2000 OBW 125k miles (oe clutch).

Yesterday I was sitting at a stoplight and suddenly this overwhelming stench of burning clutch filled the cabin. It wasn't a "...hmm, I think I smell something", it was an "OMG! My car is on fire!" smell.

The light turned green and eventually the cabin aired out and the smell disappeared. I was hoping it was someone else because the car drives like normal and shifts and accelerates as normal.

 

However sitting at stoplights on my way home I could still smell 'something', not nearly as bad but there was a scent of something hot.

 

So my question is, how do you know when the clutch is finally going to go?

Is there a warning or will it suddenly not work one day?

Remember that your brakes use essentially the same friction material as your clutch. Could have a dragging caliper, rusted sliders etc. When you notice the smell, touch your wheels near the lug nuts and see if one feels much hotter than the other of the pair (i.e. the fronts are normally hotter than the rears, but the balance should be equal left-right.)

 

Normally, you will notice clutch slippage before you start getting burning clutch odors. I'm not convinced the problem is your clutch.

 

Nathan

A popular test is to pull up to a wall, let the clutch out and if the engine dies your clutch is still good to go.

Also, would not hurt to make sure the slave and master are still working right. I had a problem with them and it caused clutch slippage.

^The above test depends on how bad the clutch is. The best way I found to test it is. Go out on the highway or a straight section of road. Get up to around 35 or 40mph,shift to 5th gear and try to accelerate. If your clutch is going out and slipping, you'll feel it for sure. Engine speed will race, but mph won't There are lots of ways to check it out I'm sure. Since you noticed the smell coming to a redlight though, I would almost agree with the other guys and figure it could just be your brakes. There doesn't have to be an issue with them to smell the brakes.

Easy one... when the car wont move

 

 

KTHNKSBIE

Rob.

Certainly try the test mentioned above to see if the clutch is slipping.

 

I'm actually thinking that you have a CV boot that blew, and it threw grease onto part of the exhaust. My '02 obw had that happen around 110k and it did exactly what you described.

 

--Nick

clutch may be dragging? do you have a hard time going into 1st or reverse when stopped and engine running? if so, the clutch may not be disengaging entirely, and dragging enough to cause some friction at stops