does anyone know how to test if there clutch is slipping? the ST is going into the dealers for its cortesy check on sat might mentionit to them! i have a funney squeeling noise when i start from cold! the dealer told me that if it was still doing it when the check was due i should mention it! i think the 2 could be linked??

Just accelerate hard to see if the clutch is slipping. You'll pull away slowly with the engine revs going up.

With the squealing noise from cold start, where is a from? does it change pitch with the engine speed? Does it happen when driving or just on idle?

no it does it when i start from cold! it squeels for about 2 seconds then goes away! but it will only do it once! like there is a lack of oil somwhere cos if you switch it off strait away n start it wont happen again!

Doubtful that the squealing and a clutch slippage coulbe be linked. A slipping slutch usually makes no noise. I'd assign the squeaking more to a badly greased pulley or a slipping belt, especially it it disappears soon after startup and when the car warms up.

Regarding checking if the clutch slips, drive it in 2dn gear at about 3500 RPM (near max torque) along a preferably deserted long straight and floor it but keep your left foot on the break to prevent the car from accellerating. If the revs go up then the clutch is slipping.

Some people prefer the hand-brake check but I prefer the steady speed driving test (as mentioned above) as the hand-brake check usually ends with a stall (if the clutch does not slip).

funney you should mention the slipping belt as i had a root around in the engine bay the other day and noticed that one off the belt rotars had quite a bit of wear on it for only 3000 miles! it's going in on saturday for it's first check neway so ill point it out!