Smoking Clutch

[jumbojake]

Wife was driving our S-Max diesel (2009, 40k) ... got to our destination today.... burning rubber/electrical smell comming out of the engine bay ... had a look and smoke comming out of the depths ... I suspect the clutch.

She generally rides the clutch pretty hard (2nd gear pulling away... holding clutch on a hill etc.. ) and the last part was stop/start up hill with a fully loaded car... so I assume it's taken a beating.

Question is.... is this the first signs, or the last legs ??

She said it felt ok driving home, and once home I couldn't see any smoke.. and a only tiny whiff of burning friction material.

Other than the old 'top gear slip test" ... are there any other ways to check the condition of my clutch, without opening it up??

[Parts-King]

Pulling away in second is a killer for a clutch, you answered your own question really when you said she rides the clutch pretty hard, it is possible that you have oil contamination on the clutch and when it got hot, burned off some oil hence the smell and smoke. You cannot check anything visible, sounds like you might be in for a bit of expense

Kingo