991.1 Clutch smell?

991.1 Clutch smell?

Author
Discussion

Montcoffer

Original Poster:

215 posts

195 months

Thursday 12th October 2017
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Had my 991.1 3.4 manual from new 11,000 miles, very steady use with the odd blast and rev out. Today though after a 20 mile cruise on a motorway I smelt burning clutch when I stopped, presumed it to be someone else's car, but tonight after a brief modest acceleration I smelt it again?
Has anyone had any issues similar, I've never heard of any, I consider myself sympathetic mechanically, my 07 Cayman going strong after 70k.
I,ll be calling my OPC tomorrow morning.

SkinnyPete

1,424 posts

150 months

Friday 13th October 2017
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Its most likely the protective coating Porsche apply to these cars, it stinks when it gets hot (anything more than modest motorway speeds).

Smells just like clutch/brakes.

Montcoffer

Original Poster:

215 posts

195 months

Friday 13th October 2017
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After 11000 miles?

charliedb2

74 posts

133 months

Friday 13th October 2017
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Hi - there is a known burning smell you can get after a blast. I have read that it is road dirt and grime etc going onto the hot exhaust boxes behind the rear tyres. I only ever notice this when i get out of the car though, not inside.

Montcoffer

Original Poster:

215 posts

195 months

Friday 13th October 2017
quotequote all
Its defiantly clutch smell, went for a test this morning under normal driving I have evidence of a smell & no clutch slip, but after only one spirited get away of my god! the smell lingering for ages. Now waiting for a call back from OPC. Rang about 3 hours ago & still no call back, just about had enough.....

Rockster

1,510 posts

161 months

Friday 13th October 2017
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Montcoffer said:
Its defiantly clutch smell, went for a test this morning under normal driving I have evidence of a smell & no clutch slip, but after only one spirited get away of my god! the smell lingering for ages. Now waiting for a call back from OPC. Rang about 3 hours ago & still no call back, just about had enough.....
Hard to image a clutch getting hot enough to smell without slippage.

The usual test for a slipping clutch is with everything up to temperature on a suitable stretch of highway put the transmission in 4th or 5th gear and at around 2K RPMs floor the gas pedal. I mean shove it to the carpet and hold it there. If engine RPMs increase without a corresponding increase in speed the clutch is slipping. In this case no need to retest. If there is no sign of clutch slippage no need to retest either.

Even if no slippage if you are sure the odor is clutch best to have it looked into. Be prepared for the tech to probably want to drop the transmission. There's not a whole heck of a lot he can do otherwise unless he happens to spot some external clutch linkage problem that might account for the cltuch not fully engaging when the clutch pedal is released.

Keep in mind it is not uncommon for something like a piece of plastic wrapper/film, a plastic bag, to get get kicked up by the air from the car and end up making contact with the hot exhaust. Plastic can and will stick and as you drive down the road char/burn and emit a pretty strong odor.

Water splash on the hot exhaust can have the exhaust metal emit an ozone like odor. And if you are unfortunate to hit some squishy road kill... Oh my. Be ready for a real unpleasant olfactory experience.

Once I even had something get caught in the accessory drive system and make a noise. Didn't know it at the time though. The belt didn't slip but the noise had me spooked and being 30 miles away from the dealer I had the car flat bedded in to the dealer. Off the truck and with the SM and interested techs standing around I fired up the engine. Crickets. Noise gone. Whatever got caught got blown out on the ride from work to the dealer.

Just to be safe I booked the car in and tech checked accessory drive and could find nothing wrong. I showed up the next morning early and drove the car around for 30 minutes to use the car like I did the day it made the noise and no noise. Just something that got into the belt or got caught where it was rubbing against the belt or against an accessory drive pulley. SM told me this happens more often than one might think. He said he sees maybe 5 or 6 cars a year in for this. First time for me though even after over 300K miles of driving.

Montcoffer

Original Poster:

215 posts

195 months

Saturday 14th October 2017
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OPC advised not to drive the car, so it was collected yesterday using Porsche breakdown service (under warranty), I'll post any findings when I have it, I suspect it wont be until Monday now. Thanks for everyone's input.

Jaybmw

315 posts

82 months

Saturday 14th October 2017
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Defo not the brakes? Sticking caliper or the likes ? Same'ish material.. I guess you'll find out soon

Montcoffer

Original Poster:

215 posts

195 months

Thursday 9th November 2017
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Sorry for late reply, had my car back a while now and smell has gone away? OPC couldn’t find any problems at all. I’ve done some spirited driving and long runs and all appears ok. Frustrating I guess I don’t like unanswered issues like this, my car had its 1st service while it was in but no link to clutch smell going away.
I’m interested if anyone else has had similar issues, regards.

Polome

541 posts

126 months

Thursday 9th November 2017
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I had a similar situation with my 996 a few years ago. After a spirited drive a smell from the rear wheel arch had me concerned about he clutch. I had it replaced at 30k when the IMS was done. When removed the clutch showed no signs of burning and was only 50% worn. I sold the car a few years later at 90k and even then it occasionally would smell after a fast run. No sign of slippage ever and not being heavy with clutch use I suspect it had another 50k left on it. The smell initially gave me worries but over the years just accepted it as normal. Good luck with yours.

SkinnyPete

1,424 posts

150 months

Friday 17th November 2017
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Once again for you two, it'll be there for the life of the car.

SkinnyPete said:
Its most likely the protective coating Porsche apply to these cars, it stinks when it gets hot (anything more than modest motorway speeds).

Smells just like clutch/brakes.