Smoke from engine bay :(

[welshname]

Right, after me saying the clutch was dying I just pulled up outside my friends house which is on a hill and had to set off which obviously causes more strain on the clutch.

As I've done this smoke came from under the bonnet. So I've stopped and gone round to the front of the car and as you look at the front of te car the smoke was coming from the right hand side of the grill. Not black or thick and not a he'll of a lot, it was a similar amount to exhaling after a drag on a cigarette and stopped after a second or 2.

Now it still drives but I'm really worried that the problems are more than the clutch as the engine doesn't sound too great. Will check the oil level when it's cooled down later.

What's everyones opinion on what it is?

Cheers

 

[welshname]

Bump

 

[James105]

Does it smell? A clutch burning out has a very strong smell to it

 

[welshname]

Yeah, it smells like burning clutch like when you accelerate too hard with the clutch part way out.

But do they really smoke?

How much am I looking at for a replacement on a 1.2 16v mk2 ph3?

 

[James105]

Yeah, they can smoke if they have been slipping a lot for a period of time.

I rang Renault not too long ago regarding the price of a clutch kit, and im sure they said £107 for the clutch kit. (Thats parts only)

 

[welshname]

Oh dear. I'm not a happy bunny. Is it something I can do myself?

 

[James105]

How mechanically minded are you?
Involves removing the gearbox to change the clutch

 

[welshname]

Not very but I have friends who are. What's needed to do the job? Can it be done in axel stands on your driveway?

 

[The Boosh!]

Not very but I have friends who are. What's needed to do the job? Can it be done in axel stands on your driveway?

It's not ideal as you need to drop all the subframe etc.

 

[James105]

As Boosh says! Do-able, but not very pleasant having to get a gearbox up and down and wiggled about on the floor!

 

[welshname]

Is it safe to drive home now even though it's smoking?

 

[James105]

Distance? Flat ground?

 

[welshname]

6 miles and a bit of everything

I can go the very flat motorway way. Or I can go the not as flat shorter Distance

 

[welshname]

Had it changed and it's still not right, biting point feels really low still and like there isn't much of one in there. Not a f**king clue what to do.

Is there anyone local to me with the same car and a bit of knowledge who could tell me what's wrong if they had a little drive?

Jus cost me 300 for the f**king clutch

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

Did you get anyone's actual real life opinion than just CS internet engineers, who summarised that as you said the smell was like burning clutch, your clutch needed attention... or did you just go ahead and change it dude ?

I know the RS's have a gearbox leak sometimes, but not sure it affects the clutch .. oil + clutch plates = bad news.

Who did the work ?

 

[todd100]

300 just for clutch ouch, i had a clutch and full service week before last and that was 300

 

[welshname]

Mechanic who lives down the road. Are the clutches on these cable operates?

 

[JackJack]

Yep pretty sure the ph3s are cable the ph2s are any way

 

[welshname]

Is there a way to adjust them then? The clutch was fucked and it's been given a full service and he fitted new discs and pads too.

There is just a lot of slack in the clutch pedal, no smoke anymore, no slipping, just slack in the pedal which is what makes me think it's that. Just took it for a quick blast on the national speed limit road near me and it's a million times better.

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

Doesn't sound like there's a problem any more. 5th gear .. 40mph .. put your foot down hard (accelerator not clutch!) and see if it hits the limiter before you get 100 yards up the road. If it does, it's slipping.

If not, chill out.

 

[welshname]

Clutch is deffo fine. I hate driving it ATM though. I like the clutch to engage higher. There is atleast an inch of slack

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

You'll get used to it in no time dude.

 

[JackJack]

Is there a way to adjust them then?

Self adjusting.

 

[welshname]

Well it isn't adjusting. Is there a way to reset it?

 

[welshname]

anyone? its right near the floor. as soon as i lift off the pedal its engaging. is there any way to reset the self adjuster. its really difficult to set off with it that low. its really wierd. it was much higher before the last one went. is there a way to reset it.

 

[H182]

You'll get used to it, all clutches are different heights. I'd leave it rather than messing around personally.

 

[welshname]

got a proper pikey way to make your biting point higher. will post pics tomorrow when ive done this.