My problem must be clutch slippage

[Absolutegtr]

Alright, I have had this problem since I bought the car, and I feel that it must be clutch slippage.

My symptoms are pretty severe:

1. If I give the car any perectage of throttle, the RPM will rise as the speed ever so slowly inreases.

2. At WOT, in first gear, the RPM's will skyrocket and it takes me about 6 seconds to get to 40 mph, seriously.

3. If I launch the car it will throw me back in my seat, but immediatly falls on its face (sort of like fuel cut, but not fuel-cut and the RPMS will skyrocket.

4. In fifth gear at 60mph, just cruising, my RPM's will be at about 3.5K. Highly doubt it should be like that. Also, If I keep my foot at a specific "percentage" of throttle and dont pay attention to my speed I will slow down.

I have a feeling that it MUST be clutch slippage, because at 3500 RPM I am fully spooled and am at ~15psi. Its sucks to have the car like this ever since I bought it, because I still havent felt what my DSM is capable of. It just doesnt pull hard.

I have a digital camera that can take videos, I will try to tape me driving tomorrow, so ya'll can see what i am talking about.

Anyways, my questions are, does this sound like clutch slippage? And, how hard is it to change the clutch myself? Its not that I dont think I can do it, its just that all I have are basic handtools...do you need anything special to change out a clutch?

Also, if I do decide to change out the clutch, what should I go with? ACT 2100? Exedy Stage 1?

BTW, I have already read the guide on vfaq about clutch replacement...doesnt seem TOO difficult, just need some support and advice from you guys!

Thanks

 

[GVR4592]

It should be pretty easy to tell if the clutch is slipping. I would put it in 5th at around 40-50 mph and put the accelerator to the floor. If the RPM's shoot up and speed isn't increasing, the clutch is probably slipping. If you pull over immediately you should be able to smell the burning clutch from outside the car.

 

[Absolutegtr]

I sometimes smell the clutch and sometimes I wont...whats up with that?

Is that just a clucth slowly disintegrating?

 

[JayRolla]

Your clutch is gone, I would not be going WOT with it. If you have a good shop manual and some mechanical knowledge it wont be to hard to do yourself.

 

[VanIsleDSM]

or put on the e-brake hard and rev the engine while letting out the clutch, another easy way to tell.. my clutch just started slipping on me just as I installed my greddy IC pipes and greddy bov, I suspect my stocker was leaking pretty bad cause my boost went from 10lbs to 13 or 14, and I made a boost leak tester to check out if my install was all tight.. the greddy leaks out of the outlet no matter how tight I make the screw? that's a question for another thread though... I can't really tell how high the boost is now cause with the extra psi the clutch won't stay hooked up at all... and I don't want to burn on it cause I'm only driving it for another month before I go back to work.. then it'll be spring when I'm home and I'll be able to work on the car... it rains a lot here in the fall/winter.

 

[Absolutegtr]

Alright guys I tried the following on my car today:

I was at 45 mph and in fifth gear and I gave it WOT. I steadily gained speed and my RPM steadily raised....WTF is up with that?

But if I am in like gears 1,2,3 If I give it gass the RPMS will skyrocket and my speed will ever so slowly increase. Could this be symptoms of something else?

EDIT**> I was just driving the car and decided to take L-specs (member from another forums) advice:

I came to a stop and tried to move the car in fifth gear. Revved up like it was normal and tried to move, obviously no luck. So I then revved up to 4.5K and let out the clutch and the car just moved forward an inch or two, before cutting off. I then stuck my head out the window and almost thre up, . Man it stunk. I guess I need a new clutch... But then why, when I am at 40mph and put it in fifth and give it WOT I both increase speed and increase RPM?

 

[GVR4592]

If you try to start any car out in 5th gear it will burn up the clutch.

 

[Absolutegtr]

I was at 45 mph and in fifth gear and I gave it WOT. I steadily gained speed and my RPM steadily raised.... what do you think is up with that?