What does a clutch do? And what is a clutch kit?
The clutch is a solid metal disc that couples the crankshaft and flywheel to the gearbox’s clutch shaft. The clutch is located between the engine and transmission to temporarily disconnect the engine drive from the gearbox.
A clutch kit usually contains all the elements to replace and rejuvenate your clutch and its performance: usually a clutch disc, pressure plate, flywheel and a throw race or release bearings. A clutch kit will contain the correct parts for a particular make and model of car and is often cheaper than buying the components individually.
How often should a clutch need replacing?
There isn’t a typical time or set mileage suggested to replace a clutch kit, as it can depend on both the car and your driving style. Most clutches are designed to last approximately 60k miles, yet they can have a healthy life covering mileages anywhere between 30k and 100k.
The law, vehicle regulations and your MOT
A damaged or broken clutch will affect your car’s driving ability to the point where it could fail its MOT. Testing doesn’t include an examination of the engine, clutch or gearbox, so if it appears to be working adequately, then it shouldn’t affect the test result.
What causes a clutch to stop working correctly?
A clutch will wear out over time through continual use. The disc thickness reduces, which affects the amount of force the pressure plate can apply to the clutch disc against the flywheel. Incorrect use over extended periods will impact the lifespan and cause unnecessary problems. Slippage can also be caused by reduced tension in the pressure plate’s springs.
Symptoms of a malfunctioning clutch
The clutch slips while driving
If you feel a loss or inappropriate delivery of power when using the accelerator, it could be due to a damaged or worn clutch.
Changing gears is a problem
If you can’t change gears or it feels like there is unusual grinding and friction when trying, your clutch isn’t separating the engine drive from the gearbox sufficiently.
The car doesn’t move
If there is no delivery of power to the engine from the accelerator, then your clutch could be the problem.
Your gearbox makes unusual and unhealthy noises
If the transmission makes unhealthy grinding noises when you try to use the clutch to engage or disengage the engine, there’s a strong chance that your clutch isn’t operating as it should.
Honda
The Honda Motor Company is a Japanese public multinational conglomerate corporation—to give them their full title. Primarily a motorcycle manufacturer (since 1959) and engine producer (producing more than 14million each year), Honda became the 8th largest automobile manufacturer in the world in 2015.
How popular is Honda in the United Kingdom?
With around 800k Honda cars on the roads in the UK, this marque is a popular and trusted household name.
Long lasting sensibly-priced cars
On the surface, Honda cars look fairly traditional, but this is a brand that doesn’t necessarily follow the pack; they often provide something unique to each of their models.
For example, the Jazz pitched against the most popular car in the UK, the Ford Fiesta, is actually a more practical option than most of its rivals. For a small car, it has an abundance of interior space and very flexible and practical boot.
The Civic is brave enough to make a strong style in design statement in a market where other brands are edging towards conservative.
And the CR-V was the first of the SUV models to stop pretending it was an off-road vehicle and focused its priorities on its road based driving dynamics despite its off-road styling.
Honda motorsports: A long-standing history in Formula One
Honda’s first appearance in Formula One racing as a constructor came in 1964 at the German Grand Prix.
After a mixed introduction, marred by tragedy with the death of driver Jo Schlesser in the French Grand Prix of 1968 Honda took a back seat until their return in 1983 to power the Williams team, where they won 6 consecutive Constructors Championships.
Following the successes with Williams, they partnered with McLaren in 1988, going on to win titles in 4 different seasons.
Their return in 2013, again providing engines for the McLaren team, was met with much less success. After 3 seasons without a single podium finish, Honda was dropped in favour of a Renault built engine.
Honda’s reliability and reputation
Honda ranked 15th place out of 30 car brands in the What Car? Reliability Survey in 2018. Their placing could be considered a little lower down the list than expected, given that it was mostly Japanese and Asian manufacturers to lead the field (Suzuki, Lexus and Toyota taking the top spots).
Recent Honda recalls and reliability issues
Various recalls have been made on Honda models throughout their motoring history. The following are a list of the most recent in the UK and Europe.
04/05/2019 – Honda Civic (2001–2005), Honda Accord (2004–2006) and Honda Odyssey (2004)
Replacement service parts from the previous recall may be defective
30/03/2019 – Honda Odyssey (2017–2018)
The locking system may become jammed
20/01/2019 – Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Honda City, Honda Jazz, Honda Insight, Honda CR-V and Honda Pilot (2010–2015)
Defect in the gas generator of the front-seat passenger airbag
31/08/2018 – Honda HR-V (2014–2018)
The cabin wiring harness might not be correctly secured on the front left chassis rail
22/06/2018 – Honda Civic (2016–2017)
There is no side vent in the backrest of the front seat
22/02/2018 – Honda Civic, Honda CR-V, Honda Jazz and Honda Insight (2009–2010)
In the event of airbag deployment, the internal pressure of the airbag may be excessive
03/02/2018 – Honda Odyssey (2010–2017)
The second row of the outboard seats is not properly secured
12/11/2017 – Honda Accord (2013–2016)
The battery sensor’s plastic housing may not be resistant to the penetration of moisture
All recall information sourced from gov.co.uk data.
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