Hi there.

As the title states, I am having this problem where the clutch burns and stinks so bad I think my cars on fire.

In heavy traffic on the way home, the road is going a little uphill. The traffic moves to slow to drive with the clutch fully released, so I drive for a while at a time with the fuel pedal and clutch, working it so I gently move forward with the traffic.

I have been driving Manual cars for 15 Years, and always drive this way in heavy very slow moving traffic.

Now my question is simply

Does this buring smell happen to everyone when driving their 350Z exactly as I have described?

A simple yes or no will do fine.

My car is only a few weeks old, and I dont think it should be happening.
Ive driven lots and lots of cars this way before without burning the clutch so that it smells so bad.

If I get the clutch replaced under warranty will this problem go away, I really find it hard to live with.

Thanks

Odin

 

it should happen but you can always wait a little longer so you can get a longer stretch to move before you go. this'll save ur clutch more

 

i had that smell, then my clutch gave out when I wasnt even past 3k rpms
though the dealership said it was cause of the smell of a protective spray coating on the tranny.....didn't smell like it

edit* watch out though, I'm having problems with my dealership because they're saying since a clutch is a wear and tear item, it wont be covered if it is burnt out....which is really stupid

 

Yeah, and loose my place in the queue

 

Then, no.

 

clutch will not be replaced under warranty; it is a wear item and pretty much anything that happens to it is driver fault.

You can drive amazingly slow in 1st with the clutch fully released; in fact, of flat pavement, if you release the pedal very slowly, you can let it up without giving the car any gas pedal and it will idle forward similar to how an auto trans does. Little trickier going up a slight hill, but you should be ableto work the gas well enough to keep the clutch engaged and do a slow roll. Otherwise, be ready to buy a new clutch.

 

odin what year is your Z?

 

No. You should never smell the clutch. It either indicates a problem with your driving or a problem with the clutch (most likely in this case).

Did you follow the break-in procedures? Are you done with break-in yet? How have you been driving for the most part?

Does the clutch slip at all?

 

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Lots of questions thanks.

Its a brand new 2006 Model car. Still breaking in only 2 weeks in use.
About 1200km, 400-500 Miles.

For the most part I have been driving nicely. Not going over 4000 rpm.
Occasional faster acceleration to about 6000 rpm. Havent pushed her flat out.

Not sure what slipping the clutch means.

But I dont have the clutch fully released and have the car's revs close to idling as possible, then slowly release the clutch till the car starts moving.
I will HOLD the car on one place with the clutch and the car basically idling, then when traffic flows again, I will slowly release the clutch a little bit more to start moving again. I dont know if this means slipping the clutch.

Ive driven all my cars like this in very heavy traffic flow, ofcourse I do try to limit this, like I dont always do this, if I can maintain a very slow speed with the clutch fully released I do. But when I cant I dont.

This tends to be about 50% of my moving forward slowly is done while in first gear and using the clutch to move forward and hold the car inplace without using the brake or handbrake.

Again, I say Ive driven all my cars like this, and found this car to be the first that cant HANDLE this kind of what O consider light clutch use in heavy traffic, I dont reve the engine when using this method of driving in heavy tarffic.

About the warrantly Issue, I found the dealer today, and they are willing to replace the clutch under warrantly if I bring it in and they determine there is a problem with the clutch. Whether they find a problem with the clutch is another story though.

Thanks for the replies so far.

I dont think the clutch should behave this way.

cheers

O

 

take a different route? LOL .. but hey.. it may add more miles but might save you money on a new clutch also you get to drive your Z faster..

 

good catch vince & mustgofastr

after reading a little closer it does sound like maybe he is slipping the clutch too much.....i kinda skipped over that part... although it's not unheard of to have brand new clutches malfunction from faulty workmanship...

You *do not* drive around with the clutch partially released. Either you have it in or out. There is no in between(unless you like destroying clutches). If traffic is not moving fast enough you either push the clutch in and coast, or you stop and wait to get enough room to engage the clutch completely move forward for a bit before disengaging the clutch.

 

Sorry you posted before I saw your reply.

That is exactly what slipping the clutch is.. That's why you smell your clutch burning. This doesn't sound like a faulty clutch to me. Improper driving practices.

I suggest the first thing you do is go to howstuffworks.com and learn exactly what a clutch is and how it works. Once you understand what it is and how it works you will understand why you should never do that. That's what the hand brake is for.

 

Thanks for the reply but I dont appreciate the tone you are using with me.

Firstly I have had too many cars to mention on here, all manuals, all with clutches. I have always driven this way, why should this car be any different.
Ive alwsy known its not "good" for a clutch, but it shoudlnt burn out and smell like its on fire from using the clutch this way.

Plus its kinda difficult to coast uphill going in a forward direction.

My question was not related to how a clutch works or how to drive a bloody car.

I simply wanted to know if this is happening to other people who drive this way with their 350Z.

So why not keep your comments constratuctive instead of preaching.

Thank you.

O

 

Why change your tune ?
In this post you say it should not smell.

Then you tell me I cant drive and need to goto howstuffworks.com???

Whatever man

 

Well you should appreciate it, I'm only trying to help you. I wasn't being condescending. If you understood how a clutch works you would already know why you shouldnt do that. I didn't mean to offend you.

I'm also a professional driver. Just because you've done it with other cars doesn't make it right. Once again, when you learn more about how clutches work, you will understand why.

Yes it should. If you haven't noticed a smell in other cars that doesn't mean you weren't putting a tremendous amount of wear and tear on the clutch. The fact you can smell it in your Z is a good thing - it's telling you that you aren't using it correctly. Holding your car is not what a clutch is designed for. That's what your brakes are for. By holding the car with the clutch you are forcing the friction surfaces together yet not letting them mesh up and spin at the same speed. This generates an enormous amount of heat. Clutches are not designed to absorb loads of heat like your brakes are.

Agreed. You should then engage the clutch, move forward for as long as possible and then disengage the clutch and come to a stop. Use the hand brake to hold the car.

It most certainly was considering you aren't driving correctly and obviously don't understand how a clutch works.

I'm certain it does happen to other people who drive that way. However, it will not happen to people who know how to properly operate a manual transmission. I have +30k on my Z and I have never smelled the clutch once.

Constructive? If that's not constructive, I don't know what is. I'm not preching. I could care less if you murder your clutch. I was simply trying to help.

You're welcome.

Read my posts.

"It either indicates a problem with your driving or a problem with the clutch (most likely in this case)."

"after reading a little closer it does sound like maybe he is slipping the clutch too much.....i kinda skipped over that part... although it's not unheard of to have brand new clutches malfunction from faulty workmanship..."

I'm telling you that you need to learn how to drive and quit being a jackass to people trying to help you. I'll school your *** in more ways than one.

 

Hey Roast buddy.
Once again, please stop telling me know a clutch works, ok?
I can go to howstuffworks for that.

I simply wanted to know if other 350Z drivers out there experience the same thing I am.

Why turn this into an education class?.

I dont care if I damage the clutch, driving like I want to.
I dont care if it shouldt not be driven this way.

Again I say, all I wanted to know if what happens to me happens to others people out there.

Is it like 9/10 people or like 1/10 people. According to me the clutch should take more wear and tear by being used like this, however it should not burn up and die like ive just reved her up to 7000rpm and slipped the clutch for 5 seconds.

I wish people would just read posts and answer questions as they were aksed, and stop being condescending as you were.

 

Clutch Burning - Heavy Traffic - Happen to everyone? Advice Please.

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No, never happened. I use hand brake on steep uphill and I totally agree with Roast.

 

Not sure what that means? You want to beat me up now or something?
Or simply claiming to know more than me?
Either way, again being condescending.

 

Thanks for the reply, but again, my question was not answered.
If you dont drive the car by slipping the clutch using low revs then you cant answer my question.

My question is when driving slowly forward under low revs load, does your clutch burn and smell to hell and high water?

If you dont drive this way, fine, good for you, but many drivers do, and I hapen to be one of them.

.....Yes..I am a clutch slipper.....

I might need to see my therapist about it.

ok fine.

But please can someone answer my direct question...please!