How do you know your clutch is bad?

[Gonzo911]

I have read here about a test to see if your clutch needs replacing. Basically involves getting the car moving in 2nd or 3rd. Can anyone expand on this for me? What exactly do I look/listen for?

All seems fine, except when shifting from 2nd-3rd the stick seems to engage all by itself (very little pressure on my part to put it in 3rd), but this only happens when driven cold. After a few miles it is fine. It almost feels like it is slipping from 2nd-3rd. Is this a clutch issue or a transmission issue?

Thanks in advance.

[logray]

I'm not 100% positive on this but I believe the idea goes if the clutch disc is worn enough it won't be sticky enough to grab on from a 2nd or 3rd gear start... any slipping will be more noticeable.

Sounds more like the 2nd gear pop out detent issue to me though if it comes out of 2nd so easily and the rest of the gears are OK...

http://www.gboxweb.com/detent.html

If it's just when cold, what type of gbox oil are you running, is it the proper level, and when was the last time it was changed?

[Gonzo911]

Logray...not sure about the gbox oil. Only had the car for 3K miles (51K total). I will check that this afternoon and get back to you. Thanks as usual!

[Gonzo911]

Just looked at the DIY on the gbox oil. Looks like I will be heading to my Indy since I am not that mechanically inclined! A dipstick would have been nice! Thanks again!