Burning Clutch Smell

[bjranson]

Hi, my 131,000 D9 has recently started producing a burning clutch smell when I'm riding the clutch while in a multi-storey or parking on a hill. It's only started doing this over the last week. Does this suggest it's worn out and needs replacing? I've experienced no other problems with gear changes or anything related to its operation.

[PeterN]

Riding the clutch normally would make it smell, are you sure you are not doing it more than you used to? If you are using 1st gear I wouldn't have thought you would need to especially if you have a diesel as it will pull almost from tickover.

Peter

[bjranson]

The two times that it occurred, I was parking on a steep hill, and then in a multi-storey, caught on a ramp waiting for passing traffic. I've been in situations like that before and there's been no smell, so there was a difference this time.

[PeterN]

Don't know why that should be, the smell is directly proportional the amount of lining that's burning off and this is a function of revs times load applied. I would suggest you stop and apply the handbrake if you are going to be held up, it doesn't take long to burn a clutch out.

Peter

[Welly]

Sorry but a clutch should never be used to hold a car on a steep gradient like you describe, you can scrub 3000 miles off a clutch in 5 minutes in situations like this. I always arrange my car so that I wait at the bottom of steep ramps and don't get caught half way up! and f*ck the impatient knob behind you.

For what its worth a clutch surface will make a weird 'eggy' smell after a period of 'normal' use when it's subjected to excessive slip for the first time. I would only be concerned if the clutch began slipping whilst out on the road accelerating normally as THIS is when a clutch is shagged.

[bjranson]

Heavens, no , I wasn't riding the clutch the whole time while waiting! It was just moving the car off from a braked position on the ramp that required some big revs and clutch (you know how steep multi-storey ramps can be).

Anyway, it's likely that it was just a one-off over those two days that the smell occurred, as it hasn't arisen since, and as mentioned, the clutch hasn't slipped in normal use ever. Just my paranoia that made me post about it!