ST220 clutch smell issue - advice

drunken fool

drunken fool

drunken fool

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Well, on Friday i was taking the daughter to school and when i pulled up i noticed the lovely smell of burnt clutch. Seemed odd at the time as i didn't recall it slipping or me riding the clutch at all. Proceeded into work and the same smell was evident when i pulled up. After work on the way home i noticed the same smell when stopped in traffic and out of gear so thought the worst that the clutch was on the way out.

A very (seemingly) un-scientific test at a clutch place on saturday morning and they said the clutch had indeed gone and needed replacement. They seemed to cowboy like for my liking so dropped it off at the main Ford dealer this morning for their opinion.

Again, on the (very) sedate 1.5 mile journey to them this morning i noticed the smell when i pulled up but not as bad as it has been. They have just called to say they have taken it for a test drive (3-4 miles) and there is no evidence of issues but acknowledge the smell. Seem to think i may have burnt the clutch somehow on Friday morning and that it should wear off after time.

I'm slightly confused now as i don't recall sliping or riding the clutch on friday morning. If i did i would have expected the smell at that time, not after i had pulled up and sat stationary? It's quite an expensive job on the ST to replace the clutch so i'm happy if thats not the issue but still have the issue that i don't know what could have caused it!
 
I had a similar experience in my car recently, clutch burning smell on normal drives, no slipping clutch, which over the period of a week ended up with not being able to engage gears at all.

Ended up being the clutch slave cylinder. The clutch wasn't fully disengaging, and dragging while stationary or out of gear causing the smell.

Not sure if similar could happen on your mondeo?
 
When the clutch failed on my ZS, it started making the usual 'clutch burning' smell, then a couple of weeks later it got a little juddery.

A week of juddering takeoffs later, it completely failed.

The central disc had completely disintegrated, and so with the disc off-centre part of it had been making contact with the flywheel and pressure plate all the time, causing the smell.

Edit: Very good point about the hydraulics, my Fiesta did similar.
 
Have a sniff of the brakes through all the wheels as well. Burning brake linings smell the same and you might have a binding brake.

If the clutch isn't slipping or juddering it doesn't need replacing, end of story.
 
Jonny69 said:
Have a sniff of the brakes through all the wheels as well. Burning brake linings smell the same and you might have a binding brake.

If the clutch isn't slipping or juddering it doesn't need replacing, end of story.
Click to expand...

this is a good point. I thought my clutch was going, then I realised on of my front calipers is sticking and my pad is down to metal.....good thing is i don't get the clutch smell anymore.
 
Jonny69 said:
Have a sniff of the brakes through all the wheels as well. Burning brake linings smell the same and you might have a binding brake.

If the clutch isn't slipping or juddering it doesn't need replacing, end of story.
Click to expand...

Well done that man! After i got back from the garage (<2 miles) i checked each wheel for heat. Rear drivers side was kicking more heat from the disk than my central heating!

OCUK knowledge to the rescue! Cheers Jonny69!
 
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