Did I burn/damage my clutch today

I have a 2003 TDI with 30, 000 km. I don't know what I was thinking this evening. My wife was giving me a hard time in the car. I was on a hill stopped waiting to turn right. I was in 2nd gear. I should've been in 1st. I wasn't moving so I added more gas and more gas. The clutch started smoking and ugly smell started happening. I went to around 4500 rpm.

I feel like I somebody hit me in the groin area. I can't believe this happened.

How likely is it that my clutch is fried?

Thanks Sam

Reply to
Sam
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Jim B.

Reply to
jimbehning

Sam,

I start in 2nd all the time even on hills; I'm a scatterbrain driver. My clutch still works no problem.

I think that you'll find that your clutch is fried if it starts slipping - that usually happens in the higher gears, after which you can just drive to a shop in a lower gear, i.e. don't use 5th.

I wouldn't sweat it too much

cheers,

Reply to
JD

I wouldn't worry so much. You didn't do good things to the clutch, but one mistake usually won't kill it. I bought my 79 rabbit new in Canada, and in getting it home, crossed over on a small ferry. The road getting off was a big gravel hill, and I was praying everyone wouldn't stop, as my experience on hills was limited. Well, the traffic stopped, and I was forced to start on the hill...I think I slipped the clutch and had the thing floored all the way up. Got that nasty clutch smell...but the clutch lasted until there was 220,000 miles on the car.

If you normally drive carefully, don't worry...just leave the wife home next time (;^P) (we can say that since she isn't here!)

Reply to
Tony Bad

Reply to
PJ4LIFE

Thanks, now my gut hurts even more.

Reply to
Sam

Thanks, my stomach is beginning to feel better.

Reply to
Sam
220,000 : miles on the car. : : If you normally drive carefully, don't worry...just leave the wife home next : time (;^P) (we can say that since she isn't here!)

Thanks for the reassurance. We'll take her car the next time we go out. :-)

Reply to
Sam

Number one thing that destroys clutches: Riding the clutch. Number two " " Riding the clutch. etc.. etc.

The way to tell if you clutch is fried:

1) It's hard shifting into a gear. 2) It chatters on take off. 3) The engine goes faster in a tall gear (say 5th) with no noticable increase in speed. 4) It continues to smell.

Always remember these fine safety tips from Igon when in a similar situation.

1) Stop. 2) Tell the wife to get out. 3) When satisfied you have the momentary upper hand in the relationship (its fleetingly transient, I assure you.) resume travel and resume arguement. (Necessarily in that order.)

It's cheaper.

Oh... and 1300 is a bit ridiculous for a clutch. Even if its in that Monopoly money known as Canadian dollars... ;)

And remember RPMs kill clutches on engagement. Practice speed matching your shifts, and your clutch can last a lifetime. (I know... I had to replace a clutch in a Jeep (Bloody slave cylinder let go), and the mechanic pulled it apart. He offered to put the original pressure plate back in, because it was seemingly brand new (OEM parts.) No warpage, the clutch was almost new (save for the oil soaked pads) and that was at 170,000 miles. (280K kilometers?))

Reply to
Don Mac Phee

Jim B.

Reply to
jimbehning

I smoked a clutch trying to get a car on ramps, once. For a while afterwards, it would be "grabby" on take-off in first gear, but eventually, it got back to normal again. I assume the burned portions wore off, and it got back to smooth-engaging, unburned material. I ran that car another

60,000 miles before selling it, and the clutch still worked fine at that point. I wouldn't sweat it if I were you.
Reply to
Brian Running

Man, that sucks, I would junk the car if anyone stuck an auto in mine.

How about just paying attention, I have never doen anything as stupid as that. Sure I have left it in higher gears before, but you find out pretty quick that it is in the wrong gear, you'd have to be a fool to not hit the clutch and stick it in first.

Buy a bigger car or stay home

Reply to
Mike Smith

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