Adopting best practices can keep the clutch in gear - Customers understand repairs can be costly, but avoiding comebacks will help you repair clutch problems better. - Motor Age - Automotive training,
Adopting best practices can keep the clutch in gearCustomers understand repairs can be costly, but avoiding comebacks will help you repair clutch problems better.
Publish date: Apr 1, 2009 By:Tony Martin Source: Motor Age
The 2006 Honda Accord features a self-adjusting clutch. This clutch design requires a special tool to remove and install
the pressure plate assembly.
A vehicle's clutch is one of those components that doesn't get a whole lot of attention until the time comes that it isn't
working properly. In that respect, clutch maintenance often is forgotten about just like any other vehicle maintenance. However,
when a clutch malfunctions, it often cannot be ignored because the vehicle suddenly becomes difficult or impossible to drive.
And while the problems can sometimes be easily fixed, in many cases it results in a costly, time-consuming repair.
A clutch replacement on most FWD vehicles will require a fixture for holding up the engine before the transaxle can be removed.
Customer satisfaction is built on accurate diagnosis and repairs. Customers generally understand that repairs can be expensive,
but they also expect that they should not have to bring the vehicle back anytime soon for the same problem. From the technician's
perspective, clutch jobs require a good deal more time than many other repairs and tie up lifts (especially FWD jobs). For
these reasons, it is advisable for technicians to adopt a set of clutch service "best practices" that will maximize productivity
and limit the possibility of comebacks.
Verify the Concern
Check it carefully
Accurate diagnosis always begins with a thorough customer interview. Ask the customer what the problem is and under what conditions
it takes place. Have the customer take you for a road test in the vehicle (if it will move) and make certain you fully understand
the nature of the complaint. This may also give you a chance to observe driving habits that have contributed to the problem.
When a customer comes to you with a clutch problem, it can often be easily verified and will likely be in one of the following
five categories: hard pedal, poor release, noise, chatter or slipping.
Pull-type clutches such as those found in late-'90s Isuzu Troopers can be a challenge. The trick is to get the release bearing
sleeve disconnected from the pressure plate assembly before the transmission can be removed.
The good news for the customer is all of these complaints can be caused by something other than the clutch itself. In other
words, a repair may be possible without the expense of having to remove the transmission/transaxle assembly.
Tony Martin is an associate professor of Automotive Technology at the University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau, Alaska. He holds Canadian Interprovincial status as a Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanic. He also holds 18 ASE certifications, including CMAT, CMTT, L1 and L2.
Articles by Tony Martin
