I drove my Acura TSX 05 (10k miles) to lombard street in SFO and had stopped 6-7 times in a matter of 100 meters on the approach to Lombard.
Since there were cars ahead and behind me, I ended up half-clutching and using the hand brake to move very short distances with high-revs(~5k).

I could see smoke coming out from the engine and clutch depresses very easily after that ! The clutch doesn't slip.
Although I can get a burnt smell in the cabin when I turn the forced ventilation on.

Although I've been driving a stick shift for over 10 years, I think screwed up majorly.

What do I do ? Have I burnt out the clutch ?

 

Yes you have burnt out the clutch. Call around for quotes on a clutch replacement. Remember to replace the throwout bearing, and machine the flywheel face.

I thought that with your 10 years of stick experience, you woul dhave known better than to use 5k clutch slipping with handbrake (unless it was a very steep uphill). Even uphill, I only need 2000rpm and the handbrake to take off without slipping the clutch.

 

shouldn't everything still be under warranty, or have you moded your car out too much?

 

Don't think I'd ever try to drive up Lombard St with a stick- just a recipe for frying a clutch.

 

Just read that you wrote that the clutch doesn't slip. Just drive as normal for now, no need to replace the clutch if it is not slipping. You might want to just bleed a bit of clutch fluid from the clutch slave cylinder.

 

I would just play dumb to the dealership and get it repaired under warranty lol

 

It was very steep uphill, with a lot of stops. It was my first visit to lombard and
definitely my last ! The clutch doesn't seem to slip at all, but the lever has become
easier to press. Thanks for the reply.

 

I do hope to take it to the dealership for the 10k Service. Hope to get it checked out.
Sincerely hope it would be covered in warranty !
Thanks for the replies !

 

I always thought the clutch is NOT covered under warranty since it endures normal wear and tear...just like how brake pads are not covered.

 

wear and tear items aren't a part of the warranty, unless the clutch has failed because of an engineering defect...

and ya, you shouldn't need 5k to get up a hill... 2k if anything plus the e-brake is enough..

 

I just got back from SF and I know exactly what you mean about the verrrrry steep uphill on Lombard St. Although I didn't take my TSX (6MT) there, I drove my mom's Camry (Auto) and it still rolled back substantially when I let go of the brake. I will definately never take my TSX there...the hill is seriously too steep for stop and go traffic.

 

im wondering how steep the incline was. Was it around a 80 degree incline or what?

 

Makes me want to open a transmission shop in San Fransisco.

 

Is Lombard street that famous street you always see in movies and video games? I think Rice-a-Roni commericals have a couple of shots, right?

 

Yup!

Vermont b/t 20th and 21st St. is supposedly more crooked, though.

 

I can tell you what will happen when you go to the dealer, they will ask you why you think the clutch is shot. There is a ton of work that goes into looking at a clutch, with the labor, you might as well replace the clutch. Acura and the dealer will not go thru all that work to look at the clutch, more than likely they will say its fine unless you did something to it. And if it does not slip when they drive it, they will give it back to you and tell you to have a nice day. It is a wear item like brakes, so no matter what, they will nail you for some good money.

 

Right I would say it would be upto 60-70 % grade. It's the stop and go that
was quite unnerving with a merc behind me. Didn't realize that I was reving it high
till i saw some smoke.

 

All that and I turned before the crooked street cause the clutch pedal got too light

 

I drove it work today, the vehicle drives fine, but the clutch has surely worn out a bit.
I'll be taking it to the dealer this week. I'll keep people posted.

 

I agree. That would work on most of the roads in SFO, this one was steep.
Since the distance between stops was less, I half-clutched and that must've caused the damage.

 

I thought you could only drive in the downhill direction on Lombard Street? It is one way, from what I recall.

 

I thought so too. I was just there in May.

 

Funny thing about hills and manual transmissions, the steeper the hill, the closer the guy behind you, pulls up to your bumper

 

Crooked street is one way, the rest of Lombard isn't. I was talking about the
approach to crooked street on Lombard

 

Well, in that case, for future reference, brake pads are a hell of a lot cheaper and a hell of a lot easier to replace than a clutch.

 

yea that incline is crazy, i couldn't imagine going up it in a stick. The next time you want to go though, just go up hyde from further south or north since it has a really gradual incline and then you can just turn onto lombard