While we all can most likely figure out for ourselves that a burning smell coming from our car isn’t a good thing, we may not know the exact location the odor is coming from. Many drivers catch a strong smell and immediately assume it’s a problem with their oil storage components when in reality there can be many causes behind the strange odor. Is the smell coming from inside of the vehicle? Can you distinguish the type of odor? Is there smoke? These are all important questions to ask, so let’s break down exactly what they mean for your ride.
1) Car Smells from Clutch: Many times a burning smell will come from your clutch. This can occur when you are changing gears. This is a special type of burning, like burning newspaper. Basically the face of the clutch burns off as the clutch slips. It smells papery because the surface of the clutch actually is a type of paper composition. It is important that you learn how to use the clutch properly to stop doing this. Do not ride the clutch. If you do this too often then you may need to have the clutch replaced.
2) The Brakes: You can also develop a burnt smell from the brakes. This occurs if you are riding the brakes or braking very hard. If you are going down a very steep hill and riding the brakes, then this friction can become so great that your brakes smoke. This is not a problem if it occurs once in a while. However if you notice a burning smell from the brakes during regular driving then there is a problem. A caliper piston in the brakes may have seized which causes the brake to drag. If this is the case, you will need to have this fixed. Another common cause of burnt brakes is individuals leaving their hand brake or parking brake on when driving.
3) Electrical Short: Burning can also occur when there is an electrical short circuit. The plastic around the wires, connection, or fuses will melt or burn producing this smell. If you do not get the electrical system fixed, then you can have serious problems running your car. It is best to have a mechanic fix it as they can hook your car up to a computer which will then quickly tell the operator where the electrical problem is.
4) Burning Smell from Heater: You want to check the heater vent if you notice a burning smell. If it has been a long time since you used your heater then there may be dust in the system. However if you use it regularly and there is still a burning smell then you may have pine needles or other debris stuck in the vent. Many people find that a plastic bag stuck in the engine will create a burning smell. The heater itself could be broken causing a burning smell from the antifreeze that is leaking into the heater vents. You can also have parts of the heater core itself melt which causes a burning smell. This is normally in the heater motor. If the smell gets very bad from the heater and you do not have any debris in the engine then you probably need to have a mechanic check out the heater.
5) Drive belt melting problem: This usually happens when one of the accessories of the drive such as generator, air pump, water pump or AC compressor is locked. When this happens, the belt will rotate on a frozen pulley and cause a burning sensation like a burning rubber smell. This phenomenon will cause your car to operate with a few strange sounds.
6) Coolant Leaking Problem: A heater core may leak the coolant into the heating or air conditioning system of the vehicle. And this phenomenon can cause a burning smell like burning rubber in your car. This car mark will cost you a substantial amount to restore your car.
DISCLAIMER AND RECMMENDATION
These issues have to be looked at and repaired by an experienced ASE certified auto repair shop and not do the repairs yourself.
Nadia, the owner of Mobile Auto Diagnostics and Repair LLC has 18 years of hands on experience in repairing all kind of vehicles. She has 11 ASE certifications, one of which is an ASE Master Mechanic certification.
Nadia’s auto repair business is by invitation only and is not open to the public. Please contact Nadia by phone or e- mail found on this website.
Nadia accepts cash, checks and/or major credit cards
