New Clutch Smell!
 

I am still a little rusty with my clutch, so I tend to hold it in the middle for two long in first gear. Have you guys noticed that the clutch can release an unpleasant smell into the car?

(PS: I had no passengers, so I know it is not coming from someone!)

That unpleasant smell is Dollars burning, as you'll probably have to do a premature clutch replacement if you continue like this.

Engage it and release.....The only slippage should be on your initial start up...

Before anyone else says it.... Is this your first car?

:bowrofl:

Improper use of the clutch will cause it to wear more than it's supposed to thereby causing what I typically refer to as an "organic" smell. It is normal and is a sign that you are doing something wrong. Prolonged incidents can lead to early failure of course, so work on your technique.

When I first got my Z I had to park on raised spaces at my (now ex-)GF's house. Not knowing how safe it was to do I was holding the parking brake while feathering the clutch in reverse. (Trying to keep the car from rolling forward, but once the clutch grabbed let off the e-brake and move back more.)

I ended up smelling a lot of clutch that night, but haven't since. Still operates perfectly.

for some reason on the z the clutch tends to slip more than any other car I have ever driven... the engagement and disengagement points on the pedal are just funky.

Thanks everyone. I will work on my technique. The smell has only happened twice, plus the car is brand new, so it will take time for me to get used to the clutch.

basically you are burning the clutch.

not good to say the least

your clutch should not smell...

nissan has a weak clutch for the type of power and gearing ratio so with you riding it, you are smelling dollars vanish and service come early. technique and practice can remove this problem. when you replace it, by something with more pressure and stronger material than stock to get better grip and less slip.

:iagree: :bowrofl:

Organic clutches are really intolerant of slipping while they are breaking in, and tend to stink really easy if heated before they are fully broken in. While the car is new and breaking in, you need to be really careful, as you can hot spot the flywheel and then the clutch will feel like garbage until it's replaced.

A few times aren't going to kill it though, so if you are a bit more careful through the rest of the break in process you should be fine. :tup:

Do you guys take your foot off of the clutch when backing up? I always hold it in the "middle" because backing up only takes about less than 30 seconds. How do you guys do it?

i learned to drive manual 3 weeks ago, only had the smell once: in traffic on a fairly steep hill (i was maintaining the friction point in the stop and go traffic in fear of rolling backwards into the car behind me), but i go up that hill everyday, and havent had the smell since. got used to keeping foot off the clutch until time to move, find the friction point with foot on break then hit the gas.... god knows if im doing it right, but i want to learn without the ebreak, and no bad smell except that one time, so hopefully no damage lol

Jeeze i've smelled my clutch about a dozen times already, and I've only had the car a month! (Been driving stick since 1988)

The clutch in this car is a pain.

does holding it midway burn up the clutch? when you smelled the burning smell, were you on the gas at all or just the clutch midway?

Usually when I'm backing up, I pull the clutch to the friction point, accelerate, and then put the clutch back in. I might touch the friction point a few times, but for a short duration, with almost no throttle.

Clutches usually don't like to be held at their friction point for long; that slip is what generates heat, and that smell is you cooking the clutch. Light load slips aren't terrible, but not good for the clutch either.

Just the clutch, only hit gas when i needed to advance (while holding clutch at friction point)

No worries ... you'll get the feel of the clutch after awhile and then you should be smooth sailing after that. It takes time to learn this clutch and how it works ... The clutch doesn't seem to grab til you release halfway and then it takes a sec to smoothly get the car going and release the clutch all the way. I was trippin out when I first drove it home .. It's jus something to get use to.

How long are you guys slipping the clutch.. I've never smelled burning clutch on my car you have to slip it for a long time..

Driver mod needed badly, lol.

Well I smell clutch every single day. 1 to 2 is a pain in the a$$ for me and I seem to slip it daily. It's really starting to irritate me. I keep killing the engine too. I have driven stick since 1988 and I had a G35 and 300ZX and never had this issue... Is this normal? Does anyone else have clutch burning smell every single day the first few months of it being new???? At this rate I will need a new tanny in a year or two. LOL

That is interesting. I hold my clutch at the friction point all the time and never smell any burning...

just found this tread... wow i thought it was just me! backing up on a hill is a bitch! **** smells! getting better at it though.

does this mean nissan gave us a CHEAP clutch? is there a stronger/Nismo clutch thats available?

Years ago when I was away the wife burnt my clutch once trying to find reverse (she kept getting 6th instead). The car stunk for a month! 6 months later the clutch was completely gone.

I dont see how you guys can get burning the clutch so easily.. Ive never smelled burning clutch on my car and ive slipped it pretty nicely a couple times while i wasnt paying attention.

great example to stay single! have as much women possible with the new Z! LOL j/k :ughdance:

hhhhmmm thats weird then... maybe fricken Nissan hooked u up with a dope clutch and gave us all the cheap ones! :ugh2: