sticking clutch/?

[redrunner]

hi, i have a 1993 escort saloon 1600cc , zetec petrol injection engine.
on saturday while in traffick jam i noticed temp guage was higher than it normally is given same circumstances/..it wasnt in critical but was getting that way, anyway i put heater full on hot and blower on full and temp dropped back down to less alarming level.
water level is ok, a bit over the top mark in header tank.
ive yet to check if fan is working ok, and other water related issues.
what i would like advice on is it possible that getting a bit overheated could make clutch slip ?.
the clutch is in good shape , got good grip and wont slip under any test/ -ie- trying to pull of with handbrake on, hill test etc.
but when i got out of traffick jam and was starting to drive on my way as normal, clutch was slipping [ never done it b4 ].... pedal seemed normal not stuck or anythink , cable not sticking either, got to my destination and 3 hrs later drove home and it was ok.
any tips welcome . r.r.

 

[tekkiesteve]

Sounds like you've got a cooling system fault and possibly clutch on its way,was it definately slipping i.e engine revs rising car going nowhere?

 

[redrunner]

yes tekkiesteve, cooling fault i can sort out if i find one/ it didnt actually go to danger zone , but was getting rather on hot side for small traffick jam and given the cold weather at the mo.
the clutch as i said has good solid grip and wont slip whatever i try.
it was ok when cooled down, and after a drive home -10 miles i tried to make it slip , but no chance/ it would just stall engine.
i just thought maybe the heat by chance could have made the clutch tight on its shaft/ . ?.
maybe it was a 1 off, will know more when i can have a good check round ........when its not raining. . will post any update as i go. regards. ps/ sorry yes it was deffinatly slipping , i had to keep in high gear and low revs. r.r.

 

[redrunner]

hi, checked cooling fan out today, shorted connector with a bit of wire/ and fan squeaked into life .very loudly/ so hasnt been going in a long while, took the whole lot out and got some oil into it and it is now ok/ . back to normal.
so untill we get some hot weather, or i get in a real jam up i wont know if swith is ok/ . so will carry a bit of wire just in case, also to stick it back in now and then to give the fan a workout. .
i had got far to much water in as well, so got that down to right level.
as for the clutch slipping / all is ok. .pedal working allright and clutch allright. so will just have to wait and see what happens in the future. regards. r.r.