Morning all!

I have had my car for nearly 18 months now and it's nearly due a 54k service. Of late, I have noticed that the clutch has become a little slippy, when taking off from a standing start (sympathetically, of course) and when shifting up a gear.

There is no real smell of burning friction material, although about a year ago, I did do some damage to it, conducting a 7 or 9 point turn on a steep hill...

During my weekly wash and/or monthly fluids check I noticed that the clutch fluid is black, rather than the nice golden colour that I would expect.

My questions to the assembled ranks of the great and good are:

1. Do you think that my clutch is fooked?
2. Could it just be that my clutch fluid is cooked?
3. Will bleeding and/or changing the fluid in my clutch improve matters?
4. If the clutch does need replaced, should I go for an OEM unit, or an aftermarket replacement?
5. I have been reliably informed that a clutch change is not easy (sub frames out etc.) Bearing this in mind, should I give it to the Honda main stealer or my local independant?

Things to bear in mind: With a sprog on the way, cash is tight. If the job needs doing, I am not afraid to spend the money, but cannot justify a Mugen clutch with polished, anodised billet aircraft grade aluminium/titanium/gold everything with diamond encrusted knobs on...

I have no plans (atm) to go FI and the rest of the car is bone stock.

I have searched the forum and there is (as always) conflicting information out there...

 

4. Most aftermarket clutches are more difficult to live with on a daily driver. If you have no plans to ever go FI then stick with OEM. Otherwise have a look at the ACT clutch it is only slightly heavier than OEM but good for up to 400bhp.

5. I paid ~

 

Get your clutch replaced Ian...better to do it sooner than later (while the Landy still works!)

It's not uncommon for clutch fluid to go black, it happened on my MX5 without any clutch slipping. I was once told it is the lines/hoses discolour the fluid, not entirely sure how accurate that is though.

If it were me, I'd opt for an OEM item.

 

I take it, it bites quite high?

 

It does indeed bite quite high, to the extent where I was unsure at first whether the residual pressure of my foot on the pedal was what was causing the slippage...

 

In that case i would say it needs replaced soon.

I see you have owned your S for nearly a year so you aware of how the clutch feels, some new owners comment on the high biting point but theres nothing wrong.