"Burning" smell when i drive on cold days
#1
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"Burning" smell when i drive on cold days
Ok, i have noriced this a few times and i usually just blow it off but i think i might have figured out why it is just here and there. It seems that when i drive on cold days there is this slight burning smell coming from the engine bay. kinda like a rubber or elerical smell not a normal car smell.
Sometimes it comes through the heater too. I have never smelled it before and still don't smell it on normal days or that much. Is this a normal smell or any ideas what it could be?
UPDATE: Figured it out!
Sometimes it comes through the heater too. I have never smelled it before and still don't smell it on normal days or that much. Is this a normal smell or any ideas what it could be?
UPDATE: Figured it out!
Last edited by Texas_Ace; 04-21-2008 at 05:11 PM.
#2
Heater blower motor speed resistor array? If you remove it you may find its burning something close to it. I think its behind the glove box.
Wire being toasted by the exhaust manifold?
My $0.02
Wire being toasted by the exhaust manifold?
My $0.02
#3
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I will check that out except that i think that it still happends even when the heater is off. But i am at a loss myself so i will check that out. Thanks!
#4
have you greased your drive shaft lately? mine was smelling gawd awful and what it was, was the grease being flung onto the pipe bc i was too lazy to clean up after myself :-)
#6
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I will do that as soon as I get the time, i don't feel like ripping apart the dash/heater right now but i will get to that. How hard is it?
#7
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get that every year.. kind of smells like clutch?? its may be one of your belts.. mine is always my power steering.. cold belt, cold pullys.. they slip and spin a little.. check your belt tensions. if you can pinpoint wich belt it is.. snugging it up a tad more then the norm may help.. i was amazed the difference in smells from a warm and cold belt..
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#8
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Yeah, that is a good description. A belt is what i was thinking it might be, but i just had them done a few months ago so didn't seem like it would be that. I will have another look at them though!
#9
yeah its not too bad. just very awkward to get to bc you have to basically get behind the glove box upside down. atleast that was easiest for me. undo a few screws and it pops out. not too bad. mine was half full of leaves and pine needles. never knew all that mess was in there.
#10
It might be the belts then if you just had them done a few months ago. They'll stretch a little after the first few months and I usually go back and re tension them. Being cold isn't helping that either. Could be a combination of the two.
#11
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Thanks for all the help everyone!
#13
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I have the same smell and I know for a fact that my PS pump belt IS loose. I just did all my belts about a month ago and they have probably stretched. Good thread!
#14
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I am also curious - now, my case might be a bit different - this will only happen if -
The vent is on open - not recirculate, the heat is off, and I floor it; the hot air blasting in does smell a bit burny and I've always been wondering why.
The vent is on open - not recirculate, the heat is off, and I floor it; the hot air blasting in does smell a bit burny and I've always been wondering why.
#15
Registered User
Could it possibly be an electrical short from all that vato zone junk on your truck?
I was looking at your "build" the other day wondering how many fire extinguishers you carry in your "rig"??? You never showed any of your wiring. I would be curious to see it.
I was looking at your "build" the other day wondering how many fire extinguishers you carry in your "rig"??? You never showed any of your wiring. I would be curious to see it.
Last edited by dirtoyboy; 01-08-2008 at 05:39 AM.
#16
lol
I just looked at the rig and um yeah
#17
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LOL, but no it is not that stuff. I did run the wires right, that is why there are no picture, the wires are all hidden. The only thing I wasn’t able to do before was put a fuse box in there so that everything would be fused. I am adding that when It gets warmer and I can get back out there. I know it is not the wires because they are only "charged" to my "relay station". If they were shorting then it would be coming from there or only happen when X thing was on.
#18
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I just snugged up my power steering belt a few months ago, now I got the same burnt rubber smell. I think I'll just put some new belts on since its probably that time. Course, I cannot remember which pulley adjusts on the 3.4l.
#20
burning smell
i've had a burning smell for awhile....but the smell is distinctive, smells like burnt oil/rubber, its 80-90w. I couldn't pinpoint the smell at first until I inspected my rear brakes. they were coated with oil. had the rear axel seals replaced and the smell went away for a month then came back. axel seals again! be sure you have someone reputeable replace your rear axel seals and bearings! i'm only going to make that mistake once...