Your Pontiac clutch is made up of three major parts: the flywheel, disc and pressure plate. The Pontiac clutch works to help the engine's spinning parts engage - or disengage - with the turning wheels. The clutch acts to join or disconnect the transmission from the car's wheels, and is activated by the pressure of your foot on the pedal. That pressure pushes the pressure plate against the disc, which then presses against the flywheel. All that pressure and heat among those components will eventually lead to their deterioration. At that point, you will begin to feel and hear signs that your Pontiac clutch is failing. You might struggle to release the clutch, or notice slipping, 'chattering,' or hideous screeching. Sometimes the car will flat out refuse to move at all when the Pontiac clutch is dying. Before the noise begins, there might have been some early signs that the Pontiac clutch is failing: poor gas mileage. When you go up hills, you need to downshift more often. When you accelerate or start moving from a stop, the engine sounds like it is revving up. There's no more pedal 'free play' when you adjust the clutch, and the clutch pedal feels stiff and is harder to press down. These signs are indications that your Pontiac clutch has finally been worn down by the twin forces of friction and heat.