Burning smell, clutch? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

bionick · 02-04-2015, 12:01 AM

Hey guys. Quick question.
I have a 2010 2SS LS3 (manual trans obviously).

When I am in first gear with the clutch to the floor and get it to let's say 3,000 RPM's and drop the clutch, I get this burning smell coming from my AC vents. I know it's not the tires because the smell comes even when the tires barley chirp.
Is this normal? Should it be a concern? Not sure if this is a noob question but the only other manual I have had was an old frontier which I obviously didn't drive it like that haha. Any info helps.

Thanks

mar10 · 02-04-2015, 12:09 AM

Yeah most likely the clutch. Not much reason to be that hard on it unless your racing.

bionick · 02-04-2015, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mar10

Yeah most likely the clutch. Not much reason to be that hard on it unless your racing.

Yes I agree but is this still normal?

mar10 · 02-04-2015, 12:19 AM

Is not normal if you are driving it like normal. But revving it that high and dumping it yes you are going to get that smell.

bionick · 02-04-2015, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mar10

Is not normal if you are driving it like normal. But revving it that high and dumping it yes you are going to get that smell.

Ok yeah no issues when I'm driving normal.
Just wanted to make sure.

Thanks!

Destructo09 · 02-04-2015, 04:40 PM

I've revved to 4000-4500 and released the clutch very quickly, you should not be smoking the clutch by launching the car.

That smell is caused by the clutch overheating, it shouldn't over heat by a simple launch. It's possible the clutch is slipping which could be a sign it's worn out. How many miles are on it?

bionick · 02-07-2015, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Destructo09

I've revved to 4000-4500 and released the clutch very quickly, you should not be smoking the clutch by launching the car.

That smell is caused by the clutch overheating, it shouldn't over heat by a simple launch. It's possible the clutch is slipping which could be a sign it's worn out. How many miles are on it?

Car has 33,000 miles on it. I got it when it had 31,000 miles. it doesn't seem to be slipping or have any issues. It performs 100%..

Splat1two · 03-23-2015, 10:48 PM

My 2015 2SS 1LE has the same smell. Its weird, its only when I first crank it in the am and pull out of the driveway in reverse.

revived · 03-24-2015, 01:39 PM

If I turn the heat on I get a almost burning rubber smell once in a while crusing on the highway usually when in six going up a long highway hill or somethinig.

I don't know what it is but I will wait until something breaks.. lol I would feel dumb trying to make a dealership look into a smell like that people there would just say oh its normal and I would be wasting my time haha.

a7m1 · 04-20-2015, 06:54 AM

get the car checked out it's not normal i dump the clutch on every shift(even in stop an go traffic) at 3k+ rpms

you're driving the car normally so get it cheked out

obviously joking, the bellhousing is vented so yeah it'll smell

Camarotobeornottobe · 04-20-2015, 09:30 AM

My 2014 1LE has 2k miles on it, and I still get the burning clutch smell if I let off the clutch slowly while giving it a little gas. Happens mostly when I am trying to back uphill into my garage.

I have never burned out a clutch in 20+ years of driving, so I know what I'm doing. This is just the smelliest clutch I have ever driven.

a7m1 · 04-21-2015, 05:57 PM

many thoughts about vented bellhousing but i dont think its the case,

its just that friction area is so narrow with very high clamping force, acts like on/off switch

so regardless of years of experience you have to adapt to this POS Clutch GM Installed

smell= excessive heat with/without venting so you are contributing to premature failure, i would recommend scratching the bumper than smell the clutch

happend to me twice , once slipped clutch at 3k rpm for a second or two and the smell is all over my ac vents

second time climbing over sand parking spot( had to climb at an angle to avoid scratching bumper and was very gentle with clutch

overwise the clutch isn't slipping

SomeGeoffGuy · 04-23-2015, 04:41 PM

The clutch smell comes through occasionally because the drain in the HVAC is right above the vent area on the trans.

-Geoff

RichCamaro10 · 08-18-2015, 10:16 PM

I only smell the clutch when its cold and I have the defroster on. Once I change the HVAC to another setting it stops. If everything is heated up and the defroster on I never smell the clutch at all

02-04-2015, 12:01 AM	#1
bionick Drives: 2010 2SS/RS M6 Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 931 View My Garage	Burning smell, clutch? Hey guys. Quick question. I have a 2010 2SS LS3 (manual trans obviously). When I am in first gear with the clutch to the floor and get it to let's say 3,000 RPM's and drop the clutch, I get this burning smell coming from my AC vents. I know it's not the tires because the smell comes even when the tires barley chirp. Is this normal? Should it be a concern? Not sure if this is a noob question but the only other manual I have had was an old frontier which I obviously didn't drive it like that haha. Any info helps. Thanks __________________ 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS \| 416 LS3 \| FED stage 2 heads

02-04-2015, 04:40 PM	#6
Destructo09 Drives: 2010 CGM Camaro 2SS/LS3 Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Raleigh-Durham Posts: 1,409	I've revved to 4000-4500 and released the clutch very quickly, you should not be smoking the clutch by launching the car. That smell is caused by the clutch overheating, it shouldn't over heat by a simple launch. It's possible the clutch is slipping which could be a sign it's worn out. How many miles are on it? __________________ 2010 2SS BMR 1" Springs Koni Orange struts/shocks 1LE rear sway bar SRP Racing Pedals Hurst Billet short shifter Square tire/wheel setup Elite Engineering Catch Can Stainless Power longtubes/highflow cats K&N Typhoon CAI RPM Motorsports of Garner, NC dyno tune (421 RWHP)

03-24-2015, 01:39 PM	#9
revived Vrrrm. Drives: 2011 2SS/RS LS3 Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: MA Posts: 1,495	If I turn the heat on I get a almost burning rubber smell once in a while crusing on the highway usually when in six going up a long highway hill or somethinig. I don't know what it is but I will wait until something breaks.. lol I would feel dumb trying to make a dealership look into a smell like that people there would just say oh its normal and I would be wasting my time haha. __________________

04-23-2015, 04:41 PM	#13
SomeGeoffGuy Drives: 2023 2SS Convertible Join Date: May 2009 Location: Metro Detroit Posts: 1,195	The clutch smell comes through occasionally because the drain in the HVAC is right above the vent area on the trans. -Geoff __________________ '12 2SS RS Convertible - Traded in. '16 2SS Convertible - White on white, mag-ride, NPP, nav. Sold! '23 2SS Convertible -Same as above except orange.

08-18-2015, 10:16 PM	#14
RichCamaro10 Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 110 View My Garage	I only smell the clutch when its cold and I have the defroster on. Once I change the HVAC to another setting it stops. If everything is heated up and the defroster on I never smell the clutch at all __________________ 2010 Black Camaro 2SS

02-04-2015, 12:09 AM	#2
mar10 Drives: 2010 SS RS Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: AZ Posts: 406	Yeah most likely the clutch. Not much reason to be that hard on it unless your racing.

02-04-2015, 12:19 AM	#4
mar10 Drives: 2010 SS RS Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: AZ Posts: 406	Is not normal if you are driving it like normal. But revving it that high and dumping it yes you are going to get that smell.

03-23-2015, 10:48 PM	#8
Splat1two Drives: 2015 2ss 1le Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Hampton Roads, VA Posts: 94	My 2015 2SS 1LE has the same smell. Its weird, its only when I first crank it in the am and pull out of the driveway in reverse.

04-20-2015, 06:54 AM	#10
a7m1 Drives: Camaro SS M6 Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Kuwait Posts: 100	get the car checked out it's not normal i dump the clutch on every shift(even in stop an go traffic) at 3k+ rpms you're driving the car normally so get it cheked out obviously joking, the bellhousing is vented so yeah it'll smell

04-20-2015, 09:30 AM	#11
Camarotobeornottobe Drives: 1LE Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: East Coast Man Posts: 550	My 2014 1LE has 2k miles on it, and I still get the burning clutch smell if I let off the clutch slowly while giving it a little gas. Happens mostly when I am trying to back uphill into my garage. I have never burned out a clutch in 20+ years of driving, so I know what I'm doing. This is just the smelliest clutch I have ever driven.

04-21-2015, 05:57 PM	#12
a7m1 Drives: Camaro SS M6 Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Kuwait Posts: 100	many thoughts about vented bellhousing but i dont think its the case, its just that friction area is so narrow with very high clamping force, acts like on/off switch so regardless of years of experience you have to adapt to this POS Clutch GM Installed smell= excessive heat with/without venting so you are contributing to premature failure, i would recommend scratching the bumper than smell the clutch happend to me twice , once slipped clutch at 3k rpm for a second or two and the smell is all over my ac vents second time climbing over sand parking spot( had to climb at an angle to avoid scratching bumper and was very gentle with clutch overwise the clutch isn't slipping