How to Drive Your Car with a Bad Clutch

First, we should note that it is never a good idea to drive a car with a broken clutch, as this can cause more damage to the vehicle. It should only be done as a final option. However, there may be a point when you need to move your vehicle and the clutch is broken. If so, here’s how to do that.

Start the Engine Sans Clutch 

Since you need the clutch to start the vehicle, how do you get it going? Modern manual vehicles have an ignition interlock switch to prevent the vehicle from starting while in gear, which makes things a little more complicated.

Make sure your vehicle has nothing to block it in front. You’ll need people to push your vehicle while you sit in the driver’s seat and steer. The vehicle should be in neutral as they push, then switch to first gear. To start the car, press down the clutch pedal, broken or not, and turn the key. The vehicle should lurch ahead unless it has an interlock ignition switch linked to the clutch.

Crank the engine for a few seconds at a time until the vehicle lurches and continues to run. You should now be able to drive it away very slowly.

In case the be vehicle will not start in first gear, you can attempt to start in neutral. As soon as the engine begins to idle, you’ll need to bang the gearshift hard into first gear, hopefully engaging. It may take several tries before you manage to get into gear and you can then drive slowly to your destination.

Shifting Without a Clutch 

Normally, you would need a clutch to shift gears, but it is possible to upshift if you really need to. Many people prefer to creep along at a very slow speed to get where they need to be, but if you are determined, you can shift up.

First, speed the vehicle up until it requires a shift. You’ll need to both take your foot off the accelerator and pull the shifter out of gear. The gear must be removed before the car slows at all, otherwise, you will have to start again.

As soon as the shifter moves out of gear, you need to slam it hard into the next gear. Keep holding it forcefully in place until you feel it drop into place. If you miss, you will need to rev the engine in idle and then try to force the shifter into the desired gear while the RPM drops again. You should be prepared for a rather strong jolt.

To shift down, you can either pull the shifter into neutral and use your brakes, or pull the shifter into neutral, then rev the engine to the point where you would normally upshift and then forcibly push the shifter into the lower gear. You may need to repeat this.

As soon as possible, get the clutch fixed, before you ruin your vehicle completely. If you are in need of a specialist to replace the clutch, contact the Gearbox Specialists now.