The clutch is one of the most important elements of your vehicles driving operation. Your engine is what causes your wheels to spin, but what happens when your car needs to stop? The engine shouldn't stop spinning but the wheels need to. The clutch is what permits this to happen.

The clutch allows the transfer of power between the wheels and the engine to be interrupted while a gear is being changed or while the car is stationary and the engine continues to run.

Clutch problems can arise out of the blue and can be caused by general wear and tear. Your clutch relies on many components such as the pressure plate, clutch plate, and diaphragm spring, which can all affect the operation of the clutch. Clutch problems can quickly get worse if they are not treated and that is why you should book your car in for a clutch service at the first sign of trouble so that you can avoid a costly clutch replacement job down the road.

Some vehicles have clutches which work hydraulically - when you press the clutch pedal the clutch fluid moves the pressure from the pedal through to the clutch and disengages the power transmission. Leaking clutch fluid can cause all kinds of problem in your vehicle so it is very important to monitor it regularly. At Service Plus Auto Care we check your clutch fluid, hydraulic system or clutch cables for you as part of our free 65 Point Vehicle Inspection report - which you can request as part of every car service.

If we suspect a problem or leak in your clutch we will include this in our written report or let you know directly if we feel it needs immediate attention.

You should have your clutch looked at if:

• You notice a Burnt ‘toast' or ‘burning rubber' smell in your car, or smoke from under vehicle
• Your Vehicle is slipping out of gear for no reason
• There is jerky or sticky gear operation
• Your clutch is not disengaging fully, or your clutch is sticking or shuddering

If your clutch is showing any of the symptoms above - it can mean any number of faults. Clutch problems are difficult to diagnose by symptoms alone because many issues cause the same symptoms, depending on the vehicle and type of engine.

If you notice any problems with your clutch's responsiveness or if it is making a noise that you have not heard before give Service Plus Auto Care a call, so that we can fix the issue before it gets more serious. We are located in Victoria Point at the Victoria Point Lakeside Shopping Centre and our team is both competent (we are a member of the Repco Auto Tech training program) and places a high degree of importance on customer service. We can provide you with an effective clutch repair solution that you would expect from any Repco Authorised Service Centre.

Our clutch service includes a comprehensive inspection of your clutch and its related components. After we have tested them we will repair or replace any parts that are contributing to the problem and get you back on the road as quickly as possible. Make sure to call Service Plus Auto Care's friendly team today for any clutch repair enquiries.

We can perform Clutch service and repairs on most makes and models right here in our Victoria Point workshop.