HELP! Got new clutch installed and SMELLS! also a clutch technique ive never heard!

[QSDA]

got a new clutch installed at PepBoys for around $400 and it smelled so bad. so after 3,4 days. took it back, by the way my car is a 96 civic, and they changed it for free but they told me i had to take it easy for about 500 miles. so, when i drove my car carefully to home with the 2nd new clutch it still smelled. i dont know what to do.

when they tell u to take it easy what do they mean? dont slam on the clutch too much or too hard or dont hit the gas too much or??? im confused please help. how do you supposed handle new clutches? i've been driving 5 speed about 5yrs.

couple days ago, a friend of my dad told me that car "masters" dont use their clutches most of the time, just use it in the 1st gear and from then on u can disengage and engage to the next gear without using your clutch. so i tried that and it actually works - i was really surprised by the way - but is thst bad or good? personally ive never heard about this before.

Please help me out here guys. what should i do and is that technique real or the guy who told me that is crazy?

[BullShifter]

Drive normal for the first 500 miles, stay under 4,000rpm's. Pep boys might be the whole problem .. . . .

You can shift any manual trans. with synchro's without using the clutch. If done correctly its not bad, do it wrong & your tear up the synchro's.

[integra818]

When they tell you to take it easy, it means don't do quick shifts and don't abuse the clutch (launches).

If it smells like rotten eggs, it's the clutch. If it smells like anything else... it's Pep Boys.

You can shift without using the clutch but my dad said that you have to be in high RPM and doing it often can wear down the clutch, anyone wanna verrify?

My advice would be to try and get your money back, and buy an A.C.T clutch...but not a freakin 4 puck racing clutch.

EDIT: jackasssi beat me to it and posted right before me and he already answered your questions

WELCOME TO AF!!!

[BullShifter]

How is not using the clutch gonna wear it? Its all about timing, it can be doen @ almost any RPM.

[QSDA]

kool thanks.

so does that not-using-clutch technique affect the clutch in anyway?

[QSDA]

Originally Posted by integra818

When they tell you to take it easy, it means don't do quick shifts and don't abuse the clutch (launches).

WELCOME TO AF!!!

thanks.

[carguyinok]

so does that not-using-clutch technique affect the clutch in anyway?

Sure, that will make the clutch last longer. The wear with a clutch comes in when its being pushed into or away from the flywheel. OR when the clutch is weak and slips on the flywheel. So with shifting without useing it the clutch the clutch never moves from the flywheel.
You are lucky that you have a car that will allow you to shift without it. Most of the newer cars I have driven wont let it happen. Just know your car and match the RPM with your gear for the shift. Otherwise your gona tear up your trans real fast. If your grinding gears dont do it.
PS that high RPM thing Just as long as your RPM is a match for the gear your going into @ that speed. Your dad is not wrong on it tearing up a clutch. But that's if you dont match the three things above.

[integra818]

When I said the cluth might wear out, I was'nt sure about it, that's why I said verrify it. Stop nit-picking

[QSDA]

Originally Posted by carguyinok

You are lucky that you have a car that will allow you to shift without it. Most of the newer cars I have driven wont let it happen. Just know your car and match the RPM with your gear for the shift. Otherwise your gona tear up your trans real fast. If your grinding gears dont do it.

kool. it was real easy to shift.