2007 Subaru Outback revving too much with no power

Subaru Subaru Advice Subaru Outback Subaru Outback Advice Subaru Outback 2007
...

My 2007 Subaru Outback is revving right out and going nowhere, and even changing gears does nothing. If I’m rolling down a hill then, of course, it will pick up speed, but I couldn't reverse it the other day when the front was down on a little slope. My engine peaked out and car went nowhere. After pushing it out, I crept the car home slowly. Is this the clutch gone?

It certainly sounds that way. The clutch’s job is to join the engine to the gearbox while still being able to disconnect them when you need to idle the car or change gears. If the clutch is worn out, you’ll find it slipping under load, allowing the revs to flare up and the vehicle not moving much. This sounds exactly like what you’re describing.

At the least, you’ll need a new clutch unit, but if it’s been slipping for some time, there’s a chance the flywheel has been damaged and will also need to be replaced or machined. I’m tipping that when you tried to reverse out of your parking spot most recently and revved the engine out with no motion from the rest of the car, there was a terrible smell a bit like the smell of brakes in a railway station when a rain pulls in. If so, that’s a clutch failure for sure.

Disclaimer: You acknowledge and agree that all answers are provided as a general guide only and should not be relied upon as bespoke advice. Carsguide is not liable for the accuracy of any information provided in the answers.

Comments

Have a new question for the CarsGuide team?
More than 9,000 questions asked and answered.
Complete guide to Subaru Outback 2007
Complete guide to Subaru Outback 2007 CarsGuide Logo
Reviews, price, specs and more