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.
Volvo
Volvo Cars is a Swedish luxury vehicle manufacturer, established in April 1927, over 90 years ago.
How popular is Volvo in the United Kingdom?
With around 645k cars on the roads in the UK today, Volvo is a considerable contributor to the UK motor industry.
With a steady rise in status from the boxy estate models popular in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, Volvo now produces a strong, executive range of luxury, performance vehicles.
Luxurious executive saloons, estate cars and SUVs
Sticking to the market they understand best, Volvo produces a small range of estate cars and a selection of bang-on-trend SUVs, complimented by 2 luxury saloon models. In other words, Volvo makes cars for ‘grown-up’ drivers where it knows its customers inside out.
Volvo: Exceptional aims for in-car safety
One of Volvo’s key visions is to provide a level of unrivalled safety inside their vehicles and has proven to be a dedicated leader in the field. Their current vision is that nobody should be seriously injured or killed in a new Volvo car by 2020.
Pursuing perfection through Volvo technology
The ethos behind Volvo reaches further than just selling units and making a profit. By putting their customers first, they have committed to creating vehicles where ownership gives quality time back to their drivers, are environmentally efficient and exceptionally safe.
Using modern technology and striving to develop the systems to lead the field, is something they take very seriously. After all, this is the company that brought drivers:
- The 3-point safety seatbelt
- The Lambda Sond emissions detector responsible for reducing harmful fumes by 90%
- Side impact, whiplash, and roll-over protection
- Blind spot systems
- City safety scanning
- Pedestrian detection
- Auto-braking
Volvo’s reliability and reputation
Volvo ranked joint 20th out of 30 car brands in the What Car? Reliability Survey in 2018 with an efficiency rating of 91.5%.
Recent Volvo recalls and reliability issues
Various recalls have been made on Volvo models throughout their motoring history. The following are a list of the most recent in the UK and Europe.
13/04/2019 – Volvo XC60 (2017–2018)
Due to cold temperatures the tailgate lifting arms could freeze and consequently become loose, bend or completely separate
29/03/2019 – Volvo XC90, XC70, XC60, V70, V60/Cross Country, V40/Cross Country, S80 and S60/Cross Country (2014–2016)
Cracks in the fuel hose may cause fuel to leak into the engine compartment
09/02/2019 – Volvo XC90, XC60, XC40, V90/Cross Country, V60/Cross Country and S90 (2016–2018)
A software problem has been detected in the communication module of the emergency call system
03/11/2018
As a result of incorrect assembly, the brake pedal may move out of position
18/08/2017 – Volvo XC90 (2016)
Faulty crimping of the micro-gas generator for the seatbelt tensioner in the third row of seats
21/03/2017 – Volvo XC90, V90/Cross Country and S90/Cross Country (2016–2017)
The bolts that secure the inflatable curtain airbags in place my break
23/01/2017 – Volvo XC90, XC60, V60/Cross Country, S90 and S60/Cross Country/S60L (2015–2016)
The front passenger seatbelt buckle can be incorrectly fastened
15/01/2017 – Volvo XC90, V90, S90, XC60, V60/Cross Country, S60/Cross Country and V40/Cross Country (2016–2017)
Due to a problem with the airbag inflators, the airbags may fail to deploy in the event of a crash
All recall information sourced from gov.co.uk data.
Free collection & delivery
