Quote:
Originally Posted by Previologist
Was driving my 97 5-speed up a moderately steep road tonight and something felt funny. I noticed the tach would shoot up higher than it should after a gear shift, kind of like I was on ice. But I don't think there was any ice, although its possible there was black ice since it was right at 32-33 degrees and foggy.
Anyway I then got the unmistakeable smell of something burning.
I was 30 miles from home and in town for weekly shopping so I headed to the nearest parts store, checked the fluid, and it was slightly low but not a lot. I added some fresh DOT3 and finished my shopping and got home without incident, but the smell lingered and it seemed to rev up briefly a couple more times after shifting.
Never done a clutch and don't want to, but can't afford to have someone else do it either. I'm already saving pennies and gathering parts for replacing valve cover gaskets and timing belt replacement next year, which I plan to do myself. She has 308,000 miles and lots of body rust but the frame is good and I still want to squeeze a few more years out of it.
Not sure what my next step should be re the clutch, as this now jumps to the front of the list.
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Since you're into fixing things yourself and you've got those valve cover gaskets and timing belt replacements coming up, it might be a good idea to take a quick look under the hood at your clutch system. Just see if there are any obvious signs of wear or leaks around the master and slave cylinders. Oh, and don't forget to check the clutch fluid reservoir to make sure it's all good. Considering the mileage, it might not hurt to inspect the clutch itself if you're up for it.
If you do find that the clutch is indeed the culprit, and you decide to replace it, think about grabbing a quality clutch kit that includes the pressure plate, clutch disc, and throwout bearing. Also, it's wise to inspect the flywheel for any signs of damage or wear. If necessary, resurfacing or replacing it could improve the longevity of the new clutch.
