Reversing uphill V12V (clutch wear.)
Discussion
It’s happened a couple of times now, so I’m interested to know if this is a known problem.
My driveway has a 30-40 degree (ish) slope that enters onto a road. There are times, when the mother-in-law’s and kids cars are blocking the usual turn area and so it becomes necessary to reverse up the drive into the road in order to leave the house (and the mother-in-law😫).
The trouble is that whenever I’ve had to do this in the Aston, the cabin fills with burning clutch fumes. Granted, in order to reverse up the driveway, there is inevitably the need for a certain amount of clutch control required and obviously I keep this to a minimum, but it is generally unavoidable. In any other car, this does not present a problem, but the Aston always fills with clutch fumes.
I’m preparing myself for a barrage of ‘s**te driver’ comments, but my drive is not of sufficient length whereby the driver could release the clutch fully, as the the drive exits onto a very tight bend in the road. I don’t consider that I’m either revving or slipping the clutch excessively, but despite efforts to keep the clutch slip to a minimum, the burning has always occurred.
All forward motion hill starts etc are completely normal, there is absolutely no evidence of clutch slip on acceleration etc, the car has only done 9k miles, and I’m a very ‘clutch conscious’ driver too. Oh, my previous v8v did not suffer the same problem as I recall.
Any thoughts? (Apart from, ‘s**te driver!’) Or has anyone else had the same experience?
My driveway has a 30-40 degree (ish) slope that enters onto a road. There are times, when the mother-in-law’s and kids cars are blocking the usual turn area and so it becomes necessary to reverse up the drive into the road in order to leave the house (and the mother-in-law😫).
The trouble is that whenever I’ve had to do this in the Aston, the cabin fills with burning clutch fumes. Granted, in order to reverse up the driveway, there is inevitably the need for a certain amount of clutch control required and obviously I keep this to a minimum, but it is generally unavoidable. In any other car, this does not present a problem, but the Aston always fills with clutch fumes.
I’m preparing myself for a barrage of ‘s**te driver’ comments, but my drive is not of sufficient length whereby the driver could release the clutch fully, as the the drive exits onto a very tight bend in the road. I don’t consider that I’m either revving or slipping the clutch excessively, but despite efforts to keep the clutch slip to a minimum, the burning has always occurred.
All forward motion hill starts etc are completely normal, there is absolutely no evidence of clutch slip on acceleration etc, the car has only done 9k miles, and I’m a very ‘clutch conscious’ driver too. Oh, my previous v8v did not suffer the same problem as I recall.
Any thoughts? (Apart from, ‘s**te driver!’) Or has anyone else had the same experience?
Great replies. Many thanks, all good points, especially the one regarding the sports button. If I’m honest, I can’t recall what mode I had it in whilst reversing, but will definitely bear it in mind in future.
I also will certainly avoid all reversing uphill if at all possible in future!! Many thanks again to all.
I also will certainly avoid all reversing uphill if at all possible in future!! Many thanks again to all.
Reversing down my driveway is now the way ahead for me. I had no idea that reverse is so highly geared. (Why is this necessary? Are V12V’s designed to go as fast backwards as forwards??) I now know that this is a common characteristic and will bear it in mind from now on.
Thanks to all for sharing.
Thanks to all for sharing.
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