I parked the truck in the parking garage tonight and as I went to adjust the idle air screw, I smelled smoke. I opened the hood and saw some faint smoke. I got my flashlight and looked around. It appeared to be coming from the starter, or near about there.

It smelled weird...almost like rubber or plastic, so I searched hard for 15 minutes for some rubber that could be touching something hot (exhaust) or belts rubbing against something. I could not find ANYTHING.

I did, however, add some iso-heat to the gas. Lately it has been stuttering and idling rough, so I figured it was bad gas with water in it.

Here's the thing, I've never used iso-heat, so I don't know what it smells like when it's burned. I've also never had an exhaust leak (which I have) so I don't know if it smells like this or looks like this in cold weather.

I know for sure it is not something outside burning. No rubber or plastic. Could the starter cause the smoking? Or is it the iso-heat? Or could it be the combo of cold weather and exhaust leak? The smoke is definitely originating on the exhaust side of the engine.

By cold weather, I mean 30 degrees Fahrenheit outside. I'm in northern colorado :-)

 

Could have been the starter sticking..and burning up the solenoid...
Just my thoughts.

 

Once the truck is started, though, why would it continue to stick?

 

what motor? is the clutch slipping at all?

 

22re. No, the clutch doesn't slip at all. The truck is a manual and it was in neutral. I checked the clutch transmission area and couldn't see any smoke around there.

 

curious, whats a 'clutch transmission' ? lol.. didnt know the clutch has its own tranny now. x2 check your starter

 

transmission being a means to transfer energy from one source to another...a clutch being one type of transmission (the other being an automatic "transmission")

The starter works fine. Does it still spin or is it still active and running even after the car has been running and driving for 20+ minutes?

Now if it helps any, some power steering fluid did spill inside the starter when I did the head gasket. hasn't been an issue since then up until now.

 

lol, i was being a smartass. start it again and look for smoke. or smell if u can where its the strongest. i know, hard, but its about all you can really do without easter eggin stuff.

 

I've been keeping an eye on the starter since the smoke incident. I haven't smelled it or seen any more smoke. I just started it up and let it warm up on my lunch break.

Of course, I'm going to jinx it now and it will catch on fire or explode now.

 

If you think you have an exhuast leak just run some seafoam through the PCV. Thats how i find my leaks.

 

It should not unless you have the solenoid sticking on somehow. How might that happen? Dirt or heavy grease inside the solenoid plunger can cause to to stick inside the bore. Unevenly worn contacts can cause the plunger to tip and get stuck in the bore or an ignition switch contact sticking on can cause power to continue to be sent to the solenoid after starting. You could feel the starter motor and solenoid for unusual heat after running the engine for a while, or check the solenoid control wire for voltage after starting:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...shtml#EasyTest

 

I wouldn't worry about it. Probably just a 'fart'. Toyotas do that from time to time....

 

If it is an exhaust leak, it's on its way to being fixed. was going to heli-coil the head again.

I'll drive it hard on the way home and see what happens when I park it again.

 

Ride her hard put her up wet !!!


Let us know bud.

 

I guess it was just a fart. I haven't seen or smelled anything of the smoke ever since that night.

Now for the next question; if it was a fart, what was it? Exhaust backed up? Bad catylitic converter?