2003 Acura RSX 5 speed, 21,000 miles. My wife was stuck in a traffic jam today (two hours) with a lot of stop and go. After a time she noticed the car stuggled to engage starting in first gear. The RPMS raced even though the clutch was engaged. She also noticed an odor of something burning. Once free of the traffic jam the car seemed ok. I drove it tonight and everything seems fine. Can a clutch over heat? I'm sure my wife was riding the clutch too much. Why would it slip then and be fine now? Thanks for your help.

They can get very hot and the surface gets slick. I don't want to be in your shoes when you try to give your wife driving lessons to criticize her driving. Any depression on the pedal when moving is riding the clutch and the hydraulics are starting to try and lift the clutch from the pressure plate. The slippage is not good and with the that many miles on it, that is that few of miles, you have had someone riding the clutch before. I would say it might be a habit. That clutch should be good for a over 100,000 miles. Change habits and you might be ok.