Help diagnosing clutch problem

Sinistral · 09-24-2010, 03:32 PM

The other day when I engaged/disengaged the clutch backing out of a parking lot, I heard a noise that sounded like scraping and the faint smell of burning rubber. It made the noise all the way home each time I shifted, though the smell only came when I was taking off from a stand still. The car itself ran fine - no problems shifting or engaging/disengaging the clutch, just the noise and the occasional smell.

Not sure what it is; I'm more curious as to whether this will get worse the more I drive or if something just got misaligned. Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

cre · 09-26-2010, 02:18 AM

How responsive is the clutch, same feel as usual? any slipping? smell like burnt braked or more like oil? Have you checked the belts?

Sinistral · 09-27-2010, 04:31 PM

Clutch still works as it always has minus the noise. As for the smell, the best way I can describe it is burnt rubber. Haven't checked the belts; I'm not particularly mechanically-inclined, so I can't say I'd know what I was looking for.

Busted Knuckles · 09-28-2010, 08:09 AM

Burnt rubber has me more inclined to look for a tire or an accessory belt. Fried clutch is a distinctive smell, similar to brakes burning. You will never mistaken a burnt clutch for a 'rubber burning' smell. Look under the hood, then check the inside sidewalls of your tires. Look for scuffing marks and melted rubber. An overheated belt or scuffed tire bears marks that are easy to spot.

89ST · 09-28-2010, 09:01 PM

Another thought,

Not saying you don't know what burning rubber smells like. but if your hand brake line got ceased and or one your rear calipers is ceased that would make up for the scrapping metallic noise you hear, and the burning smell. Also when you shift and the engine noise momentarily decreases you can once again hear the scrapping noise of the stuck break until you're back on the throttle.

09-24-2010, 03:32 PM	#1
Sinistral Intake Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Stone Mountain Posts: 33	Help diagnosing clutch problem The other day when I engaged/disengaged the clutch backing out of a parking lot, I heard a noise that sounded like scraping and the faint smell of burning rubber. It made the noise all the way home each time I shifted, though the smell only came when I was taking off from a stand still. The car itself ran fine - no problems shifting or engaging/disengaging the clutch, just the noise and the occasional smell. Not sure what it is; I'm more curious as to whether this will get worse the more I drive or if something just got misaligned. Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

09-26-2010, 02:18 AM	#2
cre Toyota Racing Development Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 5,038	How responsive is the clutch, same feel as usual? any slipping? smell like burnt braked or more like oil? Have you checked the belts? __________________ If something breaks or you need to contact a member of the administration please post HERE. Unless it's a private or administration matter please post it on the forum. It benefits no one else if car related questions aren't posted for future users and takes away from the time I'm able to spend helping on the rest of the forum. If you're so inclined I'm always more than happy to accept tips via PayPal. Tip Jar --->

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09-27-2010, 04:31 PM	#3
Sinistral Intake Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Stone Mountain Posts: 33	Clutch still works as it always has minus the noise. As for the smell, the best way I can describe it is burnt rubber. Haven't checked the belts; I'm not particularly mechanically-inclined, so I can't say I'd know what I was looking for.

09-28-2010, 08:09 AM	#4
Busted Knuckles 12psi boost Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 300	Burnt rubber has me more inclined to look for a tire or an accessory belt. Fried clutch is a distinctive smell, similar to brakes burning. You will never mistaken a burnt clutch for a 'rubber burning' smell. Look under the hood, then check the inside sidewalls of your tires. Look for scuffing marks and melted rubber. An overheated belt or scuffed tire bears marks that are easy to spot.

09-28-2010, 09:01 PM	#5
89ST Intake Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Hamilton Ontario Posts: 40	Another thought, Not saying you don't know what burning rubber smells like. but if your hand brake line got ceased and or one your rear calipers is ceased that would make up for the scrapping metallic noise you hear, and the burning smell. Also when you shift and the engine noise momentarily decreases you can once again hear the scrapping noise of the stuck break until you're back on the throttle.