Severe clutch smell

[Bonburner]

Originally Posted by Mac1235

I have smelled this once and awhile and yes it is transmission or clutch related. The one time I smelt it the most was packing into a parking spot on an incline. The reverse gearing in this car is bad and to get the clutch out in reverse it wants to go 20 mph. So I had to ride the clutch a "little" bit because someone walked behind me while I was backing up and I smelled this smell. For me, I only smell it on those occasions and not sure if it is syncros burning or the clutch. If you smell this during daily driving you might want to get someone with a lot of manual driving experience to ride with you and watch your shifting style, you might be riding the clutch when shifting.

Yeah I kinda know what you mean .. I might just start heel-toeing the reverse Lol

[Mac1235]

Originally Posted by Khánh

is this smell actually the smell of the clutch or the smell that people say it's the coating and will go away after awhile?

I have 4k miles on mine right now. The smell only happens when I have to ride the clutch backing up because the gearing is terrible on the reverse. I would say happens once every 1/200 times and only on an incline. In normal driving, not reversing up a hill, I don't smell this smell at all.

There are certain smells you will smell in the beginning of valve's seating themselves and possible coatings and oils burning off but this is not the smell we are smelling. This smell is a burning metal like smell. If you smell this during normal driving you are not shifting correctly or riding the clutch or your car has some mechanical problem. I would suggest people get a very experienced manual transmission driver to shadow them and see if they are driving incorrectly.

I said smell a lot.....

[qijian]

i had this smell when i first started driving the car... it was horrible. Some people told me maybe the clutch needs a break-in time for it to work properly. 100 miles now and the smell is less significant. I smell a little bit of it if i got out the car after a drive and sniffed the exhaust area a bit (probably because im a lil paranoid about burning/killing the clutch) but otherwise... it seems to be getting better.

[Supermassive]

The clutch does need break in time, but you will occasionally still smell it because the pressure plate for the stock clutch is very lightly sprung so it's more prone to slipping when not fully engaged. This makes the car easier to drive, but also easier to slip and cook a little clutch material. I have a 6 puck clutch in mine now and I don't get any burning smells (ceramic pucks don't really burn) but it is much more aggressive and not exactly smooth from slow speed starts.

[Tt3Sheppard]

I tend to only smell it during stop and go traffic on hills.

[MI FR-S]

I'm getting an occasional light burning smell through the heat vents. No idea what a burning clutch smells like, but I once had a sticking brake pad and it smells kind of like that but much fainter.
In order to smell it I need to have the heat on for a good 25 minutes at least. Vehicle must be idling and stationary. Car can be in neutral with clutch engaged or in 1st gear with clutch disengaged, doesn't make any difference. Best chance is after a hilly bit of road for some reason.

I wasn't too worried until I read this thread. Sound like the same thing you guys are experiencing?

[Sargy]

Well Kevin, I could only say this

have you considered your undercoat burning excess gunk off through the vents before thinking of your clutch?

your welcome

[whtchocla7e]

What does the clutch smell like? (lol)
Rotten eggs?

[Fire]

Like Mac1235, I did smell it couple time when I park mine on an incline. Normal driving is fine. The smell is like metal burning smell.

[Mac1235]

Originally Posted by Fire

Like Mac1235, I did smell it couple time when I park mine on an incline. Normal driving is fine. The smell is like metal burning smell.

Yeah it 100% the clutch slipping and the burning of the two plates spinning against each other instead of locking into one another and driving the car. Unfortunately with the way this car is geared for reverse there almost has to be some slipping when backing into certain situations.

[ScionRacer]

I am still smelling it on occasion,but its not as bad as it was when the car was new.i have 6k on it now and I really have to "smell" for it.

One thing is for sure,its very hot under the hood of these cars,Like others have stated,its probably oils/paints/coating and such.It was much worse when it was hotter out,once november hit,I did not notice the vent smell as much.

[Mac1235]

Originally Posted by ScionRacer

I am still smelling it on occasion,but its not as bad as it was when the car was new.i have 6k on it now and I really have to "smell" for it.

One thing is for sure,its very hot under the hood of these cars,Like others have stated,its probably oils/paints/coating and such.It was much worse when it was hotter out,once november hit,I did not notice the vent smell as much.

I think there are some smells from coatings burning off but by 6k miles those are gone, if the smell is metallic, then it is the clutch slipping and burning. I think that is what we are smelling from what I read from others.

[MI FR-S]

Update on my burning smell:

Took it to the dealership to have a look. They believe it is a clutch in the AC compressor and have ordered a part. Apparently the compressor was misbehaving. I'll update again once it is installed.

[kramerica_industries]

I've smelled the same on mine but only after high speed runs, like 10+minutes at over 90 mph. I have 12k miles on it.