Could some of you be nice enough to perform this test:

1. Make sure you have room to reverse a bit...

2. Start the car (or simply be in neutral)

3. Make sure you A/C is on and is at a high fan speed and fresh air setting.

4. Reverse quickly (don't necessarily BOLT into reverse but quickly reverse... as if you are in hurry to go)

5. Observe smell and vote ... comment if you want as well.

 

Didn't do your test. I only smell a hint of clutch (outside nver inside) after extensive maneuvering in reverse. I sometimes have to back up the length of my condo's parking lot and into the last parking space so I can face out when leaving. I have to literally get under the car to smell it.

 

The exact same observation but do smell it inside for a brief sec or 2 when the AC is on with high fan and not recirculating..

Next time you pull out a bit, see if turning on the air, not recirc, max speed brings the smell inside...

 

i smell rich exhaust fumes..... smells like a rotary... lol

 

Me, too. Rich exhaust fumes. Smells like partially combusted fuel.

 

Strong exhaust smell, typical of a rotary engine at startup.

 

Well just got back from the dealership. Demonstrated the smell successfully with a tech in the car.

They checked out the entire tranny and found ............



NOTHING... clutch looks barely even broken in... rest of tranny fine.



But they did find it odd that the smell can be reproduced and agreeded it is a clutch smell. The tranny specialist said that it probably is the clutch being broken in (shouldn't it be broken in by now at 7500 miles???) or am I that gentle on clutches (gotten 200K miles on the SAME clutch.. ).

They did however document the oddity just in case it is a more serious problem.

Wonder how close the intake for the AC is from the tranny and engine? Probably a LOT closer than in other cars.

BTW, Don't notice any smell if:

windows are open,
A/C is in closed mode (recirculate)
no A/C

 

I've always wondered why u can actually smell clutch. I thought it was sealed in the tranny section???

 

its closed in the bell housing, but its not a air tight seal, mostly to keep stuff from getting wraped up in the spining parts and to keep the clutch dry.

Try to avoid starting the car with the AC on, I always turn off all the stuff in the car, radio, ac, fan/blower, wipers...ect, so that there is less draw on the engine when I first start it up...the electric componets are as much of a draw as the AC, but it doesnt hurt.

Its just that the engine already has to start when its cold and has 0 oil pressure, so having to spin the AC up when it starts is also hard. but this is just my opinion