Alright guys i usually find all my answers on here aha.

Basically I've owned PD100 Fabia for nearly a year now and I've noticed that it just doesn't pull as well as when i bought it, i could drive easily at 40 mph in 3rd gear with the revs being just under 2000 rpm and now i cant even get to 30 mph in 3rd without the revs edging toward 3000 rpm.

This makes driving on the motorway suck because when I'm in 5th doing 70 my revs are nearly at 4000 rpm, any ideas what could be wrong guys?

Or is this normal i.e what gear do you use when doing 30?

Is the clutch slipping at all?

I'm shocking when it comes to cars mate but what exactly is clutch slipping?

How can I tell if my clutch is slipping?

I'm shocking when it comes to cars mate but what exactly is clutch slipping?

How can I tell if my clutch is slipping?

When accelerating hard and the turbo kicks in (boooost) and the revs go up but speed doesnt.. that will indicate ur clutch is slipping.

Go on a very steep hill facing upwards apply handbrake and set off.. if its slipping badly u will struggle to get up the hill

it'll be a bit smelly and smokey.

Cheers guys ill go check it out tonight and update this post

Well I took it out tonight and absolutely leathered it and I didn't feel the clutch slipping,

It pulled all the way through it just revved up to about 4800 rpm when I was hammering it past 70 in 5th

Any other ideas?

Unless this is normal I mean whats your rpm when doing 70 in 5th?

Does sound like the clutch!

The only way you can change the number of revs at 70mph is by changing the gearbox, it is fixed (it's not an automatic is it?). So the only other thing left is the clutch between the engine and the gearbox.

A slipping clutch is like having the clutch half pressed down all the time.

Italian tune-up?

If you're travelling under power at, say, 60mph; look at the rpm/speed. Now ease off. If the clutch has been slipping then the speed will drop slowly but you'll see a sudden difference in the RPM.

Ive been told to park in a clear area, put it in fifth gear with the handbrake on nice and tight, rev it high and let the clutch out. If it stalls the clutch is fine, if it pulls the clutch is good.

Went somthing like that anyway....

Don't need the handbrake on.

Wont let me edit my earlier post, so...

EDIT POST:

I've been told to park in a clear area, put it in fifth gear with the handbrake on nice and tight, rev it high and let the clutch out. If it stalls the clutch is fine, if it doesnt stall (within a few seconds anyway) and the revs just slowly drop the clutch isnt biting very well so is knackard!

Went somthing like that anyway....

thought it was second gear for that clutch test?

thought it was second gear for that clutch test?

Like i say, i cant remember exact details.

But on that thought, doing that test in 2nd gear on most cars would probly end up pulling the car along the ground or burning tyres, drag races etc can be done starting in 2nd gear for a better start.

The test I know is to accelerate at about 50mph in 5th if the road speed does not follow the engine speed the clutch has had it.

It's the only possible answer really unless someone has swapped over the gearbox with shorter gears in the middle of the night without you knowing.

In an area with plenty space 5th gear handbrake on tight try to pull away you don't need to hold the revs up and let the clutch out. Think of it as if you normal drive. When you get towards the bite it would start to struggle so you give a little more throttle.

So 5th gear start to get to the bite but keep going like you want to actually move still accelerate and lift the clutch as you press the throttle more to stop you stalling. If you clutch is knackered it will just going like you are driving if not it will just stall.

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Thanks for all the advice, looks like I've got a few more tests to do, will update this when I've tried the 5th gear tests,

Is there any way it could be the gearbox on the way out?

Feels really stiff and was pretty low on oil last time it was checked?

It seems the idea its the clutch as fault has caught on here. I'd be interested in checking the car myself as its always hard to give a perfect diagnosis over a few small pieces of information.

I know this might sound strange but are you sure your not imagining it?

The revs should always be the same as the speed & gear your in since its left the factory.

If the car used to be at 30mph and 2,000 revs in 3rd gear, that gear ratio should never change.

The only thing linking the engine speed (rpm) to the speed your moving is the clutch so if the clutch is slipping the revs will go higher but would be noticable... More so when its up to temp.

This wouldnt be very consistant though so you would notice the revs vary in different gears all the time.

It may be a performance issue if the engine is struggling so you feel you need to rev it more to get the same speeds you used to, but again the ratio between rpm and speed would stay the same.

I went out in it tonight and managed to set off in 5th gear, this was however with the revs at around 3000-3500 rpm and a horrible burning smell

But this is definitely consistent now it's another 700 - 1000 rpm in each gear to get to the speeds it used to be at i.e 2500 rpm in 2nd to get 20mph where it used to be about 1800

Ok, make a note of what rpm you are getting at say 30mph in 4th and then let a couple of people see what they get in their cars. Or perhaps even look at some of the youtube videos of people timing their 0-60 times and have a look at the rev counter and the speedo in those.

Just had another thought, perhaps your rev counter is broken, seems unlikely but it would explain it.

The only part that is left would be the driveshafts from the gearbox to the wheels but I think it would be pretty disasterous if these failed, I did once have a metro that would rev up high over hard bumps as the splined shafts actually got pulled out over the bumps! This would be an all or nothing thing though, there wouldnt be any slip (and it would probably make some loud whirring noises)

Edited 9 December, 201213 yr by Dunkuk

That bad smell is your clutch burning, i think you got the wrong end of the stick with the 5th gear test but never mind, that smell is perfectly natural.

Im pretty stumped to be honest, i'll have a think about it but cant see why your revs are over 1000rpm higher than they used to be.

You havnt changed your wheels or tyres by any chance have you?

The 'clutch' test I was taught as a 'new' car buyer (at 17 ) is to sit in first gear with clutch down & handbrake on hard. Try to pull away gently with low revs (idle, or just above), car should really haunch down, with only a bit of clutch released, and start to stall, put clutch back to floor immediately - do not hold this for long. If it doesn't pull itself down hard (and it should), clutch is going & needs attention. Only do this briefly, and be gentle - it will normally be ok for clutch, with only a tiny amount of wear, but if you keep at it, or use big throttle, you can cook the clutch.

Disclaimer: Only do this if brave. If you feel uncomfortable doing it, take car to a mechanic for diagnosis.

If you managed to launch in 5th, I'd suggest clutch is already cooked! No way I could launch in 5th without something wrong!

#Edit: Woo - 666th post!

Edited 10 December, 201213 yr by Benjiman

I'll try again later cheers ben,

I just got back from work then and I can still smell the same burning smell from when I launched in 5th aha

It'll clear over a few days, dont worry to much about the smell, unless it goes away and comes back really strong!