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Martin Offline OP
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I've just recently noticed a "burnt clutch" smell on my car recently. However, my car is an ATX. I thought maybe it's a brake lock up, but none of the brakes feel abnormally hot after a drive. The smell just kind of comes and goes. It doesn't linger. All of the gauges read okay, and no CEL. The car doesn't pull to one side, or has any wierd hesitations. I've smelled it on the open highway, or on a quiet side street. I don't know. I've searched the archives, but most of the smells listed are sulfur-based.

Any clues?


Martin
2000 Contour SE V6 ATX
Med Steel Blue Metallic\Greystone interior
Mods: SVT grill(insert painted aluminum), foglight mod, amber reflectors removed, gas bonnet lifters, 2nd horn installed, 2001 Focus 16" rims, Knauberized, debadgerized, pre-98 sail panels, Bullitt fuel door, A6 sidemarkers, K&N air filter, TH fix, Flowmaster\glasspack exhaust, clock recontent, trunk release bezel recontent, Mystique rear dome light, express-open sunroof, Ford accessory rubber floor mats, Ford accessory door threshold protectors.
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Hot brake or burnt clutch smell is very close to hot electrical smells. Not to alarm you, but I would be worried. Not sure if your car falls under the cooling fan wiring recall, or heater blower switch recall, but I would be worried.


"When I take action, I'm not going to fire a $2 million missile at a $10 empty tent and hit a camel in the butt. It's going to be decisive." - President George W. Bush

95 Contour SE ATX V6
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Sometimes burning oil smells a lot like brake or clutch lining burning, especially if you are using synthetic oil. Did you spill some oil on the exhaust manifold when you changed the filter?


Jim Johnson
98 SVT
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I used to get that on another car when I pushed the ATX real hard (high rev shifts). Until I installed a tranny cooler. Just a thought.


'99 Contour SE Sport V6, 5spd, Dark Blue / Blue
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Martin Offline OP
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Thanks for the suggestions.

I can't see where my car is leaking any oil, besides, I know the smell of oil burning(whether on previous cars, or my car when oil is spilt on the exhaust) and this smell is not it. Also, I've replaced the heater resistor already, and besides, the smell is definitely coming from outside the car.

Would the cooling fan wiring burn even if the fan hasn't cut on yet? This smell has occurred on a short one mile (easy) drive.

I think I'm more worried about the transmission. Well, at least I've got the extended warranty.


Martin
2000 Contour SE V6 ATX
Med Steel Blue Metallic\Greystone interior
Mods: SVT grill(insert painted aluminum), foglight mod, amber reflectors removed, gas bonnet lifters, 2nd horn installed, 2001 Focus 16" rims, Knauberized, debadgerized, pre-98 sail panels, Bullitt fuel door, A6 sidemarkers, K&N air filter, TH fix, Flowmaster\glasspack exhaust, clock recontent, trunk release bezel recontent, Mystique rear dome light, express-open sunroof, Ford accessory rubber floor mats, Ford accessory door threshold protectors.
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You replaced the heater resistor, but how about checking the wiring harness! Also the connector that the resistor connects to was also burnt on mine. After a good drive temp remove the blower motor and smell. Just my 1.5 cents!


2001 Cavalier
150-175 more kms
per tank of same size
Pioneer 12 CD Changer

SOLD Green 98 Mystique
GS Sport
Zetec ,ATX
885 Fogs mod.
Hi beam mod.
205 15s

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