Need help with girlfriends car

[G35lips]

I think my girlfriends clutch may be slipping, but I am not exactly sure what it feels like. I do know that every time she shifts the car goes into a jerking motion back and forth a couple times before it settles down. Someone let me know what they think is wrong?
Thanks
Lips

[Z2G]

i think your gf needs to learn how to drive a stick.

[Audible Mayhem]

sounds like the pressure plate to me, usually when its slipping it will just slowly grab. i broke a spring on my pressure plate and thats what happened.....


or just try to ride the clutch a little more


jeremy t

[G35lips]

How much did it cost to replace your pressure plate?

[GZire]

A couple of questions:
What kind of car, how old is it, what are the rpms & gear that this happens at, how long has your g/f been driving a manual transmission?

I'd say try the hill test, but seeing as how you are in Florida, I don't think that's an option.

[G35lips]

It is a 1996 Saturn with 72,000 miles, It happens when she shifts to every gear and she has been driving a manual for over 2 years and this just started happening recently. Obviously the car is old and needs to be taken in, but I just want to have an idea what is wrong with it and whether or not it is safe for her to be driving.
Lips

[giddyup69]

Originally Posted by Z2G

i think your gf needs to learn how to drive a stick.

^^^ what he said j/k

slipping clutch = hit gas... car accelerates much slower than usual (sometimes smell of clutch is present)

does it happen in all gears or just lower one's (1 and 2) ?

[GZire]

Could be a couple of things. Like the others are saying if you hit the gas and simply do not accelerate like you should it's probably a fried clutch. Since you are getting a jerking motion I'd be more inclined to think it's a glazed clutch (doesn't completely slip) or possibly the car's engine is not making the power/getting rpms up as quickly as it used to. It wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility since it's an 8 year old Saturn.

Best bet is to take it to a reputable mechanic and have him take a look at it.

[phdvamp]

OK, I will be the first to admit that I don’t know much about repairing cars, but we have a 1996 SC2 and we had a problem that I think was similar to what you described. As it turns out, the clutch fluid was leaking (it’s hydraulic). If this is the case, you can add brake fluid (husband’s cousin is a Saturn mechanic and this was directly from him) to top it off until it’s fixed. Hope that helps, sorry if it doesn’t.