Identifying Signs of a Bad Clutch Cable in a Manual Transmission Vehicle

Learning to do your own auto repair and maintenance is a great way to save a little money while building a useful skill set. Learning to do basic replacements like the clutch cable allows you to handle jobs that do not require specialized equipment or high-risk situations whenever it is convenient for you, instead of waiting for a garage, too.

Common Signs of a Failing Clutch Cable

There are a few signs of a clutch cable that needs to be replaced, and most of them can be observed while you drive. There are a couple indicators that might give you an earlier indication that you need to budget for a new cable if you regularly inspect your vehicle, though.

1. Your transmission slips out of gear
2. The clutch pedal sinks, eventually hitting the floor
3. The clutch is hard and very resistant to movement
4. Visible damage like leaks can be found on the cable

Since there are a few different transmission problems that can cause the first three issues, you should always do an inspection of the part before you order a new cc1201 clutch cable. You might need more parts than that, or even different parts entirely. It’s also important to remember that a hard clutch can break your clutch cable if you force it, because it happens when the cable is jammed. Keep that in mind when you consider how to respond to that symptom when it comes up.

Replacing a Faulty Clutch Cable

If you know how to safely put your car up on jack stands and you have done other work underneath it, changing a clutch cable is not a difficult addition to your repertoire. If you are new to DIY auto maintenance, be sure you understand the best practices for safety when lifting a vehicle with a jack and setting it on jack stands for stability. The basic steps for most cable replacements are simple when compared to major parts like the 43446HD water pump on many diesel rigs.

1. Find the clutch in the driver’s compartment and remove the cotter pin that attaches the cable
2. If there is a bracket securing the cable housing inside the vehicle compartment, remove that too
3. Pull the cable through to the engine compartment
4. Carefully remove brackets as you follow the length of the cable
5. Remove the clutch cable mounting bolts from the clutch fork bracket

That takes the old cable off. Once you have that done, putting the new cable on is a matter of securing those mounting bolts and then re-attaching any anchors or brackets as you run the cable back to the vehicle compartment and secure it to the clutch pedal once again. Video demonstrations that use your model vehicle can be helpful if they are available online.

Where To Find Your New Clutch Cable

It can be hard to head out to an auto parts store if your vehicle is not getting into gear reliably, but there are plenty of options online with fast delivery times and friendly service when you have questions. If you’d trust the store for a new engine water pump, you can trust it to have a basic component like your clutch cable, too. What are you waiting for? It’s time to find your new cable.