Thread: How do you "burn out" a clutch?

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

My Dad is having some trouble. He has "burned out" his clutch on several occasions. Actually, he has broken his transmission and he has broken his clutch several times.
...snip...

What type of car is it and what type of car did he learn on.

These new light cars have small terrible clutches. The fly wheel
is small and the engine needs a RPMs to have any power. There is
little or no room for both break and clutch peddles anymore. These
new small cars are also expensive and a PITA to work on unless
you are in used Toyota or used Ford country... where parts are
easy to get.

The best solution is an automatic (I read that he rejects that).
My next car will be an automatic or electric. Automakers are
just not investing in manual clutches and transmissions. They
are investing in automatics.... Tell him that.

Go for a ride to the market with him and watch how he drives.
Do not tell him you are watching -- you are just buying the pizza.
Do it a couple of times and at different times of the day.

The next best solution is to replace the car with a used car
that a local shop can drop a new clutch or transmission into in
an afternoon after the parts arrive.

If he is getting forgetful a broken clutch is going to be small
potatoes. Advise him to test and use some of the elder care solutions
in the area. One carrot is that he can help others, not that
he needs help but by riding he can make the service better
for those that really need it.

everyone is saying get him an automatic. Get a better clutch. Mine will hold 1000hp and is virtually unslippable. If i were guessing id say hes riding the clutch or its out of adjustment.

Originally Posted by simpleman

everyone is saying get him an automatic. Get a better clutch. Mine will hold 1000hp and is virtually unslippable. If i were guessing id say hes riding the clutch or its out of adjustment.

1000 hp ?? does your car have doors or do you get in it by sliding through the drivers window opening!!!

I know this will sound funny, but does he always have his hand resting on the shifter knob as he's driving? The weight of his arm, coumpounded by the leverage (due primarily to the length of the shifter) of the entire linkage system, can create a lot of undue pressure and cause a myriad of problems. Whether or not this can directly lead to a burnt out clutch or not, I don't know for certain, but it surely wouldn't help the situation any.

Sounds like he is riding the clutch.
I don't agree with the comment about getting a better clutch.
The problem is not the clutch, it's the way he's using it. No matter how good it is, if you ride the clutch or don't use the right gear for the speed, acceleration, then you'll wear it out pronto.

Try to get him an auto with the explanation that the clutch won't wear out, as someone else already mentioned. that might be a way to sell him on an automatic.

The bigger issue is this imo: you mention several times that he doesn't remember what he is doing. Should he be driving at all? From your description, that sounds like an accident waiting to happen. Literally.