Hi all,

I have noticed since I got my 06 GT last April that my clutch smells when I'm maneuvering in reverse or trying to navigate small spaces. Doesn't happen all the time, just when I have to keep it in that "engage/release-grey-area" to back up or do multi-point turns. Is this normal? I don't sense any slipping when getting on it or at higher rpm's and I don't smell it in normal traffic.

I did notice there is a small hole in the bellhousing on the bottom, a vent hole is my guess?

Thanks for your take on this.

jk

 

It's not "normal" but use it as an indicator of how well you use the gas/clutch.

Since you mention 3 point turns and parallel parking, I'm assuming your moving very slowly/cautiously when manuvering. You're probably heavy on the gas (giving it enough gas) and light on the clutch (let it out just enough to let the car move)

The smell you're getting is from the friction caused by not allowing the clutch to fully engage. Same smell you would get if you braked really hard a few times back to back after accelerating.

Less gas more clutch will get rid of that.

Whenever my wife drives my car..oh my giod it smells like the clutch is on fire. She's very heavy on the gas and light on the clutch.

 

thanks. I try not to ride the clutch at all but during those tight moves it's not easy letting it all the way out. This car really moves when the clutch engages and sometimes too much at a time. So really the only way to move slowly is to ride it a little.

 

If it did that when you are drving normally (not the tight manuvers) then I'd say to worry (as in learn to drive a manual properly). Not a big deal though for the situations you describe

 

That's what I was hoping. This is my first V8 clutch. All others were 4cyl. manuals (NA) and we all know how much torque those put out. All that force must generate mega-friction in comparison.

 

I agree. It's all or nothing with these cars. I feel like I'm either revving too much, or not enough, although I've never had my clutch smell, so I guess I'm not too hard on it [&:]

 

i never really smelled a clutch burning up before...until about 6 months.

genius here (yours truly) just got his procharger put on with 13 pounds boost and a 525 rwhp dyno. this was with stock internals, mind you, but that's a different story.

anyway, I decide I want to smoke the tires a bit in an empty parking lot. rev her up to about 6K and drop the clutch. all of a sudden she's bouncin off the rev limiter. but I aint moving and my tires ain't spinnin. then the clutch smell. uhhg, still makes me want to vomit. it's a really foul smell.

 

No kidding. Foul smell indeed! What do they make clutche disks out of anyway, dried petrified poop? (asbestos, I know)

 

I dont think they use asbestos anymore

 

than it must be poop.