[s-cars] Clutch Slipping?

[Tom Green]

Definitely unusual for such a low mileage clutch, Jim.

Without a history of abuse, the clutch can hardly be worn out.  The  
problem
appears to be a sticking throw-out bearing, perhaps rusty from  
sitting around
without use?  Regular use to get that mileage closer to the average  
of 3X the
current figure would probably fix that. :-)  Or, a sticky master or  
slave cylinder in
the clutch hydraulics.  Check to make sure the pedal is following  
your foot back
up completely every time you release the pedal and not sticking  
somewhere
short of full up.  Bleeding/flushing the clutch system at the slave  
cylinder would
eliminate the possibility that air or contaminants are the problem.    
I would be
inclined to bleed/flush the brake system as well if this is not  
routinely done.

Hopefully, your trip won't be interrupted if you are careful with the  
clutch.

Tom  '95 S6
           '95.5 S6 avant



> Jim Fleischer wrote:

> A very strange thing happened to me twice on my current X-country road
> trip, and it's been tough to replicate.  On two
> separate occasions, I downshifted from fourth to third in order to  
> pass,
> and it seemed like my clutch slipped, as the
> engine was revving freely up to red line, I was in gear with the  
> clutch
> pedal released, and no speed was increased.  The
> first time, I disengaged the clutch, re-engaged it and it engaged  
> just fine
> and off to the races I went.  The last time, I
> allowed the revs to come down on their own while still in gear,  
> then I felt
> the clutch engage and all was fine, pulled
> hard as usual.  No smell, no different pedal feel, engages in the same
> place as usual, pulls strong from a standing start
> in all gears, and after trying to replicate this occurrence on several
> occasions, could not get it to happen again.  The first
> time it happened, I thought to myself that maybe I didn't release the
> clutch all the way, but the second time, I
> deliberately had it off the pedal completely.  The car is a slightly
> modified (chipped) '95 S6 avant with 56K miles and
> counting.......the car has been driving fine in all other respects  
> at all
> other times......any help much appreciated, as I am
> 2000 miles from my friendly neighborhood wrench, and a quick call  
> to him
> the first time it happened stumped him.