lately I have been getting a horrible smell out of my car at some points (kind of like burning rubber but not really). it started a few weeks a go. But I had just pulled some crap out of my engine bay (possible a mouse nest ) and i thought that remnants of that that had melted. last night i was turning on to a highway and punched it, im not 100% but i think the clutch sliped also. Alittle bit later the smell got pulled in throught the heat and I smelled it pretty bad. I got to my friends house and when i got out it smelled even worst. I heard somewhere that if you let go of your clutch slowly without giving it any gas and it starts moving your clutch is still good. I tried this and I started to move froward but then the smell came again. it didn't slip at all that i could tell.
Any thought?
thanks

 

take u car for a spin, get into 5th at about 40 mph and then punch it in 5th, see if the clutch slips, if it does, time for a new one :

 

go on a steep high, stop completly, and go in first... do the tires spin...also if it smells like new brakes and your brakes are not new/down to the metal... it is a good possibility you clutch is shot, on the bright side it is an excuse to get a racing clutch like exedy or act

 

I tried the 40 in 5th thing and it didn't do anything.

As for the second idea are you saying to try to burn out on a hill?
Do i drop the clutch or just get it into gear then punch it?
What do I look for, is burning out good or bad?

My brakes are getting down there. I checked them about 1500 miles a go and they still had a little bit left till the metal tab. I don't hear squeeling, but its got to be close.

 

no your not trying to burn out just accelerate normal, but if the clutch is slipping your tires will burn out because the clutch is graping in a pulsating motion causing less power at the wheels=burnout (means clutch could be slipping).also just get on it really good, if you feel a power loss, thats also another sign, however your clutch might not be that ruined yet...

 

Put your car in 4th or 5th, and floor it.. if it accelerates normally, your clutch is fine... if the RPM's shoot up and it slips a little before it starts to accelerate, time for that clutch.. Thats the way I tested my friends 240sx...

 

Tried starting on a hill Nothing
Tried Going 40 in 5th on flat ground- Nothing
Tried Going 40 in 5th on a hill-Nothing

The hidious smell is still there

I am now guessing its not the clutch
Is there anything else that might make the smell?

thanks

 

Check your e-brake to see if its releaseing fully

 

How do I do that?


I took it out for a spin again, tried the 40 in 5th again- nothing
I decided to go woot and see what happened. I rounded a corner in first goin onto a 50mph zone. When I stomped it I was goin 10-15mph I don't think I spun and if i did it wasn't much, but then I just redlined really fast, when I shifted in to second it stayed close to redline, third was also close then I went 4th for a bit then right into 5th.
I didn't smell anything till I got into my garage, it was then same smell, It smells almost electrical but has a hint of burning rubber.

Any thoughts?

 

I was talking to comeone today and they said the clutch was prob. glazed over, witch is when the ceramic of the clutch actually melts. This would account for the smell and the occasioanl slipping.
any thoughts?

Also how hard is it to change the clutch?
Cost from dealer or self-done?
If anyone has a link or directions they would be gratly apreciated

 

BUMP
anyone?

 

I heard of that happening before, where the clutch gets glazed. For the next 500 or so miles, don't EVER push your car hard, and baby the clutch and try not to feather the clutch to much. This happened to a friend of mine and thats how he fixed it

 

Sure, there are all kinds of things under the hood that get extremely hot. If the mouse dropped things or pooped in the vicinity of these hot parts, you're going to smell the funk.


Dave

 

Glazing your clutch or buring it up one good time can make the smell linger around for a while since its trying to reseat itself onto the flywheel. It happened to me once on my old clutch and the smell was around for a few weeks. Give it some time and see what happens. I bet you may have hotspotted the flywheel too.

 

Thanks for all the replys. I am smelling the clutch less and less, it still slips a little but I will wait and see.

today before I read this I wanted to still see if it would do it so I went woot from about 15 mph. my brake light turned on just after I shifted into second. I thought I hit the ebrake but I cheched it and I didn't It stayed on the remaining mile to my home. I recently bought brake fluid and tranny fluid after talking to my local autoparts dealer (checker auto). He told me to check my clutch slave cylender and I think my brakes a a little low. I will check this tonight yet its already 11:00 but i got to get to school tomm so....

also how do I check if my ebrake is disengaging corectly?

 

Jack the back end up and spin the wheels. Another easier way is to see if you can push it easily when in neutral. Most of the time the brake light goes off when the handle is all the way down since the switch for the light is on the handle itself. The light can be on because of low fluid level or a change in pressure in the brake lines. If the level is fine try bleeding the brakes you may have air in the lines somewhere.