Is my clutch going out?

[rival]

I drive an '81 Ford F250 4x4 pickup, its ran fine since i started driving it a few years ago...however during the last few days I've noticed that when I change into 4th gear, accelerate to around 45-55 mph, it revs up for a few seconds then goes back to what it seems like 4th gear should be like...its happend about 5 times in the last 3 days...anyone know whats going on here? I dont really know much about cars/trucks, and am just wondering if my clutch is going out, or what the problem could be (i dont feel this is normal)

About how much does a new clutch/fix of the problem cost?

thanks in advance

rival

 

[rival]

bumpage

 

[The Stigenator]

here is how you know if you got a bad clutch.

do this in a flat place.. with enough space to maneuver.

First pull the handbrake. Then put it in first. Start releasing the clutch with minimal gas (if necesasry), if the engine stalls its fine, if it doesnt then you need a new clutch.

Edit: I know my 94 toyota's clutch is going.. I would also like to know how much its going to be to fix it.

 

[Valhalla1]

yes, sounds like your clutch is slipping.. not going to last much longer, you should start to smell it too

 

[Valhalla1]

<<
First pull the handbrake. Then put it in first. Start releasing the clutch with minimal gas (if necesasry), if the engine stalls its fine, if it doesnt then you need a new clutch.
>>




if you release the clutch with the handbrake on and no gas, how is it not going to stall even with a bad clutch

 

[Technics1200]

This how you test if your clutch is going bad.

1. you go to a flat grounded place, preferably a parking lot of some sort.

2. you put your car into first gear, hold down your clutch and start revving your car until your RPM's hit 5000

3. Pop your clutch and if that bad boy starts burning out like theres no tomorrow then your clutch is still good. If it winds out and starts driving then your clutch is definately DYING.

 

[kag]

<<

<<
First pull the handbrake. Then put it in first. Start releasing the clutch with minimal gas (if necesasry), if the engine stalls its fine, if it doesnt then you need a new clutch.
>>




if you release the clutch with the handbrake on and no gas, how is it not going to stall even with a bad clutch >>



of course your gonna stall with a good clutch... if you have a bad clutch, it's gonna slip and you can rev the engine a lil bit without moving... but with a good clutch, youre gonna stall right away when the gear engages

even though sometimes the clutch only slips at higher RPM....

 

[Valhalla1]

that has a lot to do with the torque of the engine, a high torque V8 isnt going to stall if you just let out the clutch, but a .8 liter 3 cylinder will

 

[kag]

man...... the handbrake is ON, the car DOESNT move

when the clutch is released, the power of the engine doesn't stay in the air... it has to go somewhere, that's why the car will stall because it cannot move

 

[Valhalla1]

yeah you cant just let out on the clutch, the car will try to roll forward with whatever torque it can produce and the brake will stall it, stalling the thing.. I'm not sure how a bad clutch would stop it, unless the engine just spins the clutch without engaging it all the way if its going out

but that just f-s it up more


you know your clutch is going out when you can smell it and it slips, which is what you described in the 1st post