Twiztog43

iTrader: (15)

i posted on the troubleshooting forum but i got no answer, and i need advice since i will be driving tomorrow [have no choice]

so heres the story...

yesterday night i was driving on the freeway [170/101] to hollywood and it was raining quite a bit. i was on the #1 lane [carpool] and i was driving around 65-70mph and i noticed that it would feel like i am bottoming out because the rain water felt like it was slamming the underside of the car, also i felt the tires slip for a sec [no light came on].

we got to hollywood and ate at Johnny rockets and i was driving back on the 101 and turned on the defroster and moved the *** to #1. then i turned it off and the AC is blowing cold air but theres an odd smell that smells like burning rubber/clutch coming from the AC. [i dont remember burning the clutch at all because i was granny shifting all the way so i cant think of a time when i could have on accident, and the clutch felt fine.

TODAY, on the other hand i was driving this morning on my way to work and everything was fine, the smell was gone and the clutch also felt normal.

BUT it was on my way home when i noticed something different. when i started the car, i noticed that the clutch pedal felt a bit "sticky" as if it wasn't as smooth as before, and there was a squeaky sound when i depressed it all the way. [IT IS NOT THE SAME SOUND IT MADE WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS ABOUT TO BREAK] it only makes that sound at the last cm of depression. then i noticed the smell came back, through the AC. when i got home, i could smell it when i popped the engine bay, but its not really a strong smell as if i burned my clutch but a faint smell of it.

i did try to get the car rolling in 2nd gear, and it did it fine.

what could it be?

i know some of you might think im paranoid or something [because my clutch bracket did break while i was on the freeway a couple months ago] but this is really getting to me. not to mention the smell is giving me a headache.

Twiztog43

iTrader: (15)

ok, just did another test run, and it seems like the smell only comes back through the AC is when i drive the car hard. i drove for a couple miles shifting around 2K and it was fine, but when i shifted around 6K from 2nd to 3rd gear the smell came back briefly.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Slipping clutch? The smell is pretty specific. What type of burning smell?

Twiztog43

iTrader: (15)

its kind of like a rubbery smell/ burnt clutch

Twiztog43

iTrader: (15)

so as it turns out.... i need a new clutch.....

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Contact www.blackhaloracing.com

CarAndDriver

So what's the history on your clutch? How many miles on it - first owner? Do you drive it hard?

My car needs a new clutch with only 26K on the car, but I'm not the first owner. I'm going with BHR Spec kit, but I've been dawdling about ordering it. Me bad.

If you pull out the clutch, it is the time to get a flywheel if you want a lighter one. I'm not getting one.

Twiztog43

iTrader: (15)

well i got the car around 32,000 miles and i have put 16,000 miles on it in the span of 8 months so its around 49,000 miles right now. BUT, the reason why my mileage is so high because i mostly drive highway, around 60 miles + a day which is 95% highway.

with the story of my clutch though, i dont know how the previous owner drove but when i first got the car i wasnt the best learner, or the quickest learner so i have burned it quite a bit for the first month. i can remember a memorable one, where a friend asked for a ride and he did not tell me that the onramp to get to his neighborhood was a steep incline. lets just say i freaked, and burned the clutch pretty bad, smoke in the engine bay and everything. but that was the 2nd day or so driving the car.

other than that i drove the car normally, shifting around 2K-4K, and i usually do 2-3 Redlines a day, depending on traffic. i usually do the redlines heading up the on-ramps or when there are freeway interchanges. i have never launched my car, nor do i know of.

also, the dealer wants to charge me $1,500 or so [before tax] and he said they would get it done by tomorrow "IF" the flywheel is in good shape, if not then they have to order it because they dont have it in stock, but the clutch itself they do have.

i decided to go ahead with the replacing of the clutch just because i need the car ASAP because its the only form of transportation i have to go to school/work. lucky i dont have either tomorrow, but if my flywheel is done for, then im basically screwed in the *** for thursday and friday.

the worst part is i was going to go aftermarket, but this all happened so sudden, and i cant afford not to have a car right now so waiting on parts is kind of out of the question.

on a side note, i told them that the last time i was there that they welded my clutch pedal bracket crooked when i brought in my car 3 months ago because the pedal broke. would they install a race roots clutch pedal [full bracket] or would that void one of their policies? [i would ask them but they are closed right now, just a curiosity]

Twiztog43

iTrader: (15)

well i just picked up the car around 1pm today, and i must say the new clutch is like night and day. they even told me that it would be super soft, but i didnt really think it would be like this. the catch is so far down!

anyways they also replaced my motor mounts under warranty because the tech who drove my car noticed vibrations.

CarAndDriver

Glad you got it fixed. That seems high for a clutch, but it is the dealer and they charge a lot more than 3rd party mechanics. You live in LA, you should look for a rotary specialist in LA that will charge you less for future work.

Was it the Mazda clutch? If it was, it should be covered for a year/12K miles I think.

If you don't like the catch, I think you can have them adjust it. Also if they welded the clutch pedal crooked, they should fix it.

Twiztog43

iTrader: (15)

yea i would have taken it to lets say, Mazdatrix but there would be no way to get it there in time. plus they had the clutch in stock. as for the clutch, im sure it should last more than 12k.

also, the catch, well i guess ill get used to it.

Kaiser bun

iTrader: (2)

(thread res)

well i just got back from a very long road trip today and noticed a smell which i would describe similar to yours.... i too got the car at 32000 and just passed 48500 which is kinda scary similar :/ im gonna be pissed if i have to replace the clutch

Twiztog43

iTrader: (15)

was it mostly HWY? i dont think you would have been using the clutch a lot.

but on the other hand, after the clutch was replaced, the smell was gone.

Vyndictive

iTrader: (28)

Clutches replaced around 50k?

My rx8 has 76k on it and it's on the original clutch... I know you're both 2nd owners, but I would re-examine your starting technique... It just seems very low for a clutch is all.

But, what do I know, maybe I'm just lucky.

DarkBrew

The squeaking at the bottom of the travel is caused by the interlock switch. There's a TSB to replace it.
Also the pedal height is adjustable so you don't have to get use to it; Get them to adjust it to where you want it.
I'm at 125,000km (78k) and the original clutch is fine.

Twiztog43

iTrader: (15)

yea i know, but we never really can know what the previous owner has done with the car.

Kaiser bun

iTrader: (2)

I went and mimiced the smell this morning and now am thinking it might be a clogged cat, might make an apt at the nearest mazda dealer 100 miles away ... lol

Kaiser bun

iTrader: (2)

update: well i took it to a local mechanic and he hoisted it up to find that the extension housing seal is the problem. I seem to be leaking trans oil/fluid whatever you want to call it which is causing my smell. $25 part but 2 hours labor so im looking at about $170.

I am going to make sure my powertrain warranty is up and if it is expired, i will just have the work done here vs the closest mazda dealer.