Burning smell

vasseur

I was stuck in a traffic jam for ages today, on a hill, stop start stop start, then noticed a horrible burning smell. I opened the bonnet and it was definitely coming from my car. Drove the rest of the journey really carefully and turned the fan off and obviously couldn't smell it anymore. No warning lights came on.

Anyone any idea what this could be?

Thanks

anewman

Was you holding the car on the clutch? You probably just burnt the clutch.

For future reference in such situations when stopped for more than a few seconds you're best putting the handbrake on instead.

vasseur

I was probably holding the car on the clutch. Would that still make it smell under the bonnet? Sorry for my ignorance, I know nothing about cars except how to drive them

masterlumps

my clutch stinks like duck when i have it biting for too long on a hill

benham3160

polesalot wrote: »

I was probably holding the car on the clutch.ld that still make it smell under the bonnet? Sorry for my ignorance, I know nothing about cars except how to drive them

Evidently not.

Burning clutch smell means you've done permanent damage to your clutch.

Regards,
Andy

anewman

Yes, the clutch is driven by the engine and the gearbox, if you are not moving and holding the car on the clutch then the clutch is spinning on a non-moving pressure plate attached to the gearbox, which generates heat and eventually you get the awful burning rubber smell. It can be worse as you can make clouds of smoke (talking from experience from when I somehow beached my car and the clutch couldn't budge the car so burnt instead.) To prolong the life of the clutch (which is quite expensive to replace due to the amount of labour) it's best to use the handbrake instead to hold the car, and keep the car in neutral with the clutch up (should have been part of your driving lessons IMO, was in mine ).

benham3160 wrote: »

Burning clutch smell means you've done permanent damage to your clutch.

Not necessarily, I doubt all that much damage has been done. If it was done day after day then I would have concerns about the longevity of the clutch and likely need for replacement in the near future.

benham3160

anewman wrote: »

Yes, the clutch is driven by the engine and the gearbox, if you are not moving and holding the car on the clutch then the clutch is spinning on a non-moving pressure plate attached to the gearbox, which generates heat and eventually you get the awful burning rubber smell. It can be worse as you can make clouds of smoke (talking from experience from when I somehow beached my car and the clutch couldn't budge the car so burnt instead.) To prolong the life of the clutch (which is quite expensive to replace due to the amount of labour) it's best to use the handbrake instead to hold the car (should have been part of your driving lessons IMO, was in mine ).



Not necessarily, I doubt all that much damage has been done. If it was done day after day then I would have concerns about the longevity of the clutch and likely need for replacement in the near future.

The smell is the burning of the friction material of the clutch, thus damage has been done.

Doing it once won't screw the car over, but you've probably done a few thousand miles of wear on the clutch by "burning" it to that extent.

Regards,
Andy

vasseur

Thanks anewman you've been very helpful. I will take it to the garage tomorrow and see what they say.

vasseur

benham3160 wrote: »

Evidently not.

You I assume are an authority on everything?

anewman

polesalot wrote: »

Thanks anewman you've been very helpful. I will take it to the garage tomorrow and see what they say.

Honestly don't worry about it unless the clutch is slipping (the revs increase but the clutch does not pull the car) and the clutch bites high up. So long as it drives ok the clutch is ok Wait till it fails before getting it replaced :money:

vasseur

Great thanks. I think the burning smell just scared the life out of me!