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Common Culprits of Volkswagen Jetta Clutch Kit Failures

Because your car's engine spins all the time, you need to find a way to disconnect it from the wheels without having to turn it off. This is what the Volkswagen Jetta clutch kit is for. With this component, the spinning engine is smoothly engaged to a non-spinning transmission when your car is on idle. However, while the clutch is important, it can fail at times as well. If you feel that the component is hard to depress or that the engine is still racing even on low gear, among other symptoms, then it's time to do some troubleshooting.

Worn-out friction material

One of the most common problems with the clutch kit is that the friction material on the disc wears out over time, as it works in a similar way as the friction material on the pads of a disc brake. When most of the friction material has worn out, the clutch will then start to slip, and it will stop transmitting any power from the engine to the wheels.

To confirm this diagnosis, do a test drive. Take note of all the sounds not normal in the clutch's operation. Drive in a gear lower than what is required, and if you feel the engine still racing, then this is a sign that the clutch is slipping and that its material is worn out.

Sticking or grabbing clutch

If your clutch is not releasing properly, then it will continue to turn the input shaft. This process can cause a grinding or chattering noise, or in some cases it can completely prevent your car from going into gear. There are several reasons why this happens:

• The clutch cable needs to be replaced;
• The flywheel is warped or damaged; or,
• There is oil contamination on the clutch linings.

If you hear a chattering noise, check the car parts around the clutch first before inspecting the clutch itself. If none of them is causing the noise, then you will have to remove, disassemble, and reassemble the clutch to fix the problem.

"Hard" clutch

If you have to press hard on the clutch pedal to get it to work fully, then there may be something wrong. Common causes of this include sticking or binding in the pedal linkage, cable, cross shaft, or pivot ball. Another possible cause could be a blockage or at least one worn seal.