36 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCH'hot' smell?
Leading reported evidence
Replace also, the clutch
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
Also, the clutch was replaced 3 times in under 50k miles.
Leading evidence: 'Replace also, the clutch' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Replace also, the clutch' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
36 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Generation: 20261026T200546Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
I went to see a c4 for sale a few days ago, and couldnt help but notice this hot smell coming from the car. I don't really know a better way to describe it. It didn't smell like a burning fluid, or like a burning clutch, but the engine area smelled hot. I noticed it once while moving at pretty high (highway) speeds, once as we slowed down, and then again once getting out of the car. I don't assume this is normal, but I wanted to check and see if anyone knew what it might be.
Also, the clutch was replaced 3 times in under 50k miles. That was a huge red flag for me. I would think once around 50k as preventative or maybe if you arent a great driver is okay, but 3 times?
Anyway, I need to find a c2 to try out as well. I must say, I was amazingly impressed at how great the c4 felt (this was the first time in a 996). It was on all seasons, and stuck to the road remarkably. I'm not sure how much the awd assisted, so hopefully after trying a c2 I will determine that and see if a c4 will be necessary or not. It just shocked me that it was effortlessly sticking to some really tight, bumpy turns.
That car's been abused. Clutch drops + AWD = lots of new clutches.
Edit: No real idea why you would get a "hot" smell in the cabin though, nothing I've ever noticed but I drive a C2.
I don't care how bad a driver you are - 3 times??? RUN!
Sounds like a track car and even then it takes a lot to fry up three of them in such a short period of time.
could simply be a small oil leak.....
but 3 clutches ? Well that's a bit tough to explain isnt it. There is the chance that someone really liked that "new clutch feel"........
Haha yeah I asked .. car has never been tracked. It does most of it's work going about town. Said his wife uses it a lot. Car looked pretty nice, but there were some obvious no-nos. ie: mentioned that he took it through car washes with the soft top. Car was overpriced by about 7k also from current market and he didnt seem very eager to move, so all of it put together turned me away. Even so tho, again really really impressed at overall feel of these cars.
Did you let the current owner take you around and see how he drives the car? If he rides the clutch but just replaced it with a new one, it may not be a terrible car to buy still.
Edit: Just saw that the wife drives the car a lot....
I actually let him do most of the driving both for that reason and bc it's weird little back roads that I do not know and wouldn't be comfortable taking someone elses car around past very gentle speeds.
I think the wife is the bad one, and he even commented that she uses it most and isnt good w the clutch. He engine braked a little harder at times that I usually do, but did it properly so that didn't bother me much.
No question that one of the owners/driver is riding the clutch if they're on clutch #3 in 50k miles. The smell you reference seems typical to the 911. After every drive I take, there is a distinct Porsche aroma eminating from the car at the rear which has been a topic of discussion several times.
dont know what smell you may be refering to, but its normal to have a smell after the drive (cosmoline, brakes, rubber against the exhaust, whatever.... there are lots of cars here with a smell after a spirited drive.
Well I'll be. Guess I never really noticed the smell seeing as how my last car was an '87 924S in pretty poor shape. Once you have a crack in the top of your gas tank smells pretty much stop bothering you.
"Said his wife uses it a lot..."
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/yt-SUU...rashes_galore/
Note: Thank God my wife doesn't know Rennlist's URL!!!!
Mr. TW: Should your wife hear of you disparaging the driving ability of women drivers in the course of posting this video, the Agency will disavow any knowledge of your actions. Good luck.
Let's see. C4 with "hot smell." 3 clutches in <50K miles. Thru the carwash with soft top (hopefully, not down when washed), and $7K overpriced. I hope you're not serioulsy looking at this particular car. My advice? Move on - there are a ton of great cars out there you can buy for very good prices right now.
Phil, good advice. I was afraid you were going to comment on the "hot smell"...you need to actually 'start' the engine in order to get the "hot smell"!
No I am not considering the car. I saw it prior to knowing any of this. Unfortunately, most cars in my area are priced high and people are being stubborn about moving. Wanting a hard top w the cab really limits choices as well. I found two others pretty close I'm interested in, and may try to see this weekend. Neither has full leather, and both are not c4s, so ill be curious to see if I notice much of a diff with the interior and overall handling. I have no idea what color I want either, tho I know that doesnt really matter. Cant tell if I want a light interior or dark tho, bc I know how much quicker light ones get dirty and look worn
Why, it has to smell hot...it's a HOT car afterall!
I too was concerned about the hot smell when I first got the car.
Used to it now, so I guess it must be typical of a 911.
You guys are hilarious!
And Phil, you're a good sport.
Thanks!! Napa is gorgeous this time of year. Off season, so not jammed with tourists, lots of very terrific wine and loads of nice cars. Now back in lovely Philadelphia.
the "hot smell" is fine.
don't worry about hard top, i am in NJ and daily my car, i have hard top, but never put it on for 3 winters.
the soft top is durable. hopefully u will put it in garage?
my neighbor has a 99 996, NEVER park in in garage, if it snows, he just let the snow melting on the top. after so many years, the top still looks fine.
