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Burning the clutch

  • 27-07-2010 12:21PM
    #1
    shnaek
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,180 ✭✭✭


    The drive outside my current residence is quite steep, and I have noticed lately (in the last couple of months) a smell coming from the engine when I park which smells to me like a burning clutch. I have reversed into my parking space, and driven into it, but I can still get the smell most times I park.

    Clearly I must be doing damage to my clutch. Is it going to fail on me if I keep parking here? Thing is, I got nowhere else to park at present as the space is in the drive of the house I'm in. But am I risking the car by continuing to park here?


Comments

  • #2
    mike65
    Closed Accounts Posts: 88,968 ✭✭✭✭mike65


    Only if you can't drive properly.

    Reversing, even up a short steep incline can be done without traumatising the clutch.


  • #3
    DublinDilbert
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,421 ✭✭✭DublinDilbert


    shnaek wrote: »
    The drive outside my current residence is quite steep
    Can you define quite steep? Is a car meant to be parked there?

    shnaek wrote: »
    Clearly I must be doing damage to my clutch. Is it going to fail on me if I keep parking here?
    I'd be going with Yes it's definitely not going to make it last longer anyway. How long it will last is any ones guess, could be days, weeks, years.

    mike65 wrote: »
    Only if you can't drive properly.
    Reversing, even up a short steep incline can be done without traumatising the clutch.
    +1

    I remember seeing someone reversing up a drive way in wicklow, it wasn't that steep, but they rode the clutch the whole way. After a few mins the clutch went on fire and cracked the bell housing on the gear box. The gear box oil started to burn too.


  • #4
    Anan1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,815 ✭✭✭✭Anan1


    mike65 wrote: »
    Only if you can't drive properly.

    Reversing, even up a short steep incline can be done without traumatising the clutch.

    I dunno - if it's not possible to do it with the clutch out then wear is inevitable.


  • #5
    peasant
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,819 ✭✭✭✭peasant


    Reverse is always the lowest gear in a gearbox, i.e you can get up a steeper hill in reverse than you can in first (given traction)

    You should try and start reversing up the steep bit from further off i. e start on the flat-ish bit where you can let the clutch out fully, then reverse back slowly and just add gas as it's needed to get up the hill, don't touch the clutch until you stop.

    If you find that you still can't make it up or that you have to give it so much welly that you are going too fast to still be in control, then yes, the hill is too steep.


  • #6
    keithclancy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,208 ✭✭✭keithclancy


    shnaek wrote: »
    The drive outside my current residence is quite steep, and I have noticed lately (in the last couple of months) a smell coming from the engine when I park which smells to me like a burning clutch. I have reversed into my parking space, and driven into it, but I can still get the smell most times I park.

    Clearly I must be doing damage to my clutch. Is it going to fail on me if I keep parking here? Thing is, I got nowhere else to park at present as the space is in the drive of the house I'm in. But am I risking the car by continuing to park here?

    Sound like your using the clutch and accelerator at the same time.

    Leave the clutch out till it bites and leave it all the way out then control your speed with the accelerator.

    sounds like your leaving the clutch most of the way out.


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  • #7
    ShiresV2
    Closed Accounts Posts: 190 ✭✭ShiresV2


    peasant wrote: »
    Reverse is always the lowest gear in a gearbox

    No offense but that's not true.


  • #8
    Rovi
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,570 ✭✭✭Rovi


    ShiresV2 wrote: »
    No offense but that's not true.
    I've never come across a gearbox where reverse WASN'T lower than first, at least not in a conventional road-going vehicle. What car/vehicle are you thinking of?


  • #9
    shnaek
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,180 ✭✭✭shnaek


    Thanks for all your tips. I'll try reverse from a distance away and see if that makes a difference, and I will make sure I amn't clutching and accelerating at the same time. The hill is very steep, but there are other cars parked on it too, so I am assuming it is safe for parking.


  • #10
    peasant
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,819 ✭✭✭✭peasant


    ShiresV2 wrote: »
    No offense but that's not true.
    It is for most standard gearboxes


  • #11
    ShiresV2
    Closed Accounts Posts: 190 ✭✭ShiresV2


    Rovi wrote: »
    I've never come across a gearbox where reverse WASN'T lower than first, at least not in a conventional road-going vehicle. What car/vehicle are you thinking of?

    BMW E39.


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  • #12
    peasant
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,819 ✭✭✭✭peasant


    ShiresV2 wrote: »
    BMW E39.

    OK ..off topic ...but ...

    Proof?


  • #13
    Anan1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,815 ✭✭✭✭Anan1


    I've just done a quick google, and it does indeed appear that reverse is higher than first on an E39 (at least on the M5 Getrag box) : http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e39-m5-e52-z8-discussion/26717-gear-ratios-getrag.html


  • #14
    ShiresV2
    Closed Accounts Posts: 190 ✭✭ShiresV2


    Anan1 wrote: »
    I've just done a quick google, and it does indeed appear that reverse is higher than first on an E39 (at least on the M5 Getrag box) : http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e39-m5-e52-z8-discussion/26717-gear-ratios-getrag.html

    It is on all of them with a manual box anyway. See here also:

    http://www.bokchoys.com/differential/GearRatios.htm

    Presumably a BMW special for when you've been driving like a c0ck and need to back out of a road rage situation pronto. :pac:


  • #15
    D_murph
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 773 ✭✭✭D_murph


    shnaek wrote: »
    Thanks for all your tips. I'll try reverse from a distance away and see if that makes a difference, and I will make sure I amn't clutching and accelerating at the same time. The hill is very steep, but there are other cars parked on it too, so I am assuming it is safe for parking.

    Just make sure that you are not pressing the clutch pedal (at all) while the car is reversing up the hill. It might be tempting to use it as a measure to slow the car a little but if only you knew the hell it was getting because of slippage while under load, you would not consider doing it.

    Maybe you should consider driving forward up the hill and reversing down it unless it would be unsafe due to a road etc at the bottom.

    I have an aunt that I saw doing worse actually. She was reversing into our drive (which is level BTW) to turn around with the engine running at what must have been half throttle and the car only barely moving backwards. The clutch must have been getting a serious flogging in there :eek: :rolleyes:.


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