Help! Clutch failing or something else?

[MrHatchWagon]

Here's my question, or rather my situation:

Car is a 2004 Vibe base with the 5MT, at 205000 km's. No aftermarket modifications to the drivetrain.

Some time last week, my dad called me telling me my clutch was slipping and likely going bad. The car would rev but the speed wouldn't go up, a symptom typical to a worn-out clutch. Now, I drove it for a few days and it was in fact slipping when I gave it more gas right after shifting, in the low rpm's. Say at 1500-2000 rpm in 3rd, 4th and 5th.

Here's the strange thing.. Today, there was no slippage at all. I tried to get the symptoms to show again in 3rd, 4th and 5th, seeing if it would slip, but it didn't. I'm wondering, could something else have caused failure-like symptoms? Or is this just normal, maybe the clutch is just starting to go or something?

Do our cars have a cable clutch or a hydraulic clutch? Could it just need adjustment, or could it be a hydraulic issue? I find it really strange that one day the clutch would be slipping, while the next it was 100% fine. I want to avoid the $500 repair fee if at all possible.

Thanks for your information.

[trb]

It could be on it's way out, and the temperature could cause a difference in the slippage. One thing on my Mustang, if it is going out, I know it because of the torque. Try putting it in first, and then slow down to almost a stop without disengaging the clutch. It should pretty promptly kill the motor when the RPMs get bogged down low if it is good. If the RPMs jump up and down a bit and then it eventually dies, then it is slipping.

[SeattleJeremy]

Our cars have a hydraulic clutch.
I bet your clutch was a bit glazed by your dad's use, then after sometime the glaze wore off. I had that happen when the dealer did the ECU recall. If in a few days it's still good, then there is no need to worry

[MrHatchWagon]

Thanks for the info both of you, I'll keep an eye open for it and try what trb said. If everything's in order, I'll just be careful and keep a watchful eye to make sure there's no future deterioration.

[MrHatchWagon]

I tried your first gear trick, trb, as well as putting it in 5th with the e-brake on and releasing the clutch. It died right away so I figure the clutch is grabbing okay. I also tried flooring it in 4th/5th with the rpm between 1500 and 2000 with no slippage, and it's been pretty cold out these past few days. Tried going high into the rev range, no slipping there either. I'm attributing this one to freak circumstances, and hoping it doesn't happen again. It's been a few days now with no unusual clutch behavior so I'll wait and see if it ever acts up again.

You may have been right about the glazing, a few days ago it slipped exactly once and it was just a ~200 rpm jump, before it returned to normal and never slipped again. Had the car up on a lift today as well, no apparent leaks anywhere around the transmission, not even the odd drop, so I figure there aren't any fluids leaking on my clutch.

I have to say I'm relieved about it being alright. I feel like I'm driving with a sword over my head because of the '04 5-speed, because people talk about it like a ticking time bomb, and I don't want to have any trans work done unless it lets go so I can replace it with a c60.

[trb]

That is good news. Maybe your car just doesn't like others driving it, and that was it's way of letting you know!

I had one clutch fail completely due to bad valve cover gaskets. I didn't know oil would get past the bellhousing. Oil soaked the clutch disc after only about 24,000 miles. It was so bad, I could not drive it up ANY incline without someone pushing the car too! Now I seal the bellhousing with RTV silicone so nothing can get in.