petek

but the car stinks when I reverse it into the garage. My previous car, A Focus 2-litre petrol, didn't.....

So reversing into your garage is not "driving normally" ? Pete

No, no, I'm still here. Fascinating :lol: Everyone is talking about my driving style but I should add that the clutch only smokes when I reverse up that steep and narrow slope for 30 yards or so. To do that, you have to play with the clutch, there's no other way. However, every time I reverse into my garage, the clutch stinks. And I'm not the only one who has this particular problem. Cheers Pete

I should remind everyone that the original clutch was replaced by my garage under warranty. The circumstances of the problem were fully explained to the garage and nobody tried to imply that it was due to driver error. However, I appreciate that the whole problem could well be due to newer, and cleaner, technologies being used, nowadays, eg I read somewhere that modern clutches are now lead-free. Perhaps this makes them more fragile than previous generations and if this is the case then we'll have to live with it. After all, we have the same "problem" with brakes (no more asbestos) and airc

Yawn, Yeah right. So tell me, how do you reverse up a steep(ish) slope with just enough room for the car ? I thought so. Peter

Reply to mastertech, Sorry, complete nonsense ! If you have to reverse up a rather steep slope where you have just enough room for the width of the car, then you use your clutch, otherwise you'll probably just drive into the wall. As I have said, I'm hardly new to this driving game and have never experienced a similar problem with any of the numerous cars I have owned. Also, having looked through this forum, I have found a few posts on the subject of the C-Max's smelly clutch. I have also had a look at the French equivalent of this site (I live in France) and there are many posts on the subj

Hmm, Compared to my old Focus 2 litre petrol estate that I had for 5 years and which never caused me a problem, the C-Max is crap. Peter

Morning, I have been driving for 30 years and never encountered a problem like this with a clutch. Obviously, I have better things to do than spend my time riding the clutch all day but a car must be capable of reversing up a steep slope for 30 yards or so without stinking like a dustbin and without smoking ! The clutch is only one of the problems I have had with this car, the other problems being the noisy dashboard, the noisy passenger seat, the radio's button which doesn't spring back into place when I press it etc. I could go on. Also, having looked through this site, it would appear t

Well try this : stop on a slope and use your clutch to keep the car still for about 5 minutes. Then lift your bonnet and have a look. You might be surprised! Cheers Peter

Hi, I have a 2.0TDCI December 2004 C-Max and have a problem with a smelly clutch - stinks like rotten cabbage and there is even smoke under the bonnet. Just before Xmas, I reversed up a slope for around 30 yards or so and when I arrived at the top of the slope, there was lots of smoke under the bonnet and actually inside the car. I turned the ignition of quick and legged it as I thought the car was going to burn ! The garage came and picked the car up and replaced the clutch under warranty. However, I still have exactly the same problem : I reversed up the same slope yesterday and noticed th