So I started smelling a burning smell recently on my JCW 2012 Hardtop (34k miles)... I'm suspecting it's the clutch? Is there any way for me to check it at home and see if it's still any good? I've had one incident where i was in sports mode and my car wouldn't get into gear and just revved; but after i turned it off it worked fine again.... I wanted to take this car on a road trip, but i fear the clutch crapping out on me. Any suggestions?

 

The old tried and true method from back in the olden days was to drive the car up against a tree, put it in 1st gear and let out the clutch. If the engine died the clutch is good. If it keeps running then otherwise.

 

Get up to speed, keep in high gear, then floor it. If it revs up fast, is slipping. Funny thing about clutches, they can be working just fine one minute, then the next, gone..

 

Or floor it in one of the higher gears at about 2000 - 3000 rpm (preferably going up a hill,
and quickly push in the clutch and quickly let it back out. The revs should zip up and then
promptly return to or just above where you started out.

 

in other words there is no quick easy visual check like there is for brake pads ...


all you can do is try to induce slipping and see what happens.


another old trick was to try and start rolling in 4th. If it stalls all is good. If you smell bad things . . . however if you know how to safely slip the clutch you can unconsciously defeat this test ... and if you can do that you probably aren't asking the question!