Ok, as many of you know we got about 10" of snow in Toronto...I was over at my buddy's house and parked along the curb. Of course Mr. Snowplow comes by while I'm inside and makes a nice snow bank around my car. My other friend's Integra is also trapped. The Integra is having an impossible time getting out, so we shovel him out. I'm thinking, Quattro? No problem...so I get in, stick it in first and try to get out...the car won't move!! Feels like I'm stuck in 2 feet of snow or something! So I rock it back and forth a bit for about 15 seconds, and then I notice a smell...smells like the clutch burning! I look down and notice the emergency brake is on!! AARGH!! I was so anxious to try out the Q, I forgot the emergency brake! Anyway, I'm now worried I may have cause some damage to the drivetrain....as I understand the Torsen center diff will distribute power to the wheels that aren't slipping...does the A4's emergency brakes only lock the rear brakes? In that case, the Torsen is trying to twist the rear axle, but it ain't moving! So what happens? As I understand it, there are no clutch packs in the Torsen...so there's no slippage there...<p>Do any of you think I could've caused some serious damage? The car pulled out with no problems once I got off the emergency brake, no funny noises, drives normal....maybe I'm paranoid, but realizing what I did has got me worried...<p>I'm due for my first service this week, is there a simple check the dealer can do to verify that everything is OK?<p>Thanks in advance for any advice/consolation....<p>-Ash Silver 98.5 1.8TQMS<p>PS: Quattro rules!

Did you do any serious damage? Most likely not! Doesn't sound like you abused it hard enough or long enough. If you did seriously cook the clutch it will begin to act up clearly enough that you will be able to tell (chatter or slip under load, etc.). So...if it feels okay, it probably is. You most likely just shortened its life a bit :-)<br>

I have a 97 Golf, and burnt the clutch one day while doing sucessive hill starts and reversing into parking spaces - sitting on a hill on the clutch many times for around 20 mins.<p>I asked some friends, and they said it's like brake fade - the clutch lining heats up, and "melts", and you will feel the clutch slip at this stage. If you did not have clutch slippage, you did not go this far. I did. Basically you have to wait until things cool down again, and then all should be okay. The clutch life will be slightly reduced, but not by enough to worry about.<p>Regards<p>Barry<br>