Just wondering if any of you guys noticed this as a symptom of engine failure. The other night I was driving and came to a stop and noticed the car shaking when at idle(manual tranny) and a srong smell. Just a block from home, I decided to park it. As I pulled into the garage, and before I got out, I was surrounded by the smell again (the car still idling very rough). The smell was just like that of a burning clutch. So far I have only changed the plugs with no change in the condition. So my question is...is a bad smell associated with any of your engine failures? FYI: I have not had time to perform a compression check yet and no codes are being displayed by the ECU.

 

maybe the clutch is going out.
i dont know of anything that would smell like the clutch, but the clutch or maybe the brakes?

 

Check the map sensor hose.

 

Clutch is fine. No slipping. I'll check the MAP sensor.
BTW I'm running the stock ECU, turbo's etc.

 

What is your vacuum on your boost gauge, and at what idle rpm?

 

Just started it and let it warm up at idle. 20" of VAC and idle between 900 and 1000. Still a strong smell and lots of poping. Gentle rev's to 2000rpm are followed by pops back down to idle, not normal for this car.

 

Go out and check the map sensor hose real quick, at least that will eliminate that possiblity.

Cause it sounds like thats the problem from the info you gave us.

 

^^

 

Just checked it visually at the sensor and still attached. A quick tug at the line let me know it was still attached at the other end disappearing into the birds nest. Vac lines all appear in good condition. All replaced before I got the car a year ago.

Damn BRYANT, something keeps winking at me every time you reply. Thanks.

 

converter plugging?

 

The motor's fine.

Does the car drive ok?

 

Airing on the side of caution, I have not driven the car since this has occured. But, from when I noticed the problem to when I got it into the garage, it drove normal. Keep in mind that I didn't test it's max power while in this rebellious state. I know from you guys that when a problem occurs, keep it cool. I don't want to break more than is broken.

 

Well that should be common sense. When something you feel thats wrong with the car, you dont get on it, you take it home/shop and have it checked and fixed immediately.

Then again most people dont know and drive how they want anyway. Thats how things and more things get broken.

 

Just got a chance to work on the car again. I removed the in-line air filter to the MAP sensor to see if that was the cause of the rough idle and no change. Is there a proceedure for checking the MAP senseor with an ohm meter?

 

Mine ran rough at idle when i had my boost sensor unpluged might want to check that but that is odd it was running fine then all of a sudden runs bad do a compression check. My 88 t2 did that but i blew the engine what a sad day.

 

page F-167 in the workshop manual.

 

^ Thanks bryant. I'll check it out. If it tests ok then I'll move on to the compression check. I know GoodfellaFD3s said the engine is fine but I would like the piece of mind.