underhood burning smell

[Alycone]

My car has a burning smell coming from under the hood, strongest at the corner closest to the driver. It mostly smells like a stronger version of a warm car, maybe with a bit of rubber. The smell can't be detected inside the car--it doesn't come through the vents. A few weeks ago there was a wisp of smoke in that area, but it never reappeared and nothing is obviously toasted. Otherwise, the car seems fine, the only other prob is an intermittent, brief appearance of the stop-lamp warning light. Any idea what's burning?

--looking for scrunched-up-nose face icon--

[sleepem]

Hi

I have a '92 teal that has 291,000 on it that does that too, usually a lot more than a wisp of smoke tho!
It some times looks like the right front tire is on fire for a couple minutes after shutdown. Turns out the steering rack is leaking a bit of fluid onto the right exhaust pipe and a tiny amount smells rubber -like as it burns off. Seems to happen most at shutdown, my guess being that air flow at speed blows the drips back until you slow down. My hope is that an eventual replacement of the PS return hose will take core of it...

We'll see! Let me know what you find.

Rob

i have the same problem i was thinking maybe oil but havent looked too close...not a big problem i know that for sure. The PS might just be the problem...mine has given me hell so far so it is one more thing to fix hehe.

I had this problem and was told that it was the rack leaking. But after looking at the rack while the car was lifted we found that the power steeing line was leaking and the fluid slid down onto the rack and dripped on the exhaust which caused the problem. changing the ps line that runs down from the pump on the passenger side corrected the problem ....

[CDG]

I have had the same smell, and it was PS fluid, its difference than engine oil smell, which I also get when I redline it.
Take off your belly pan and have a look for red oil. Better yet, check your PS fluid level.

[Alycone]

You were right, CDG, one of my PS hoses was bleeding.

[CDG]

I hope you did more than a bandaid to heal it

[Alycone]

Yup, butterfly clips, occlusive dressing and gauze wrap, since we're not supposed to use tourniquets in this county. Now when is it going to clot? It doesn't seem to be healing very fast.

[CDG]

I think your SVX may need some anti-biotics, see if you can get your mechanic to write you a prescription for them so they are covered by your medical plan