S3 Video, is my clutch slipping???

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W14FEN

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Hi Guys,

I thought i'd start a new thread for this as it might help people.

I have an s3 2002 with 75k on the clock. I suspect my clutch is slipping but i'm not 100% sure, so I've done a video to see what everyone reckons!

Here's the video of me flooring my S3 in 3rd gear, my foot is flat to the floor and I don't lift.

http://www.davidwiffen.com/temp/s3/s3.htm

excuse the poor video! I'm not too good at multi tasking.

See how the needle jumps quickly to about 4000rpm and then hesitates, then continues as normal. It's like this in all gears (not that noticable in 1st though), but reacts slightly differently depending on incline of road and passengers.

Can anyone help to identify what this is?
 
Yep, thats clutch slip. You can see how the revs rise to just under 4000rpm but the speed does not rise at the same rate.

Usually you can't physically have the same road speed for different amounts of engine speed in a particular gear due to the wheels being directly connected to the engine via the transmission.
As you are experiencing this, thus it can only be the clutch slipping or wheelspin, I suspect the former.
 
Thanks for your diagnosis chaps!

So is the solution to get a new clutch fitted asap?

Ps. any ideas how long clutches tend to last in this condition b4 they give out?

(I've got 1000 miles looming over xmas and some bad *** hills in mid wales to tackle!)
 
thats definity slipping i had the same problem wiv a S3 52 plate wiv 51k on the clock but be careful mine got worse very quick!!!
 
Had my clutch done a couple of months ago same issue as yours. My S3 is a 2000 model with 70K. Be warned mine got worse quite quickly too plus the more it slips the more likely you are going to damage the flywheel too. the Flywheel is the expensive bit when it comes to changing the clutch so if you can save it, so it does not need to be replaced then you can save some money. Although its very easy to replace the flywheel whilst fitting a new clutch so if you can afford to you may as well change the lot as that is what i did.
 
lol - 22mpg when you started and down to 7mpg as you floored it :D
 
Drive it gently and change it sooner rather than later, if the pressure plate shatters and exits through the bell housing you'll really wish you had changed it earlier!
 
Ok thanks everyone, I'll nurse her over xmas and then get the clutch changed asap in Jan.

Next thing:
I have a soft thumping / banging sound coming from the front of the car, or maybe underneath only when doing over 40 mph. It's rhythmic and speeds up with the speed of the car. It's still there when the clutch pedal is down, and isnt related to the revs. Its almost like going over cats eyes, but not as loud. It kinda sounds like putting your trainers in a washing machine, thumping everytime it rotates. It's a heavy sound.

It kinda waves in and out on country roads, but when it's there it's a consistent banging.

It doesnt show itself when trundling around town. It starts baning 40+ mph.

Could this be related to my clutch slipping?
 
Mr Wiffen you have a very problematic S3 it would seem.
 
Had a banging on an old golf just like this. Thought it was a inner cv, but turned out to be a duff diff. Hopefully thats not the case for you.
 
Tell me about it!...it was fine about 2 months ago when I bought it, and now everything is going wrong!

Is there anyway to identify whether its the inner CV or diff?

Any tests or classic symptoms.

Ps. Really thinking of getting rid of it, too much blooming hassle! Just put my private plate on it, so that makes things more awkward. D'oh!
 
Also i'm not too clued up on what either an inner CV or diff are? or cost to fix?

Don't suppose this would be related to my clutch slip issue would it?

I also have had the cam belt and haldex done about 3 months ago. Just to give you more to go on.

Thanks Guys
 
Is there anyway this intermittent thumping / banging sound could be related to my clutch slipping?

They both have developed at the same time roughly, which makes me think they are related. Could it be the flywheel?

Or is it likely I have 2 problems at once?
 
If it was the clutch causing the noise I would expect the sound to change with engine speed.

Since you say it is related to road speed, then I suspect something in the drive train. Don't get worried about diff issues just yet, I would look at CV joints or wheel bearings, though bearings tend to hum, but perhaps getting the car in the air and checking for anything loose would be a good start.
 
just thinking mine did this on thwe motorway from 3 - 4 k the same. Road was damp and my tyres where worn down.

Car was fine going through the gears and on launch starts ????

got new rubber on the front now so going to try it again after xmas fingers crossed it was wheel spin lol

but would the esp light have come on in this case for wheel spin ????
 
Update on the clutch slip:

Just done 300 miles and my clutch slip issue seems to have disappeared!!!

Maybe the clutch had 'glazed' up with the cold weather and short journeys i do. I havent seen any hint of it coming back, so fingers crossed.

Is it possible the clutch plate could have glazed up and just needed a good run out?
 
Update #2:

Done another 300 miles home and the slipping problem is back....gutted!

Maybe it never went away and it just seemed to be ok on the roads i was testing it on.

Strange though, when I noticed the slipping getting bad i tried switching ESP off and then on again and instantly it seemed to improve the over rev / slip problem. The prob is still there but it seems like if you switch the ESP on and off it makes it better for a while.

Is this just a crazy coincidence?

any help would be very much appreciated.
 
I think you might need to get it booked in at the garage mate.
You gonna go for a standard or uprated clutch?
 
Think I will go for standard, as no plans to get it mapped or anything.

Also I think i'm gonna live with it as it is for a while as I only do city driving day to day so sont even experience the problem.
 
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