406oc.co.uk

With the other work I've done on the car recently I've had the front jacked up in the air. Anyhow, with the engine running, the front in the air, handbrake on and car in neutral, the wheels turn very slowly. If I provide resistance to stop them then it does but it requires some force (not a lot, but more than I initially expected). What's causing this - it can't be good surely?

Today I think it's also started to rev quite high in first gear and not go anywhere particularly fast, yet all other gears seem fine. I tried the fourth gear from stationary trick and the car stalled which I always thought was a sign the clutch is ok - but then again what do I know! I really have no idea how the clutch is but it doesn't have a hard life.

Anyway, someone on here is bound to know what's up and as ever any response would be much appreciated. Lets hope its not the clutch (although very likely), I think that'd be too ambitious a project for me at this stage.

this is normal as its the engine turning the lay and main shaft in the gearbox and the diff turning the wheels its nothing to worry bout

The way I test a clutch is to stick a car in 5th at about 20mph and plant my right foot. If the revs don't rise, the clutch is fine. I tend to not start a car with the front jacked up as starting it can vibrate the bodyshell enough to bounce it off whatever it's sat on. I also don't trust 406 handbrakes!

This phenominon [spelling?] is exaserbated [spelling?] by overly viscous oil due to the seasonally low ambient temperatures

The old Renault 5's would spin there fronts like this but really fast

The way I first confirmed my clutch was slipping was to take it to high revs in 3rd (not on UK public highways of course... ), do a fast gearchange into 4th (landing at peak torque) and plant the throttle. Red-line = slipping clutch.

That's a normally aspirated engine though, may not be the best method for turbocharged cars

Climb a steep hill on sustained max. throttle in a high gear, around 2000, (peak torque), RPM. If it's ever going to slip, that'll do it.