a car damage the clutch? Simply speaking, yes. Stalling a car damages the clutch that includes loosening other car parts linked to it. In this guide, we will walk you through all you need to know about your car’s clutch. You will also find answers to the basic question such as: What is the clutch and what does it do? What are the effects of stalled cars on the components of my vehicle? How do I fix clutch problems?
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What does the clutch do? The clutch may be a small component but it is a key part of the engine in your vehicle. The clutch is the one capable of disengaging and engaging the engine from the transmission system. Without the clutch, disengaging and engaging the engine from the transmission will become rough. The clutch provides for smooth operation between the transmission and the engine. The clutch consists of the following parts: the flywheel, pilot bearing, clutch plate, also known as a disc plate, pressure plate, clutch cover, release levers, and clutch shaft. These car parts may be affected when your car is stalling. It is also important to note that clutch problems could also cause stalling problems with your car. Whatever becomes problematic first, whether is the clutch or the vehicle itself, driving with a damaged clutch is unsafe.
What happens to the clutch when you stall?
Remember, stalling a car damages the clutch. How does this happen? When a vehicle continually stalls, it increases stress on the components. Because of this, old parts may loosen and give out. In this case, the clutch handles a lot of strain and the clutch lining wears out as well. A damaged clutch does little to help you retain control over your vehicle when you try to stop or slow down your driving.
If you notice that your car has been stalling frequently, observe what happens to the clutch in its biting point. You may also try putting a bit of pressure on the clutch when you feel that your car is about to stall. However, do not put too much strain on the clutch. Continuous stress distributed to the clutch when the car stalls will eventually deteriorate the clutch. If your clutch is damaged already, you may want to look into a new one for replacement. The price of a car clutch varies depending on the make and model of your automobile. The typical car clutch replacement costs between 500 to 1,200 dollars. If you are driving a 4WD or an exotic car, clutch replacement can go from 900 to 2,000 dollars.
You may wonder, “Is it worth it to have my car’s clutch repaired?” Because the cost of replacement and repair of the clutch may seem too high for a small component, many try to fix the problem on their own. However, it will be more dangerous for you if you do not seek professional help in fixing or replacing the car clutch.
What causes a car to stall?
Stalling a car damages the clutch. Therefore, to prevent the car clutch from going bad, you must deal with the stalling problem first. There are various reasons why vehicles begin to continuously stall. Perhaps there is a problem within the engine, or a component stopped working. At times, the air or fuel supplied to your vehicle may not be enough; thus creating mechanical issues. Stalling may happen for a short while or as you drive. Here are the most common causes of a stalled car.
- Your car is running on an empty fuel
Keep an eye on your car’s dashboard. If you notice that your low fuel warning light is on, you need to fill up the fuel tank. You may experience stalling when your car is running with an empty fuel tank. Cars stall if there is not enough fuel mixture.
- Your car has a bad fuel pump
When the engine does not receive enough fuel to run, stalling happens. Insufficient fuel delivered to the engine might be due to a defective fuel pump. When your car has a bad fuel pump, you will be unable to restart your car. You might ask, “but does stalling a car damage the clutch?”. “Does a bad fuel pump affect the engine system where the clutch is located?” Yes.
- Your car suffers from alternator problems
A bad alternator affects many car components. If your alternator is broken, your car will not be able to work properly and is as good as broken too. Once the alternator fails, your car will stall more often, and stalling a car damages the clutch. If you find yourself facing alternator problems, you may have to spend a lot to have it fixed. Keep your car maintained regularly to save yourself from spending a lot on alternator repairs. As for the symptoms of a bad alternator, you may notice your car's battery is not charging and electrical functions in your car are not working properly.
- Your car’s air filter and coolant are not well-maintained
Airflow is interrupted when the air filter is clogged with dirt. When this happens, your car may stall more often than usual and over long periods. A faulty coolant sensor can also contribute to your car having stalling issues. When the coolant is damaged, it may send incorrect readings that result in your car stalling. Aside from a failing coolant, does stalling a car damage the clutch. Of course.
- Your distributor cap is susceptible to corrosion
Stalling a car damages the clutch especially when corrosion is present in one of the car parts. If your vehicle's distributor cap, which delivers voltage to the plugs, is corroded, you may experience abrupt stops during acceleration.
Keep in mind that stalling a car damages the clutch this is why you must troubleshoot the problem with your vehicle. It is dangerous to drive a car with a faulted clutch. If you discover any of these causes to a stalled car, have your vehicle checked immediately.
How do you fix a stalling car?
Since stalling a car damages the clutch, it is a practical action to try to fix the stalled vehicle. Now that you know the possible causes of your car stalling, it will be easier for you to identify what the problem is. If you detected that the problem is caused by a bad battery or a failing alternator, you may need to move forward for replacement. Below is a step-by-step process you can do to fix your car when it stalls.
- Move your car to the side
It is quite nerve-wracking when your car stalls while you are driving. The worst-case scenario when this happens is a probable car crash. When your car suddenly stalls as you drive, move your vehicle to the side immediately once you regain control. Signal other drivers about your situation by turning your hazard lights on.
- Restart your engine
Shift to neutral or shift to park depending on the car that you are driving. It may take several tries before your vehicle starts. Keep the engine on a start for a while before you drive again. If your car won’t start, call for towing service to get your automobile checked.
- Get your vehicle checked
If you can drive safely after your vehicle stalls, make sure to get the problem attended to. Ask a professional mechanic to look into the issue.
Stalling a car damages the clutch therefore it is a big issue. The steps mentioned above are simple but can keep you, and other car drivers, safe. Do not ignore the signs of a stalled car or a damaged clutch.
How do you release a clutch without stalling?
You can release the clutch without stalling by diverting the pressure to the accelerator. You might already be aware that stalling a car damages the clutch but handling of the clutch can also have direct effects on how it functions. Make sure that you do not abruptly release your clutch but slowly emancipate it to avoid stalling. Though stalling is a natural occurrence or practice for manual car drivers, stalling must be done as little as possible when driving. Stalling a car damages the clutch once it is repeated 8 to 10 times per day.
Changing gears can also aid you to smoothly release your clutch. You must release your foot from the clutch and alternately press the accelerator pedal. Stalling a car damages the clutch and one of the best ways to avoid stalling is to turn over the pressure to the accelerator only when you have shifted to another gear.
Always remember to depress your clutch. You can also try changing to neutral before coming to a stop. Doing so will give the clutch some time to rest. Changing to neutral when your car is about to stop or park can also help your car’s clutch release smoothly. The key here is to avoid unnecessary stalling that leads to the early wear and tear of the clutch.
Can you damage the clutch?
You might still be conflicted with the thought “Does stalling a car damage the clutch?” The answer is a resounding, Yes! While there may be other factors that are at play when it comes to clutch damage, stalling is considered to be one of the major causes. Generally speaking, most clutches can be stiff and some are quite sensitive. It depends on the type of car you are driving. Nevertheless, clutches, like any other part of your vehicle, are subject to damage. Here is a list of major problems with car clutches to give you a better idea of how to identify the cause of your clutch damage.
- You have stretched or broken clutch cables
Having stretched or broken clutch cables can be troublesome and not to mention dangerous. This damage can equate to having a broken clutch itself since the consequences will be the same. The clutch of your car is a fixed compartment so once its cables are stretched there is a great possibility that you will experience slipping gears while you are driving. To no surprise, stalling a car damages the clutch this way as well.
- The throw-out bearings are already worn-out
The throw-out bearing of your car is the one responsible for managing the interaction between the internal and external surfaces around your car. Meaning, it acts as a regulator for the motion of your car. Still, the involvement of stalling a car damages the clutch by the means of the throw-out bearings. When this part of the clutch system wears out, the car will produce odd noises and car control will be compromised.
- Your car has leaking cylinders
The cylinder of the car is more related to the engine of the car than the clutch. Though this may be the case, it does not mean that leaking cylinders cannot contribute to clutch failure. As previously mentioned, stalling a car damages the clutch in a variety of ways and so does leaking cylinders. The relationship between the two compartments, the master cylinder, and the clutch comes into play when you press on the pedal. Your clutch cannot work or be disengaged without the help of the master clutch cylinder since the cylinder contains fluid that carries enough weight to release the clutch. When stalling a car damages the clutch, you can also picture in the scenario, the damage your clutch suffers from a leak in its master clutch cylinder.
- Your car’s pressure plate is damaged
Your car's pressure plate mainly functions as a pressure applicator to the clutch disk as it delivers torque to the transmission of your car. The moment your pressure plate takes damage is the time the clutch starts to deteriorate. If stalling a car damages the transmission, then a broken pressure plate damages the whole clutch system.
All in all, stalling a car damages the clutch in a variety of ways that most people might not be aware of. It is natural for drivers to stall every once in a while. However, this comprehensive guide teaches you that excessive stalling can lead to issues with your car such as a damaged clutch.