Life with the Sentra has been quiet since the transmission started to slip out of fifth gear but that wasn’t the only issue. I have always been a little worried about the clutch failing on me since I don’t know exactly how good it is and there is no visible way to check it. The reason I worry so much about it is because I used to drive a 1987 Ford Escort and while I was flying down the Interstate one night, the engine started to scream because the clutch disc had failed.

Thankfully I was able to get the car off the road and a ride home to eventually change it but the experience in all was not something I want to repeat. Because of that, I have not been too excited about driving around too far from home with it or on the faster roadways too much. Despite my fears though, I have some feedback from the car that shows maybe the clutch is still pretty good.

Because I used to drive for the US Postal Service, one rule was if you left your vehicle then you need to set your parking brake. That habit has stayed with me all these years and I will even set the brake on level ground, in my own driveway. There is no chance that the car is going to get away from me however, it has recently provided the opposite effect by preventing me from leaving.

The other day here I had to drive it because my other car has a broken windshield and the sun glare into my eyes is too much to handle some days. The Sentra had been sitting since the last snowfall but started up just as easy as anytime before. When I released the brake and started to drive forward, the car felt sluggish and I kind of felt as if a wheel might be dragging. I tried backing up and going forward again but nothing changed. I set and released the brake again and it still didn’t feel right. My driveway is gravel so I figured if the drum was rust locked, then maybe getting it on the pavement would free it up.

As soon as I got onto the main road the tire was still dragging. I went back to my gravel and rocked it a couple more times before it finally broke loose. Once I was free the car rode normally and has not been a problem since, and yet it got me thinking about that clutch. How bad could it be if I was able to drive it through soft gravel and then on hard asphalt, back and forth, if the clutch was of any concern?

I am just not sure. I guess I want to still baby the car until I can find out for sure. There are some events right now I need to handle first and then maybe I can get some of these major repairs done later this summer. I know I will still get in and drive it but it is good to know that the car still has the power to drag a stuck rear wheel around.