Clutch smell while in gear.

[notevrgnnatrstu]

Hi my name is Crystal I currently have a 03 protege5 with 180,000 miles I have had this car for roughly 5 years with many different mods done to it as well as replaced my clutch with a level 4 about eight months ago I have maintained my car very well and have not had any real issues with it even though I am very rough on it I have raced it I have peeled out in it double clutched it reason i am stating this is because i have not once had an issue such as this one. I will be in gear (no my foot is not on the clutch) and i will get the odor of burning clutch this has happened three times it will linger for about five to ten minutes then disappear. I consider myself to be fairly intellegent when it comes to cars but this one has me puzzled and its not slipping or anything nothing seems to be different other then the smell so any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Maxx Mazda]

It's slipping somewhere if it stinks like that.

 

[notevrgnnatrstu]

I have done simple tests to see if this might be the cause and it shows no signs of slipping it still has free play its not stiff i dont need to down shift while traveling up hill im so lost......

 

[CheeseHelmet]

Could you perhaps be confusing the smell of clutch with brakes? Maybe one of your front calipers is sticky...

 

[RABID_MP5]

There was another thread on here like 3 to 6 months ago with intermittent clutch slippage. Can't remember if they solved it.
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?123784712-Clutch-Slippage

 

[P-Funk!]

My initial thought too. Feel (carefully) the front brakes after driving. Hot brakes is more likely.

 

[kudakev615]

I consider myself to be fairly intellegent...

 

[Stickman]

Rabid,
Yah that was my post on slippage. It still slips intermitantly, one or two days slipping, a few days not.

My latest thought on my P5 is that the torn rear motor mount shifts the motor & trans enough to upset full clutch engagement. That or maybe a problem w/ the throw out bearing or burr on shaft. Who knows!? Bottom line, not dropping $1000 on clutch & mount until it gets much worse.

As for Crystal,
Maybe the smell comes from burning fluid. Could a slight leaking engine seal onto clutch plate cause smell w/out slipping? Crystal, did you replace the motor seal when you redid the clutch?

Would it be possible that when engaging & disengaging clutch, the clutch fluid would leak out somewhere onto hot engine part, then burn off w/in 10 minutes?

 

[tweety2300]

Yes it is possible for a seal to leak get fluids on the clutch and cause it to randomly slip slightly and not enough to noticed. Happned with my dads old truck...but seriously stage 4 clutch? I don't think our cars can make enough power to need a stage 3 especially if all u have is a few bolt ons. But your car your money my opinion