clutch going bad?

[linuxuser0]

Hi, I have been a happy festiva owner for a little over a year now. When I bought my car the guy that sold it to me said the clutch needed replaced! That was over a year ago!! Just the other day as I was shifting thru the gears, as I applied the gas after shifting the engine would rev up like I was in neutral and after a little bit of time it would finally grab and then I could accelerate normally. This doesn't happen all the time but may happen in all gears. I think my clutch has come to the end of it's life finally but I am not sure. This is why I am posting here to see what the festiva experts think it is before I go changing alot of parts that are still good. Thanks for any help with this.


Ford Festiva 1992
LX
2 door
5-speed manual

[packrat427]

Yes it sounds like the clutch .

If you drive it real easy , you would prolly not notice it , when the engine comes up into the power band , in any gear , it will start to slip .

It will eventually get to the point where it will not pull the car anymore .
Just go get a clutch pack kit at the parts store , it will include everything you need , clutch , pressure plate , throw out bearing and alignment tool . about $90.00

[linuxuser0]

Thanks alot "packrat427" I appreciate the help and super quick response. I am sort of a backyard mechanic definently not a pro but is it to hard to drop the tranny and do it that way? I haven't done a clutch before on any vehicle. Thanks for the help.

[packrat427]

A lot of people here have done them , not really too bad , I had a trans shop do mine , I had no time .

Do you have a Haynes manual ?

[freshtiva]

Clutch slippage test:

Chock the wheels and applied e brake
Start engine and put in fourth gear
rev engine to 2000 rpm
Slowly release clutch
The engine should die within five seconds if not your clutch is slipping.

Could also be oil leakage to clutch assy too.

[festivaWES]

clutch is super easy on these little cars, if you have basic mechanical skills i think you can tackle this task.

[nautical_lifens]

i have a clutch disk with 3000km on it and a new pressure plate for sale yeah its your clutch... mine got real bad, when i got into the power band

[Damkid]

before replacing the clutch i would adjust the cable to see if you could get anymore out of it before replacing