[TRobinson6]

i know this will vary with everyone but what do you think the average life of a clutch is?

consider this....how to get a longer life from your clutch if you use the paddles alot. ever heard of speed shifting with a manual transmission. thats when you shift gears without letting up on the throttle....if you think about it every time you upshift that is what you are doing. learn to let up on the throttle (like you do with a manual transmission) when upshifting and it will help to increase the clutch life.....every little bit adds up.

 

[jimvw57]

I would think that a computer controlling the shifting and clutch usage would give the optimum clutch life. My 2009 had 146,000 before it developed motor problems, clutch was fine.

Next question will be if using turn signals affects the life of the bulbs...

 

[TRobinson6]

the computer does not lower the RPMs when you shift. watch the tach and notice the RPMs stay up until after the shift. when you drove a standard transmission car you would let up on the gas then shift. the computer does not do that henceforth how could it control the clutch life. but if 146000 is good for a clutch than who wants to let up. i was thinking maybe 50 to 60k was the life and by letting up on the gas could stretch it a little more.

what kind of engine problem did you have?

 

[Huronlad]

Every smart I have driven does a pretty good job of rev matching. If the OP is experiencing something different there must be something wrong with their car.

 

[SmartDigger]

102K on mine with no iussues

 

[TRobinson6]

sounds likr i have no worries about clutch longevity

thanks guys

 

[jimvw57]

the computer does not lower the RPMs when you shift. watch the tach and notice the RPMs stay up until after the shift. when you drove a standard transmission car you would let up on the gas then shift. the computer does not do that henceforth how could it control the clutch life. but if 146000 is good for a clutch than who wants to let up. i was thinking maybe 50 to 60k was the life and by letting up on the gas could stretch it a little more.

what kind of engine problem did you have?

Ended up with low compression on one cylinder. sold the car so I can't say what the cause was, I am not in a good position to tear down a motor and repair it myself. I would be working under the shade of a 75 ft tall pine tree in the back yard. Only option was to sell and pick up another one (which I did).

 

[Rustedwrench]

A clutch wears an insignificant amount when the car is being driven. The most wear occurs when taking off from a stop or when creeping forward at a crawl. Don't be creeper.

 

[Miss Mercedes]

the computer does not lower the RPMs when you shift. watch the tach and notice the RPMs stay up until after the shift.

The computer rev matches to the next gear before giving you power. I drive 100% in Manual Mode in my 451 and it's sitting at about 122,000 miles right now. When I upshift, I usually lose about 1k RPM between the gears.

Only problem with my tranny is with the clutch actuator, which throws a CEL once every 6 months for some reason. Though, since I'm not driving the car as much, don't think I've seen a transmission related CEL in over a year.