I have a 5 speed 1997 Civic HX. For months now, if I wait in neutral without my foot on the clutch I start smelling something like burning clutch. This is after just driving around town, nothing fast or aggressive. Has anyone had any similar experience? Thanks.

 

you havent experienced any slips or grinds?

 

No, everything works fine. It's just the smell.

 

did you just do brakes on the car by chance?

 

Nope, haven't done anything to the brakes. I don't think I'm smelling brakes - it only seems to occur when idling in neutral for more than a few seconds. Thanks for the thoughts so far though.

 

maybe ur riding the clutch when ur driving and then wen u come to a stop u start to smell it?

 

Good guess, but I know how to drive a stick. I've had the car for a few years now and it only started smelling this way a few months ago.

 

you might wanna look under the dash, it could possibly be a short in the wires causing them to burn?


i've never smelled a clutch burn before without any slipping or grinding haha good luck

 

That's kind of possible - the backlights for the heating/cooling air on the dash sometimes don't go on. Although that would be strange to only smell it when stopped in neutral.

 

Some models have a neutral safety switch so you can't start it, some use the clutch pedal switch, you may have a safety wiring problem with it if it has one !!! just a thought.