am I doing something wrong?
 

First off, I'm a new manual driver. Learned the basics a year ago and haven't had much practice, that being said I can make my daily commute 26 miles through city and highway without stalling. Now, given the fact that I am a new driver, and this is my first manual car... after my drive today as I was getting out of the car, I noticed a slight burning smell, much like the smell when you stall out a bunch (yes... I've done it :cry:). It's not a strong smell, but I can tell it's there. I didn't stall it, didn't keep my foot on the clutch but I did lurch once or twice and my shifts aren't super smooth yet.

I know I probably can't ask "what am I doing wrong", but I'm guessing this isn't normal. Is this something I should be worried about? Am I damaging my car? I do tend to take my time getting in to first gear, and have the clutch pressed for probably 5-10 seconds, it's not ideal but until I can get used to driving, I have to.

Thanks

Sure you weren't just smelling the brakes or hot rubber?

How high RPM have you gone?
People have been posting this at higher RPMs.
Look under the Issues section

edit: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10817
it wasn't under issues haha

I have the limiter set to 4k so I haven't gone above that.

To clarify: 5-10 seconds of slipping the clutch when starting out in first? That's too long.

But a slight odor in the first few hundred miles, in general, is probably nothing to worry about in and of itself.

I don't think so, my drive isn't a brake workout, and I didn't peel out or anything. Unless they're naturally like that during break in process.

Guess I should have left that part in, I got my car last Friday, the 13th.

I'd check your fluids JUST to be safe.
But honestly I think its just regular factory gunk just burning off.
I personally have not had this experience and I'm sitting at near 900 miles (yes my driving has dropped dramatically since the first 2 weeks I got her, but that's because my campus is <1 mile away)

Yea, I know it's too long, I've been practicing and trying to work on it but haven't had much time. I'm still basically trying to get a feel for the car.

The car gives off a smell for the first few hundred miles. Its probably just grease or paint burning off the exhaust system.

that's reassuring, thank you!

Yea from what I hear even with my last car is that its a new car and you'll get some smell for the first few hundred miles as it gets broken in. Should be normal

But agree with above about everything but I also would agree to learn not to hold that clutch for 5-10s sooner than later

I have the same smell and I just passed 1500 miles (all highway over the last two days). It would be nice to pinpoint exactly what it is, but I'm not too worried about it - pretty sure it's manufacturing stuff like Bonburner said.

I had this smell for the first 500 or so. There are losts of stuff here and there that burn off naturally after driving for a while. If you're still smelling it at 1500, something's up.

I could be wrong, as I don't know how you drive. I'm also not a mechanic.

At near 2k miles, I don't smell it anymore unless it's some serious spirited driving and I have the windows down.

How new is the car? There is a normal odor the first few hundred miles.

I got the car off the lot last Friday, so effectively I've only had it 3 full days. And haven't had a chance to really drive it as long as I want to; it hasn't broken 100 miles yet.

Ya, there is a burning rubber or plastic smell for the first 500 or so miles, some have had it a little longer, depends on how long you drive the car each trip....obviously, if you drive 20-30 miles in each shot, it will burn off faster. If your not grinding gears, chances are its not your clutch that your smelling....but rather the normal smell of a new engine from a factory.

Yea it's still VERY new. Engine is breaking in, and the odors are just from all the engine parts meshing and what not. Are you using Premium gas?

Haha I think so, it's running on whatever the dealership put in there. I still have 3/4 tank

Just like a few other people have said, brand new engines sometimes have distinct odors. It should be gone within your first month or so.

3/4th tank. LOL. havent even had your first gas fill