i have a problem with my car

99 mazda protege DX, 1.6L I-4, 5-speed

i am getting a lot of burning when i accelerate in 2nd and 3rd

like foot to the floor

i notice it the most on on-ramps

this clutch only has 15,000 miles on it

could it be a warped flywheel?

the only reason i say that is because there is some shudder when i start off from a complete stop in 1st gear

any suggestions?

9/28/2005 9:36:18 PM

what kills me is that this car makes like 100 hp at the crank

sometimes high loading, like 4 people in the car and the AC on will cause a bit

9/28/2005 9:39:01 PM

Quote :

"i am getting a lot of burning when i accelerate in 2nd and 3rd"

i assume by burning you mean slipping and the awful smell that sometimes comes along with that?? obviously, friction disc at the least is gone..replace the flywheel and entire clutch

9/28/2005 9:43:49 PM

sounds like a shot clutch. a clutch can go at anytime regardless of miles. how long a clutch lasts depends on how competent the driver is.

9/28/2005 9:43:51 PM

yea, but it isnt an obvious slip

i dont hear the engine rev up and then it catches

it just smells like ass

yea, im not the best but i dont abuse it

there is just no way that i have gone through an entire clutch in 15,000 miles

[Edited on September 28, 2005 at 10:02 PM. Reason : .]

9/28/2005 9:58:40 PM

Sure there is. I've done it. Abuse is certainly the culprit. Or at least I'd bet a coupla dollars.

I really think that a clutch needs to bed properly before used and abused...same as with brakes. The friction material needs to "season" a bit and lose some of its green-ness. I have seen friction material literally shredded on a brand new clutch...at the hands of a very inexperienced driver.

If the flywheel is warped, then you can get some shudder, but then what warps a flywheel is lots of heat from high amounts of slippage. Was it surfaced when the clutch was replaced?

I've surfaced Mustang GT flywheels that were damn near taco'ed.

9/28/2005 11:38:36 PM