I drive a 1997 Civic HX. Over a month ago my left front axle busted at the inner CV joint. It sprayed grease all over the underside of the car, including the heat shielding of the exhaust. I had a new axle installed, but the grease was not cleaned up (I looked under the car and saw it was still a mess). Ever since then I have smelled what I think is burning clutch when stopped in neutral.

For example, I'll drive for a couple minutes and not smell anything. Then I'll come to a stop light and sit in neutral for a few seconds and start to smell it. When I get going again I don't smell it.

My question is this: Could I be mistaking the smell of burning clutch for burning grease? I tried to clean all the grease off the heat shielding, but now I'm still smelling the burning clutch smell.
If it's not the burning grease, how could the clutch be burning while in neutral?

Thanks for your help!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dyslogical &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

My question is this: Could I be mistaking the smell of burning clutch for burning grease? I tried to clean all the grease off the heat shielding, but now I'm still smelling the burning clutch smell.
If it's not the burning grease, how could the clutch be burning while in neutral?

Thanks for your help! </TD></TR></TABLE>

you shouldn't smell the clutch while in nuetral, unless you were just on it.

chances are it's the grease on the exhaust. wait until the engine has cooled and then hit the grease with some engine degreaser. i have found that using some simple green or greased lightening works really good.

 

That's what I did when I cleaned it the first time.

This is when I'm just driving around town, not hard on the clutch at all. The only time I smell it is when I'm stopped for a few seconds or more.

 

i think philosofy is right you dont smell it when ur driving because air is going through your engine bay and carrying it away, when ur stopped at a light ur just sitting in the smell. somethings burning because your clutch isnt in use when ur car is in neutral you'd know if it was haha good luck

 

Power wash engine bay FTW

 

what did miggs say to you clarice

he said "I can smell your clutch"

 

Remember, clutch and brakes smell the same. Also, if you think you're smelling clutch at a stop, the first thing you do is check your clutch master and slave cylinders for signs of low fluid and/or leaking. If there's no pressure in the system, the clutch can be engaging the flywheel enough to burn it a bit at idle.

Then again, it's probably just grease.