Clutch question

[261252]

I have a clutch in my car, I believe this is called a standard.

Yesterday I was stuck on some ice.

I put the car in second and spun until I smelled something burning. At first I thought it was my tires but I now realize it was my clutch.

Why would spinning ones tires cause the clutch to burn?

It seems to me you are only doing what the clutch was designed to do. Whether you are actually moving or not seems irrelevant.

 

[a 1 player]

My guess is that you were riding the clutch, causing an unnecessary strain on it as it was not fully engaged. Bad,bad, bad for the clutch.

 

[OnTheWayOut]

Most likely it was on the brink of needing replacement before you did your ice fun.

 

[papasmerf]

if you only believe it is a standard you should not be driving it.
You need an automatic.

 

[capncrunch]

Most likely it was on the brink of needing replacement before you did your ice fun.

Agreed.

261252, have you driven the car since? If so, what sort of symptoms does it have?

 

[oldjones]

If the tires are spinning, you're not going to get anywhere. Stop instantly and do something useful. Like get out and shovel, add traction material, ask for help, use less gas (so the tires don't spin uselessly) and rock the car by riding the clutch (which is the winter advantage of standard over automatic).

Just imagine how fast you would have been travelling if the wheels had been turning at that speed while you were on the highway; now remember you were running them that fast in only second gear. Not good.

But, if you want to get unstuck, NEVER spin the wheels.

 

[tboy]

if you only believe it is a standard you should not be driving it.
You need an automatic.

what he said....lol....

BTW: where were you yesterday where there was ice? With the temps we've had recently I didn't think there was any left? (except maybe in the ice cube trays)......

Just wondering: what make and model car is it? (make as in manufacturer and model as in Civic, cavalier, vibe etc).

One thing that is really hard on the drivetrain is spinning ONE wheel on ice while the other is sitting on dry pavement. The differential would be spinning like a madman.

 

[danmand]

I have a clutch in my car, I believe this is called a standard.

Yesterday I was stuck on some ice.

I put the car in second and spun until I smelled something burning. At first I thought it was my tires but I now realize it was my clutch.

Why would spinning ones tires cause the clutch to burn?

It seems to me you are only doing what the clutch was designed to do. Whether you are actually moving or not seems irrelevant.

Actually, the tires can get very hot from spinning on ice. You may have
smelled the tires.

 

[K Douglas]

I don't it was the clutch, I'm almost sure it was your tires. I've been in that predicament too. Of course it doesn't help have low profile summer tires the past two winters.

 

[tboy]

Just remembered:

many clutches smell a little like roast beef if they're slipping or burning......

 

[a 1 player]

Just remembered:

many clutches smell a little like roast beef if they're slipping or burning......

Mine smelled like roast ass.

 

[papasmerf]

Mine smelled like roast ass.

I never burned a clutch out.............Will have to take your word for that

 

[amber-jade]

if you only believe it is a standard you should not be driving it.
You need an automatic.

i drove my car when the clutch fried for a day, until i got it fixed.
all you have to do is power shift, keep the rpm's at 3000 when you need to shift
and you don't need a clutch to shift gears ..

my brother tought me that one


.

 

[WoodPeckr]

First off DON'T spin the tires!

All that does is wear tires down quickly and won't help you get unstuck any faster. Best to try gently rocking the car back and forth by shifting between 1st and reverse gears by gently reving the engine at low RPMs. Using 2nd gear will cause you to rev the engine faster causing more needless wear to the clutch.
If it smelled like rubber, it was the tires, they will start smoking if you keep tires spinning too long. Clutches on domestic vehicles will last 100,000 miles unless abused, they are nothing more that a big disc brake shoe and wear out the same.

FWIW I prefer a standard to an auto tranny when trying to get unstuck in snow. You have more control over the vehicle with a clutch and if you're not very careful rocking with an auto tranny you will cause much more damage to the auto tranny than with a clutch trying to rock the vehicle out of snow.

 

[papasmerf]

First off DON'T spin the tires!

All that does is wear tires down quickly and won't help you get unstuck any faster. Best to try gently rocking the car back and forth by shifting between 1st and reverse gears by gently reving the engine at low RPMs. Using 2nd gear will cause you to rev the engine faster causing more needless wear to the clutch.
If it smelled like rubber, it was the tires, they will start smoking if you keep tires spinning too long. Clutches on domestic vehicles will last 100,000 miles unless abused, they are nothing more that a big disc brake shoe and wear out the same.

FWIW I prefer a standard to an auto tranny when trying to get unstuck in snow. You have more control over the vehicle with a clutch and if you're not very careful rocking with an auto tranny you will cause much more damage to the auto tranny than with a clutch trying to rock the vehicle out of snow.

Good advice.

 

[tboy]

Yeah pecker knows his stuff. I once owned a little honda civic and that thing would NEVER get stuck (cuz I'd just bounce it over a couple of inches onto dry pavement lol).

Nowadays if I ever get stuck I just put it in neutral and flip this little switch on my dash that says: 4 lo 4 hi 2 hi....lol......

 

[papasmerf]

Yeah pecker knows his stuff. I once owned a little honda civic and that thing would NEVER get stuck (cuz I'd just bounce it over a couple of inches onto dry pavement lol).

Nowadays if I ever get stuck I just put it in neutral and flip this little switch on my dash that says: 4 lo 4 hi 2 hi....lol......

this year I just drop the plow and push

 

[doggee_01]

if you only believe it is a standard you should not be driving it.
You need an automatic.

no he needs to use the ttc!

 

[capncrunch]

no he needs to use the ttc!

But doesn't TTC stand for Take The Car?

 

[james t kirk]

Actually, the tires can get very hot from spinning on ice. You may have
smelled the tires.

Exactly.

Once the clutch pedal is out, there will be no chance of burning the friction plate or pressure plate for that matter, or the flywheel surface for that matter unless the clutch is worn out anyway and it's slipping.

Once a clutch even starts to slip, it's about a day from being shot.