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By *harpDressed Man OP Man
over a year ago
Here occasionally, but mostly somewhere else |
Having spent a couple of happy hours pirouetting my car around in the snow this week, I now have a burning smell.
I think its the clutch, and obviously am going to get it checked, but my question is "do clutches recover?"
Everything I can find online gives criteria to tell if one's clutch is buggered, but I have none of those symptoms - it still works fine, the car just stinks 
I get that a clutch has a finite life and mine is now shorter than it was, but in the absence of other symptoms, how problematic is the smell?
Of course it may be that I just need an air freshener... |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Clutches are a bit like brakes, they wear. If you’ve been slipping it a lot it will wear faster and it can burn a bit if it gets hot and they do fucking stink.
If the smell persists you’ve probably fucked it. Did it drive ok? Gear changes ok? No slipping when pulling away?
But In answer to your question, does it recover? No.
And as for the peddle dropping to the floor nonsense above, that would only happen is the cable snaps or possibly if the hydraulic system fails. Not a clutch symptom. |
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Do yourself a favour go round all wheels and bang off the snow and salt on them.
You can have both a clutch smell but also the clutch pressure plate smell.
More so prone if someone didnt do both changes on the clutch last time it got changed.
Brakes could be sticking on so may need a knock off.
Then try from there. |
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By *harpDressed Man OP Man
over a year ago
Here occasionally, but mostly somewhere else |
"Did it drive ok? Gear changes ok? No slipping when pulling away?
But In answer to your question, does it recover? No.
"
No symptoms whatsoever, should have put that in the first post.
Thank you for the confirmation. Off to the bank manager  |
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"Clutches are a bit like brakes, they wear. If you’ve been slipping it a lot it will wear faster and it can burn a bit if it gets hot and they do fucking stink.
If the smell persists you’ve probably fucked it. Did it drive ok? Gear changes ok? No slipping when pulling away?
But In answer to your question, does it recover? No.
And as for the peddle dropping to the floor nonsense above, that would only happen is the cable snaps or possibly if the hydraulic system fails. Not a clutch symptom. "
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By *harpDressed Man OP Man
over a year ago
Here occasionally, but mostly somewhere else |
"Do yourself a favour go round all wheels and bang off the snow and salt on them.
You can have both a clutch smell but also the clutch pressure plate smell.
More so prone if someone didnt do both changes on the clutch last time it got changed.
Brakes could be sticking on so may need a knock off.
Then try from there."
Thanks
The clutch has never been changed (It's a four year old car, which doesn't mean it's impossible to wear it out, it wouldn't be as likely).
Brakes and wheels have no snow, and after this morning, no salt either - just hosed it all down, including the underside.
It's sitting outside with the windows wide open. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Did it drive ok? Gear changes ok? No slipping when pulling away?
But In answer to your question, does it recover? No.
No symptoms whatsoever, should have put that in the first post.
Thank you for the confirmation. Off to the bank manager "
If you stick it in second with the hand brake on, put about 2000 revs on the engine and try and pull away, it it pulls against the handbrake and the revs drop it’s fine. If the engine keeps going when you take the foot off the clutch, it’s buggered. But if it’s driving ok, it’ll be ok. (Will need to be on a non Oct road though)
It’ll stop smelling. Probably just got a bit of a build up on it. |
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By *oo32Man
over a year ago
tipperary |
"Having spent a couple of happy hours pirouetting my car around in the snow this week, I now have a burning smell.
I think its the clutch, and obviously am going to get it checked, but my question is "do clutches recover?"
Everything I can find online gives criteria to tell if one's clutch is buggered, but I have none of those symptoms - it still works fine, the car just stinks
I get that a clutch has a finite life and mine is now shorter than it was, but in the absence of other symptoms, how problematic is the smell?
Of course it may be that I just need an air freshener..."
Could the burning smell be the brakes? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Did it drive ok? Gear changes ok? No slipping when pulling away?
But In answer to your question, does it recover? No.
No symptoms whatsoever, should have put that in the first post.
Thank you for the confirmation. Off to the bank manager
If you stick it in second with the hand brake on, put about 2000 revs on the engine and try and pull away, it it pulls against the handbrake and the revs drop it’s fine. If the engine keeps going when you take the foot off the clutch, it’s buggered. But if it’s driving ok, it’ll be ok. (Will need to be on a non Oct road though)
It’ll stop smelling. Probably just got a bit of a build up on it. "
. It may have been your crutch burning and not your clutch - may explain burning rubber smell -poosibbly- sort of !!!! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Did it drive ok? Gear changes ok? No slipping when pulling away?
But In answer to your question, does it recover? No.
No symptoms whatsoever, should have put that in the first post.
Thank you for the confirmation. Off to the bank manager
If you stick it in second with the hand brake on, put about 2000 revs on the engine and try and pull away, it it pulls against the handbrake and the revs drop it’s fine. If the engine keeps going when you take the foot off the clutch, it’s buggered. But if it’s driving ok, it’ll be ok. (Will need to be on a non Oct road though)
It’ll stop smelling. Probably just got a bit of a build up on it. . It may have been your crutch burning and not your clutch - may explain burning rubber smell -poosibbly- sort of !!!!"
My first thought was handbrake but think that because I use to often drive away with mine on!  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Drop into 4th/5th gear at low speed and depress the accelerator pedal about halfway. If the engine revs increase with no noticeable acceleration, your clutch is on it's way out. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Clutches are designed to have a much longer life these days. For example, modern Ford clutches can last up to around 140,000 miles before needing a change, but, as with all things like this, it all depends on how you use it and if you abuse it.
If you spend a lot of time riding the clutch, sitting at the light on the bite point and letting it slip a lot, it will wear out a lot faster.
Usually you will know that it's time to get it changed if it starts to slip when fully engaged - and it doesn't take very long from this point to when it fails completely, so the moment you notice it starting to slip is when you should get it changed.
If you've been revving the nuts off your engine while slipping the clutch, it will give off a burning smell, but unless you keep doing it, all you'll have done is shorten it's life and not killed it completely.
If in doubt, have it checked, but to be fair, the process of checking it isn't far off of the process to change it - as the gearbox will have to come out and the pressure plate removed for inspection - so will cost about the same as to replace it - minus the cost of any parts. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Always check for the obvious first to rule them out ie. fluids topped up?
Clutch fluid? Heard it all now "
Some vehicles have a hydraulic system to operate the clutch rather than a cable.
My Mondeo is one such vehicle.
Usually the clutch system shares the same reservoir as the brakes |
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By *harpDressed Man OP Man
over a year ago
Here occasionally, but mostly somewhere else |
"Always check for the obvious first to rule them out ie. fluids topped up?
Er...
(off to google)"
Ffs!
Apparently, I'm best off checking the fluid while the engine is running...
....and I need to remove the entire air filter intake and filter to get to it!
Sod that, it'll wait for a professional.
Thanks for all the answers though. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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if its the clutch it will need replacing , shop around on internet , that big auction site etc etc for best prices etc
sometimes mr clutch is resonable
of course check first its not the handbrake sticking and the smell is not the brakes
youll know if its the clutch as the car will rev high and not be full power in the gears
some people test it by handbrake on , put in first gear , and try pull away slowly and gently , if she stalls clutch is biting / stoke possibly working ok .
if pedal comes up high and she revs clutch is slipping and needs replacing
if you do the clutch do clutch plate and bearings as well,any seals etc check gearbox oil level |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Always check for the obvious first to rule them out ie. fluids topped up?
Er...
(off to google)
Ffs!
Apparently, I'm best off checking the fluid while the engine is running...
....and I need to remove the entire air filter intake and filter to get to it!
Sod that, it'll wait for a professional.
Thanks for all the answers though."
older cars clutches have air locks and need bleeding
clutch chamber is always acceisible without removing other parts as are all top up chambers , ie windscreen washers , power steering fluid etc etc |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Drop into 4th/5th gear at low speed and depress the accelerator pedal about halfway. If the engine revs increase with no noticeable acceleration, your clutch is on it's way out."
 |
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... don't do modern cars! Who knew 
