Owning a truck with a manual transmission offers great advantages that many drivers find essential. However, the Toyota Tacoma is the only new pickup truck with a manual transmission sold in the U.S. today. Furthermore, as your manual transmission truck ages, it’s more likely you’ll need a truck clutch repair.
Signs You Need A Truck Clutch Repair
Often, truck clutches can last for 100,000 miles with proper care and driving habits. Typically, you can tell you might need a truck clutch repair if you experience one of these signs:
- Changes In The Feel Of The Clutch
A properly functioning clutch pedal will feel smooth and responsive. Failing parts can produce either a stiffness or spongy feeling when you depress the pedal.
- Difficulty Shifting Gears
Transmission gears increase force and speed as well as change direction. While automatic transmissions use sensors and computers to change gears, manuals require you to change gears by depressing the clutch.
However, worn-out parts can prevent the clutch from disengaging the transmission from the engine. Thus, you’ll find it difficult to shift into different gears.
- Grinding Noise
When you’re experiencing a clutch problem, the engine and transmission can’t fully disengage. Then, another part, the synchronizer, must struggle against the engine’s rotation to match the input shaft speed. The result is the clashing of gear teeth, making the dreaded grinding noise.
- Clutch Slippage
A clutch assembly has 3 main parts: the flywheel, clutch plate, and pressure plate. The pressure plate presses the clutch plate against the flywheel to disengage the engine from the transmission.
Over time, the clutch plate will wear down and begin to slip when pressed against the flywheel. Typically, you’ll notice the clutch slipping during acceleration. Your engine RPMs increase, but your speed remains the same.
- Burning Smell
Poor driving habits or a worn clutch plate can generate excessive friction. The intense heat generated by friction causes the clutch material to burn, generating a burning smell.
Truck Clutch Preventative Maintenance
Generally, when you put the necessary maintenance into your diesel truck, it’ll last an extremely long time. Some owners have documented their pickups lasting over 1 million miles!
Yet, occasionally, during servicing, some owners of manual transmission trucks may forget about the clutch. However, keeping all parts of your stick shift working properly reduces truck downtime.
For example, when you bring your diesel truck in for preventative maintenance, have your technician inspect the clutch. Sometimes, you may need minor adjustments to the pedal position to prevent unnecessary strain.
Additionally, have your technician check both hydraulic and transmission fluids. Worn lines or damaged seals can allow fluid to leak.
Finally, one of the most important things you can do is to practice good driving habits. Aggressively driving with rapid acceleration, abrupt gear shifts, and riding the clutch increases clutch wear. Moreover, frequently towing or hauling heavy loads can overwork your clutch and transmission.
FAQs About Truck Clutches
Having issues shifting your manual and unsure what the problem is? At the first sign of clutch trouble, bring your truck to Havoline® Xpress Lube of Kernersville for expert repair. Below, we answer a few commonly asked questions about manual transmissions in trucks.
How Much Is A Clutch Replacement Cost In A Truck?
The clutch replacement cost varies depending on the vehicle’s make and model, as well as the extent of the damage. Typically, the average cost is $1800, with prices ranging from $800 to $3000.
This variance in cost is due to the differences in vehicles. For example, some trucks have complex systems requiring expensive parts and additional labor. In particular, diesel truck parts must be robust to withstand the higher torque output of the engine.
Furthermore, the technician must determine which parts need replacement. Sometimes you may only need a clutch disc replacement. While other times, you may need a new flywheel or master cylinder repair.
Can I Drive My Truck With A Bad Clutch?
It’s always dangerous to drive when your car isn’t operating properly. Continuing to operate your automobile with malfunctioning parts can lead to a loss of control of your vehicle. In addition to this increased risk of an accident, you’ll probably cause more damage to your clutch.
What Should I Do If My Clutch Goes Out While Driving?
If your clutch fails while driving, follow these steps to keep you and the other drivers safe:
- Put on your hazard lights.
- When it’s safe to do so, pull over to the side of the road.
- Bring your car to stop by applying the brakes.
- Call for roadside assistance to tow your car to your repair shop.
Is It Possible To Fix A Clutch?
Typically, to fix a clutch, you’ll need to replace all failing parts. Generally, certain components, like the clutch plate, wear down with use.
However, other problems can cause your clutch to malfunction. For example, air bubbles in the hydraulic system can cause difficulties in shifting. In this instance, you need to “bleed the system” to remove the air.
Trust The Repair Shop Your Neighbors Rely On
Instead of trying to self-diagnose your issues, trust a repair shop that can handle all servicing on your manual diesel pickup truck. Havoline® Express Lube of Kernersville has been serving the automotive community for over 25 years. Whether you need a truck clutch repair or any other servicing, our ASE-certified mechanics can fix it.
Call us at 336-904-6319 or use our online form to book an appointment.
