All

I am bummed as hell. Last night while stuck in uphill traffic for like 45 min, that burning smell of the clutch started coming through. I wasn't riding the clutch, but I guess there is no other rational explanation for it.

I've had problems with the shifting in the past, some grinding in 3/4 gears, but never anything like this. Now there is a distinct grip problem out of first and an unsmooth jolt and a bit or rattling when it actually starts moving. It's only in first it seems. At any rate I want to consider my options before I do anything but I don't want to make the situation worse:

Since this is considered a wear item, is the warranty out of the question? I know I've had problems with the gears since I got the car, but it was never bad enough to do anything about it.

Will I make things worse by not doing anything about it now? (Haven't driven yet since last night, any chance it will be okay?)


Anyone have an idea of what the stock clutch/flywheel would cost?


Is it worth considering getting an aftermarket clutch/flywheel combo?

The ones I have read about here and are available for the sedan are JWT and Nismo, any others? What's the ride like with any of these combo's, as smooth as stock, more jerky?

 

Were you really feathering the clutch for 45 minutes on a hill?

 

I don't think the warranty is out of the question. Only 14000 and the clutch is out? You already mentioned you had problems with it in certain gears, so you have a history of problems most of us do not have at such low miles. not sure if you race your vehicle, but if you have already several trips to the dealer under clutch problems, I think the warranty is in full effect here. I think what will help you out is if you have the history with the dealer about past problems with the clutch.

 

Not sure what you mean by feathering? But yes, I was in and out of first, braking, and at some points holding the clutch pedal 3/4 undepressed while moving slowly uphill, this was back to back traffic into the Greek theater stack parking. I really f@#!$d up.

While I've had clutch problems, I don't know if they've been documented by the dealer, I think I'd have to say they are not.

today when I took it out, it still had the burn smell in the cabin, I aired it out, and went for a drive.

There is a bit of rattling but then shifting is fine 2-6 gears. If I let the clutch go quickly (normal driving), there is a bit of a jolt, almost seems like it's not locking smoothly.

The smell is still there though, I'm not sure why, but it certainly is not like it was last night, but after driving it, I can still detect a faint smell of burning...am I damaging it by continuing to drive it?

 

First of all:

Burnt clutch smell hangs for days. Even when it isn't there your mind will tell you it is because you're sniffing for it. I had this problem in the last manual car I owned after a little 'clutch incident..' I'd swear I smelled burned clutch in my closet for cripes sake. It was everywhere.

The day after the above incident I walked into the garage, sniffing the air, and asked my buddy 'you smell that?' He looked at me like a had a dick growing out of my forehead or something. 'I don't smell anything man, what's your deal?' was his response - I didn't tell him what I was sniffing for because I wanted to see if he could pick it up on his own.

You could have introduced some extra wear, but I doubt you did any real damage. If the circumstances were as you state you probably got things really hot down there (with no airflow moving over the car to move the heat away) and thus the result.

If you already had issues with your tranny before I wouldn't be afraid to take it to the dealer and work it out. If there is something really wrong and you continue to drive it you could make things worse.

I'd give it a day or three to make sure that the smell you're smelling is actual and not in your pre-disposed mind, and really evaluate what your clutch is doing. If you're not satisified that things are hunky-dory, take her to the dealer and see whats-what.

Good luck.

 

Have dealer/other garage bleed it(there's usually bleed valve at slave cylinder, I have no clue where it is on g35). Check fluid level as well.
Grinding gears are either gearbox problem or clutch not having enough pressure to engage between shifts.I hope that our transmission is well designed and built to last.
Jitter in first gear is because you slightly fried clutch. It will go away with normal driving-friction surface will even out. My inept friend did that to my g-stench was in for 3 days and pedal was vibrating in 1st, but it almost gone now.

 

you suck at driving stick and get an automati immediately

 

AFTERMARKET. get it replaced under warranty then immediately take it to a clutch shop and go aftermarket. pull the warranted clutch and save all the parts.

 

Well I didn't smell anything today, so I suppose the clutch smell was certainly a part of the lingering effect and my head.

Driving it today I did notice that it is improving, as it certainly is not as jerky as day 1 or day 2. It seems likely it will eventually even out.

To be safe, I spoke to the service manager at my local dealer, and he agrees that I should bring it in for a look. He did say it was unusual to have problems this early with the clutch. Unsure of whether this is going to be covered under warranty but I will find out this morning. I am going to ask them to check the fluid level and flush if necessary. I am wondering if it's a weak throwout bearing or if there is oil on the clutch plate that's causing the judder (anyway engine oil can get in there?) We'll see how it goes, I guess they are going to have to open it up to tell...

LuXXXz you suck, I was thinking the same thing, but oh how fun the 6MT is :0)

 

So I got my car back from the dealer. I spoke to the technician and he said he adjusted the clutch/pedal so that it has less play, don't know what that means.

From the feel of it, the clutch is "tighter", the pedal doesn't come up as high as before and shifting now has a lower motion range. I can't discern any noticeable problems with 1st gear anymore. He did tell me that the transmission is covered under warranty, and that if I was not happy to bring it back in.

Too early to tell, but it seems like all he did was tighten up the clutch. I'm guessing this is the normal procedure when a clutch expericences some burning? Sort of like tightening up your brakes when the pads are worn down so there is less play with the pedal?