Clutch Smell?
01-23-2008, 12:05 AM
#16
Rennlist Member
I am so glad I found this thread. I have a 1990 C4 that I just put a lwf (RS complete kit) and it smells like dead fish or a dead animal when I drive the car normally. I have to keep rpms under 1500 to keep smell from happening. It seams to be getting a little better, but have to take great care to prevent smell. It comes in from heating vents. I wonder how it can? Does it come in through heat exchangers and then up into cabin?
I hope that it is more of function of newer clutch. Really love to flywheel and clutch though.
Eric
I hope that it is more of function of newer clutch. Really love to flywheel and clutch though.
Eric
01-23-2008, 12:51 PM
#17
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
It sounds like you're in decent company here... Yes, it still is a mystery to me how the smell gets from the clutch assembly to the interior cabin so rapidly... At least we can take comfort in that we'd likely smell any other untoward smells right away... an olfactory safety system...
01-23-2008, 06:57 PM
#18
Nordschleife Master
meant I was slipping the clutch. It was purely down to me and nothing to do with the clutch being on its way out.
12-11-2009, 01:33 PM
#20
IHI KING!
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If you slip the clutch and it makes an odor, that smell will be picked up by the engine fan and then pushed into the passenger cabin by the heater.
12-11-2009, 01:44 PM
#21
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My clutch has about 4000 miles on it. Before winter it was nearly impossible to slip without REALLY trying and it didn't smell at all. Now it smells almost every time I pull away from a light... Any similiar experiences?
12-11-2009, 03:38 PM
#22
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Thread Starter
I think its related to heater usage in the cabin. If you're drawing hot air it will involve some of the air affected by the clutch.
As to a rodent smell, (noted above) rodents do get past the fan and build nests, if the car sits even for a few hours. I've had it happen in a Honda where mice built a nest in one night. ew.
As to a rodent smell, (noted above) rodents do get past the fan and build nests, if the car sits even for a few hours. I've had it happen in a Honda where mice built a nest in one night. ew.
12-11-2009, 06:25 PM
#24
RL Technical Advisor
That has permanently fixed a serious pre-existing rodent problem.
Cats are better company than rodents, too.
12-12-2009, 10:37 AM
#25
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I've noticed it when it is cold, and running the heater. The smell in my car, with RS clutch and flywheel, is like I had asparagus for lunch a couple of hours ago, and just had to pee. I'd never smelled it before without the heater on, and it just happens at standing starts when the car is still cold.
12-12-2009, 11:19 AM
#26
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yup mine smells after install of LWF and new clutch disk. it happens when i slip it on start from a dead stop but it doesn't seem to take really excessive clutch heat or slippage. i think it may be due to the clutch material that looked almost like a graphite composite material
11-25-2010, 04:09 PM
#27
I have the same experience lately; I could never smell the clutch but since it has become colder I can when pulling (gently) from a standing start. It's most noticable when the engine is cold as I have to give some more throttle to prevent stalling. BTW: I also have the LWF and a new clutch since April this year (12000 km since then).
