GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Just wondering if any VIBE GT owners have noticed a buring smell coming from their clutch... or possibly their brakes. I have a Matrix XRS and have smelled what I believe is the clutch burning 4 times now in 2700 miles. I have brought the car back to the dealership twice now, but as expected they have not found anyting. As far as Matrix XRS owners go, I'm not alone. There is a topic over at matrixowners.com discussing this same issue. http://www.matrixowners.com/modules.php ... pic&p=7061

I'm not saying this to be a smart (removed) so don't take it that way but are you any good at driving a stick? Are you riding the clutch? Meaning are you driving or accelerating while resting your foot on the clutch? If so stop. Also how long are you holding in the clutch when you shift and are you reving the engine up a good ways between shifts? All of these things will give you a burning clutch smell because your clutch is slipping but it's only from the way your driving. So last question. Are you driving your XRS really hard and if so how often?

This is not my first manaual transmission vehicle, in fact it is the 5th and it is the only one I have ever experienced clutch problems with. I'm not riding the clutch, i'm not slipping the clutch, i'm not resting my foot on the clutch, and i'm not reving the engine in between shifts.Given the posts I have seen in other forums, it is more than coincidental that the only posts regarding this issue are with the manual XRS and no other models.When I returned to the Toyota Dealership to have the problem checked out for a second time they sent a mechanic out with me to see how I was driving the vehicle. I knew the dealership would start looking at me as the problem after nothing turned up the first time. As expected there was no burning odor, but more importantly, the mechanic didn't comment on anything that I was doing that could be causing the problem.My previous vehicle was a '98 Tacoma, never smelled anything burning. My second car at the moment is a '01 MR2 Spyder and I have never smelled anything burning on that either. I do know how to properly shift and drive a manual transmission.

This is true, I also noticed this clutch smell till about 400-500 K when I first took it out, trhe smell has gone away now........then maybe not because of the severe cold were having here, probably not evident...in any case, I know of one guy that has an AUTOMATIC and said there was a funny smell like a clutch burning within his first 500 K..... So I am not sure we would have to wait and see what this turns out to be

I never noticed this smell on any standard car that I had before either......so this is what surprised me, and I do not brake with my clutch or ride it!

My GT clutch has smelled hot twice, although this could be just something that happens the first time or two it gets hot. Uphill traffic with a stop sign at the top and cross traffic will do it. The first gear on the 6-speed is so high you can't creep along. I tried waiting until there were several empty car lengths ahead of me but it seemed to stay hot. Don't know if it was "danger" hot or simply "about time you warmed me up" hot.

I've noticed the smell a couple of times too!

I have smelled this on my 1zz as well. Once it was because my buddy was driving it and riding the h*** out of my clutch. It was sad.A couple of times while trying to get unstuck or starting on a hill I got the smell. I have never owned an automatic, never smelled the clutch that bad on any previous 5 speeds. Also never had to replace a clutch, even on my last 240,000 km 92 Civic.

I had few burning clutch smell with my 1zz.I'll be honest, it was my fault. Everytimes I smell this odor it was a "bad stick driver" issue. It is my 1st stick, so I had to learn.

Ok. We have settled that everyone has this smell. Do we just accept that it is engineered bio-feedback for 5 speed neophytes?This must happen to Toyota's as well. Anybody smelled this for 240,000 km on the same clutch? We will see.

I have that smell once in a while myself, especially when starting out on a hill or backing up my driveway.

quote:I have that smell once in a while myself, especially when starting out on a hill or backing up my driveway. Me too, and also when I have to pull out my Vibe from the snowback.

quote:I have that smell once in a while myself, especially when starting out on a hill or backing up my driveway. Now this sounds familiar. There was a question about this last summer from somebody, figured it was a user problem back then.

The only times that my clutch has ever stunk was when I gave it too much gas and didn't let out enough. If I'm careful, I can roll back a little and still not cause a problem. The brakes will also stink if the abs has to work hard. We had a snow fall a few days ago and I hit a really long hill and had to stop. I probably had the brakes going full bore for a few hundred feet. When I finally came to a stop, the brakes smelled like a burnt clutch. That remind me, don't go out with the 17" rims if there is any ice. You may go, but don't plan on stopping.

quote:Stop, who needs to stop, that is what the person infront of you is for. Who needs stinkin brakes. That was my lucky day because if there was a person in front of me at all, I would have wrecked. I actually turned around and went home and waited till noon to drive to work.

I have burned it a bit recently that I have started to do some launches from a stop. Now that she's breaking in. Of course now I have discovered that the snow tires don't like it! I think it is just the friction material used in the clutch.I have alot of expirance with a manual trans. 99 Eclipse turbo (modified), previous camaro 6 speed, my golf is also a stickJason

I was considering starting a thread on the burning clutch smell myself. It has happened twice when I reved the engine a little too much (maybe 3500 rpm) before letting it out. 1500 miles now - I'm hopping it'll go away with more miles.I've had two other sticks - 90 Eclipse and 80 Malibu and never had a problem. This is what makes me nervous about peformance enhancements - if I take the clutch in for a warranty repair, I'm afraid they will blame it on hot-rodding or the performance parts and refuse to pay.

coratz is kinda down. but. he doing ok

coratz's wife did that post.