Burning Smell

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10-20-2006, 08:38 PM

onetrickpony

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Burning Smell

Ok, So my car has this burning smell. Nothing is leaking at all,nothing from the motor or the tranny. Any ideas what it could be? The car does not run hot. Be easy on me I need help on this.

10-20-2006, 08:40 PM

93 LX FiveO

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Location: Haverhill, MA

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RE: Burning Smell

so what's it smell like?

fuel, oil, coolant?

do you have catalyic converters?

10-20-2006, 08:44 PM

onetrickpony

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RE: Burning Smell

I have no cats. It is hard to describe, it reminds me of like burning plastic. I have checked everything and nothing is melted.

10-20-2006, 08:47 PM

93 LX FiveO

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RE: Burning Smell

where is your exhaust located? im guessing something is touching your exhaust.. possibly the bumper?

do you have a GT rear bumper?

10-20-2006, 08:47 PM

samseed101

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Join Date: Jun 2006

Location: Maine

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RE: Burning Smell

If it smells like burning plastic, it could very well be burning plastic. May be a short circuit somewhere or a chaffed wire arcing. That would give you that electrical fire / plastic fire smell.

10-20-2006, 08:53 PM

onetrickpony

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RE: Burning Smell

Quote:

ORIGINAL: 93 LX FiveO

where is your exhaust located? im guessing something is touching your exhaust.. possibly the bumper?

do you have a GT rear bumper?

No, I have a coupe. I will have to get under there and take a look and see what I can find. I smelled it the other day. My wife drives it back and forth to work and of course she says she's never smelled anything. I drove it to palm beach today (hour and half one way) and could smell it on and off. It is kind of driving me nuts.

10-20-2006, 10:08 PM

ptown87

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RE: Burning Smell

If you don't have cats your car will smell, but it definately shouldn't smell like burning plastic. I would get that fixed before you melt through whatever is burning and run into bigger problems.

10-20-2006, 11:03 PM

sals7tmp

1st Gear Member

Join Date: May 2006

Location: chicago

Posts: 84

RE: Burning Smell

My best guess is that there is a plastic bag that got melted onto your exaust. jack your car up and take a look arround. it wonlt look like much anymore if it has been on there for a while, but feel for bumps or a black pouder on the exaust.

Don't run the car first

haha. hope i am rite and its nothing serious. good luck on the mystery smell. haha

12-06-2008, 11:20 AM

mrenn

Join Date: Dec 2008

Location: Ohio

Posts: 1

Quote:

Originally Posted by onetrickpony

Ok, So my car has this burning smell. Nothing is leaking at all,nothing from the motor or the tranny. Any ideas what it could be? The car does not run hot. Be easy on me I need help on this.

I just purchased a used 2008 Mustang with 6500 miles. I am smelling the same plastic burning smell. The sales person told me it is caused by plastic around the exaust (hasn't been completely broken in yet???). The smell is coming from the motor, so this doesn't make sense to me. Can anyone help me? I am clueless about all of this stuff.