Diagnosing Clutch Faults (VAZ-21061)

Cause of malfunction	Method of elimination
The clutch is slipping (does not turn on completely) When you press the accelerator pedal sharply, the engine revs up, but the car barely accelerates (this is especially noticeable when driving uphill); you may smell the odor of overheated friction linings; fuel consumption increases
Oiling of the flywheel, pressure plate, friction linings of the driven disk	Wash the oily surfaces thoroughly with white spirit or gasoline and wipe them dry. Replace a heavily oiled driven disk. Eliminate the cause of the oiling (oil leak through engine and/or gearbox seals)
Severe wear or burning of the friction linings of the driven disk	Replace the slave disk assembly
Reducing the force of the diaphragm spring	Replace the pressure plate assembly with the housing (clutch "basket")
The clutch master cylinder piston slowly returns to its original position due to swelling of the rubber seals	Replace the seals or the cylinder assembly. If you suspect gasoline or other solvents have entered the clutch fluid, replace it
The clutch is leading (does not turn off completely) It is difficult to shift forward gears, reverse gear is engaged with noise. The gearbox is in good condition.
Incorrect adjustment of the clutch drive (pedal travel is too small)	Adjust the drive. Replace the deformed clutch fork
Air got into the hydraulic drive system (the pedal is "soft")	Bleed the system, tighten the connections
Loose rivets or broken friction linings, warping of the driven disk (end runout more than 0.5 mm)	Replace the disk
Severe and uneven wear, scoring on the working surfaces of the flywheel or pressure plate	Turn or replace the flywheel. If the surface of the pressure plate is damaged, replace the housing with the pressure plate assembly (clutch "basket")
Misalignment or warping of the pressure plate	Replace the housing with the pressure plate assembly (clutch "basket")
Seizure of the driven disk hub on the splines of the gearbox input shaft	Clean the splines from dirt, remove minor damage with a file. In case of significant wear or damage to the splines, replace the disc and/or the primary shaft of the gearbox. Before assembly, apply SHRUS-4 grease to the splines
The release bearing is jammed	Replace the bearing
Severe wear of the diaphragm spring petals at the point of contact with the release bearing	Replace the housing with the pressure plate assembly (clutch "basket")
The clutch does not disengage (the pedal "falls through")
The clutch release fork is severely deformed or broken	Replace the fork
Air in the hydraulic drive system	Bleed the system, tighten the connections
The clutch does not disengage (the pedal "falls through"). The clutch can only be briefly engaged by pressing the pedal sharply
Severe wear, defects of the master cylinder mirror; dirt in the cylinder	Clean or replace the cylinder. Whenever you service it, you should also replace its seals
Worn or defective cuff	Replace the seals or the cylinder assembly
Jerks when starting off
Seizure of the driven disk hub on the splines of the gearbox input shaft	Clean the splines from dirt, remove minor damage with a file. In case of significant wear or damage to the splines, replace the disc and/or the primary shaft of the gearbox. Before assembly, apply SHRUS-4 grease to the splines
Deformation of the driven disk	Replace the slave disk
Loose fastening of the friction linings of the driven disk, severe wear or cracks on the linings	Replace the slave disk
Loss of elasticity of the spring plates of the driven disk	Replace the slave disk
Significant subsidence or breakage of the torsional vibration damper springs, wear of the windows under the springs	Replace the slave disk
Scoring on the working surfaces of the flywheel or pressure plate	Replace the flywheel or clutch housing with the pressure plate assembly (clutch "basket")
Rattling, knocking or noise when engaging the clutch
Significant subsidence or breakage of the torsional vibration damper springs, wear of the windows under the springs	Replace the slave disk
Deformation of the driven disk	Replace the slave disk
Loose fastening of the friction linings of the driven disk, severe wear or cracks on the linings	Replace the slave disk
Rattling, knocking or noise when engaging the clutch
Worn, damaged or lacking lubrication of the release bearing	Replace the bearing
Clutch pedal creaking
The plastic pedal bushings are not lubricated	Lubricate the bushings with Litol-24 or SHRUS-4
The plastic pedal bushings are badly worn	Replace the bushings, lubricate them with Litol-24 or SHRUS-4 before installation
After releasing the clutch pedal, it does not return to its original position
Air in the hydraulic drive system	Bleed the system, tighten the connections
The pedal return spring has lost its elasticity or is broken	Replace the spring