Does my Toyota Aygo have a clutch problem?
My car has done approx 40,000 miles. It drives okay in normal weather but in the heatwave with the air con on it struggled to go up slopes, especially if they were also around a corner. I am 80 and on benefits and terrified of costs. I have been given conflicting advice. One garage says I need a new clutch at £500+, another test drove it and said that the Aygo engine is very small and the air con takes some of the power and there’s nothing wrong with it, another said the clutch needs adjusting. Google seems to support the idea that little Aygos don’t cope well with air con. Can you please advise before I use all my savings on a new clutch please?
Asked on 10 June 2026 by Noura
Answered by
David Ross
Smaller engined cars such as the Aygo can suffer from a reduction in power when using the air conditioning, so it may struggle to a degree in hot weather with the air conditioning in use. However, if the clutch is worn we would expect this to be evident all of the time, not just in hot weather. If the car drives normally when not in use, with no clutch smell when pulling away (a slightly burnt smell is typical) then there should be no issue. If you are unsure and need a second opinion, we would suggest taking your car to an independent Toyota specialist who inspect the car and a short test drive should reveal if there is an issue with the clutch.
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