i was playing around today and a guy wanted to see how well the car would launch so i took of slipping the clutch a little than when i shifted into second gear there was nothing than i could smell clutch real bad if any body knows or has had this happen let me know what is wrong any info will help thanks

 

You should slip the clutch as little as possible. Generally it's bad for it, and if you slip it with too high a rev for too long you'll burn it up. Launching is also bad for your clutch

However, what I usually do is rev to around 1900 and slip just enough to still hold still. Then hold you rev for a moment and let out the clutch quickly (dont just drop it ) and floor it.

 

thatt is kind of what i do but i was more worried about there being nothing there when i hit second gear thanks for the advice though

 

I havent smelled any clutch from launches though, just make sure you arent flooring it with your foot still on the clutch.

 

its all good, if you burn your clutch out, the 5 year, 50,000 mile powertrain warranty will help, wont it?

 

You have got to be kidding right

 

Warrenty does not cover normal wear parts such as brake pads or clutch linings.
If you waste your clutch away, you have to pay for a new one.

 

no i am not kidding but today it drove fine i am going to the track this weekend i will report any more problems if they come up

 

Just take it easy man

Remember, as MarcS said, the worst thing for the clutch is slipping it at high RPM's. It heats up really quickly and pretty much just starts to fry.
You want to try and launch as low as possible, yet without bogging down or stalling. The SS S/C has plenty of torque, so if you launch in the 1500-2200 RPM range, you should get a nice launch. Also, try not to ride out the clutch. Sometimes people will let the clutch 90% of the way out and then hold it there for a couple seconds - thats the worst thing for it. You want it to either be completely disengaged or grabbing 100% - which means keeping slippage at a minimum.

Good luck at the track, let us know how you do.

 

thanks for the advice i have to work on saturday but i am hopping to get there in time to make at least two runs i will let you know how i do if i get there in time

 

They will cover the clutch and such for 12mo/12k

 

dont forget there have been some guys on the redline forums that have lost clutches, I feel that GM put a weak clutch in this car...my stock SRT-4 clutch is holding to Stage 3 power and never does anything like the SS clutch has been doing....

 

I got a clutch replaced in my Camaro under warranty The tech even took the time out of his busy day to tell me that that was the worst looking clutch he's seen in a long while, LOL.

 

I was going to make a new thread for this but I searched

I'm having the same problem he is. We're reving too high...... for some reason it wont grab when you 'drop' around 4000RPM's......

 

I'm confused...is bogging it down/stalling the car really that bad for it or was that intended because we're discussing racing here and not every day driving? Just wondering because this is my first standard and the first day I had it I must have stalled it easily 8 times...and they weren't exactly graceful stalls either...did you know a car can roll forward 1 foot and back 3 while jumping . As well, I'll still bog on occasion when my left and right feet just don't want to work together but I didn't think this would be bad for the car, just needs a little extra gas to get rolling.

Just wondering because like I said...I'm new to standard and I'm not sure what kind of damage I'm doing to my clutch etc. I figure as long as I'm not slipping at high RPMs I should be fine. As well, I wouldn't know what burning clutch smelled like if it came out and slapped me in the face but I don't think I've revved high enough to do any substantial damage to it. It's pretty much one big learning experience to me but I haven't stalled 'er in over 3 months now so I must be on the right track .

Permafried-

 

Burning clutch smell (if my memory serves me correctly) is similar to a friction burn on wood (not the actual flame burning). Ever tried to drill a hole through a 2 x 4 with a drill bit and sometimes you can smell a friction burn. Something like this (I think)

 

Oh I gotcha...then I DEFINITELY have not burned my clutch . I think if I had smelled that prior to your post I would have bailed outta my car afraid it was going to catch fire...thanks for the explanation .

Permafried-

 

and you'll know when your clutch is about to give out for good also.. When i first learned to drive stick I wore my clutch out and when it finally went it had a terrible smell and when i stepped on gas the rpm would be too high for the speed i was traveling. about 10 miles later the whole clutch was gone and I had to be towed lol..

 

I'm trying to avoid this at all costs if I can...I've been babying the hell out of it (haven't had it above 4000rpm and going that high was an accident) until I get a better handle on stick. I think I'm almost there, still have my moments where I can't keep it smooth to save my life but not nearly as bad as when I first started . My friend had an 89 Civic and drove it until 2002 and never had to replace the clutch once and that was the car he learned on so I'm hoping I have as much luck as he did.

Permafried-

 

Of all of the cars I've had the Cobalt SS has THE WORST clutch of them all. This stock clutch is complete and utter garbage in my opinion. Will be replaced ASAP

 

And what is so bad about it? It seems just fine to me.

 

You guys haev to be kidding right... my buddy just got their clutch done uner warrenty in their 01' cavalier. They had the 36,000 extended to 60k btw, but its the same as the 36k warrenty. As long as the dealer isnt a jerk they will do it, some will say they wont becuase you abused it.


Edit:

One more thing, remeber a warranty covers things that break, or wear out and shouldnt. Your clutch SHOULDNT wear out. They make them now so technically they are suppsed to last the life of a car.

 

My extended warrenty states that the clutch, throw out bearing, and pressure plate are NOT covered.

 

yes for wear and tear... but if it wore out prematurely that emans it was defective and therefore covered

 

True. But, if you don't know how to drive a manual, you're going to go through a clutch at least once a month. And the Tech's will be able to tell how the clutch was burned up.