just tried to take my stilo 1.6 to the local garage for it mot (brought as a project, christmas tree dash) its been off the road for 3 years before i got my hands on it. finally cleared all faults on the dash, had abs, asr, loose conection, car secuirty, alternator fail. was expecting it to be tough to move anywhere due to the brakes has slightly binded but now cleared as much as possible. took it for a quick drive before mot appointment, spent 30 minutes trying to back it off my drive (slight slope upwards) ended up stalling a few times because of a extremely high bite point and having to put more revs than how i learned to drive.
finally off the yard and driving round my estate, was absolutely fine while on flat ground on down hill but to get off my estate there is a bit of a hill. come to the hill and suddenly theres no power whatsoever, just kept stalling whatever i did just would not pull. i spent about 45 minutes trying to get it back to my street as again another slight hill to get up. just constantly stalls or heavy judder car sounds like im trying to pull off in 3rd.

back somewhat near my house, gave up in end and just parked where i could. got out and my car stinks, very bad chemical like smell. just wondering if possibly my clutch is on the way out or maybe something ive missed.

any help would be great, need car on road asap

The smell suggests that the clutch is worn.
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Well had mechanic out today, turns out my clutch is fine. Problem was back calliper was fully seized up also was only firing on 3 cylinders. He's got new calliper ordered, new pads for both sides and new spark plugs. Hopefully be back to full power tomorrow and to it mot. Fingers crossed can't wait to get it on the road after all this time.

Clutch plates smell of smokey bacon.. so it's fairly distinctive.



Ralf S.

Ralf S. said:

Clutch plates smell of smokey bacon.. so it's fairly distinctive.

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Smokey bacon? that's a yummy smell.

Burnt clutch plates smell more like the Shellgrip antislip coating they put on the approach to road junctions, traffic lights and pedestrian crossings; an awful smell. :yuck:
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With the bad brake being locked up it was causing the clutch to slip, thankfully I've not done any damage to it. Plus with it only firing on 3 cylinders would explain the loss of power.
Hopefully be running properly tomorrow anyway.

Just a thought but if it's been stood for potentially 3 years you say then it could in all likelihood be bad fuel.

Petrol goes off after a time. If you've ever been shown 'bad' fuel, you'd recognise the smell of it as it's definitely different to fresh pump gas, but it isn't something I've even know where to begin describing it.

Ideally you want to drain the tank and put fresh fuel in it, so it's running on good fresh gas.

Bad fuel smells like acetone (nail varnish remover).


Ralf S.

Ralf S. said:

Bad fuel smells like acetone (nail varnish remover).


Ralf S.

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Wouldn't know mate, can't say I paint my nails. Not even at weekends.

drain the old fuel was first thing i did when i got it (not that there was much in anyway) put in some fresh fuel other week and left it to run through for about 30 minutes.
mechanic came last night a fitted new callipers, pads and changed my spark plugs. i had no idea it was actually running on only 3 cylinders just because how powerful in sounded but i really should have noticed with how bouncy my idle was and how much the car would judder. now its on all 4 cylinders it just sounds even more power and less tractor like aha.
in for a mot this afternoon, fingers cross it goes well. ive been itching for weeks to get it onto the road.