Breakdown Problem
Clutch Failure — Pedal to the Floor, No Drive
There are two clutch failures we get called to. One is the pedal going to the floor and staying there — usually hydraulic, sometimes a snapped cable on older cars. The other is the clutch slipping so badly the engine revs climb without the car speeding up. Both end the same way: the vehicle goes on a flatbed.
What you're likely seeing
- Pedal drops to the floor and stays down with no resistance
- Engine revs rise but road speed doesn't — a slipping friction plate
- Burning smell, most noticeable after a hill start or heavy traffic
- Can't select gears at all with the engine running
- Clutch fluid low or a leak at the slave cylinder
Do this before anything else
- 1If you're moving and lose the clutch, you can usually still change gear by matching revs — but don't attempt it in heavy traffic if you're not confident.
- 2If you get it into neutral and coast to a safe stop, leave it there. Trying to start in gear to move it will strain the starter and gearbox.
- 3A burning clutch smell in a tunnel or multi-storey will trigger fire alarms — tell staff what it is.
On a motorway or dual carriageway, ring 999 and ask for National Highways before you call any recovery company. Motorway breakdown advice →
How we move the vehicle
No clutch means no drive, so the car can't be driven onto a flatbed under its own power. Our drivers winch the vehicle on. Whether it's a car or a 3.5t van, that's a straightforward job for us — the important part is telling us on the phone that it's a non-runner so the right unit turns up.
What it costs
Clutch failures are almost always a recovery to a garage rather than a roadside fix. Priced as a standard recovery on distance, agreed before we leave. If your garage is closed, we can deliver out of hours and drop the keys where they ask.
Full recovery cost guideQuestions we get asked
The service you probably need
Other problems we're called to
Tell us what the car is doing
Describe the fault on the phone and we'll tell you honestly whether this is a roadside fix or a recovery — and what it will cost — before a driver leaves.