Now what's wrong? Burning smell

[rmjjensen]

Okay ...now what's up?

As I was driving home from atlantic city (about 50 miles) I initially started the car and I was driving out of the garage I heard a loud howling noise that increased in frequency as the revs increased...if the revs were below 2,000 the noise couldn't be heard, as it was >2000 I heard it ...great. If the car is in nuetral and I rev the engine, I can't hear it.

I figured it was one of the accessories being driven off the belt so just kept going. After about 10 minutes of driving it went away and I didn't notice any driveability issues. No idiot lights, no temp gauge fluctuation. Odd.

As I was pulling into my apartment complex I began to small a burned rubber smell - almost like a burnt clutch smell on a manual car. No idiot lights, temp gauge below half - after my 50 mile trip. I wasn't beating on the car so now I'm confused. I park it and go to sleep.

Next day I go out, open the hood and start her up. I noticed smoke coming from the bottom of the engine and upward. The burn smell is noticeable and then the puff of smoke stops and doesn't return. ..............okay.

So now, everytime on initial startup the burn smell is noticeable and then seems to dimenish slightly. If I put the heat/vents on you can somewhat smell it coming through the vents.

I checked all the fluids ...they all feel and smell fine with nothing weird. Keep in mind there's also no driveability issues ...the car drives fine....but it's been about 3-4 days and the smell is still there.

Now the howling noise is gone, but burning smell still there. Any ideas? Differential maybe? - why doesn't the diff fluid smell? If I smell burning wouldn't i smell it in the fluids?!

[SubaSteevo]

Originally Posted by rmjjensen

Okay ...now what's up?

As I was driving home from atlantic city (about 50 miles) I initially started the car and I was driving out of the garage I heard a loud howling noise that increased in frequency as the revs increased...if the revs were below 2,000 the noise couldn't be heard, as it was >2000 I heard it ...great. If the car is in nuetral and I rev the engine, I can't hear it.

I figured it was one of the accessories being driven off the belt so just kept going. After about 10 minutes of driving it went away and I didn't notice any driveability issues. No idiot lights, no temp gauge fluctuation. Odd.

As I was pulling into my apartment complex I began to small a burned rubber smell - almost like a burnt clutch smell on a manual car. No idiot lights, temp gauge below half - after my 50 mile trip. I wasn't beating on the car so now I'm confused. I park it and go to sleep.

Next day I go out, open the hood and start her up. I noticed smoke coming from the bottom of the engine and upward. The burn smell is noticeable and then the puff of smoke stops and doesn't return. ..............okay.

So now, everytime on initial startup the burn smell is noticeable and then seems to dimenish slightly. If I put the heat/vents on you can somewhat smell it coming through the vents.

I checked all the fluids ...they all feel and smell fine with nothing weird. Keep in mind there's also no driveability issues ...the car drives fine....but it's been about 3-4 days and the smell is still there.

Now the howling noise is gone, but burning smell still there. Any ideas? Differential maybe? - why doesn't the diff fluid smell? If I smell burning wouldn't i smell it in the fluids?!

Possibly an accessory belt slipping?

[dcarrb]

You say you noticed smoke coming from the bottom of the engine... in front, or from one side?

dcb

[rmjjensen]

Originally Posted by dcarrb

You say you noticed smoke coming from the bottom of the engine... in front, or from one side?

dcb

It looked like from both side (mostly the passenger) but towards the back. Now that I think about it, I noticed a slight leak from a power steering hose that went into that area ...maybe the leak has gotten worse and fluid is burning off on the exhaust ....still doesn't explain the howling sound though considering the ps reservoir is full. I'll have to check out the ps system.

I drove the car from home to my friends back to school ...basically - it wasn't til 300 miles of driving when this all happened.

[Budfreak]

it's a possibility your catalytic converter just clogged. check in your intake tract for oil too cause your pcv valve could be clogged which then blew oil into your intake which then put oil on the cats and made them melt and clog. also if the pcv valve clogs it can make your valve cover gaskets leak which may be the smoking problem. just some ideas of things to look at cause i've already had to deal with it.

[huck369]

I'll put my money on a siezed t-belt idler pulley.....