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Ford Mustang V6 2005-2014: Why is There Burning Smell Coming From My Car?

If your car smells like it's burning, that's enough to frighten anyone. There are quite a few reasons why your car will emit a burning smell. The problem may not be as serious as you think.

By Neftali Medina - October 26, 2015
Contributors: e90post, All Ford Mustangs, ISOM

This article applies to the Ford Mustang V6 (2005-2014).

Your car is capable of producing all types of smells, sounds and turbulence. It is a machine, after all, that requires several different types of fluids at high temperatures to operate. Some of these smells are actually quite normal, while others can point to a serious problem in the vehicle. This guide aims to help narrow down why you are smelling something burning when you drive your Ford Mustang.

Materials Needed

  • Flashlight
  • Jack
  • Jack stands

Step 1 – Check your brakes

Your pads may need to be changed.

One of the reasons slotted rotors were created was to help induce the airflow in the brakes and cool them off in the process. If you have been using and abusing the braking system on your Mustang, by turning off the traction control and doing donuts in a parking lot or something of the like, the smell may be coming from the brakes themselves. In the worst of situations, this can result in warped rotors. However, what will most likely occur is the need to change brake pads a lot quicker than normal. Also, if your brake were recently installed, it is quite normal for them to experience a burning smell while they are settling in. Just make sure that the smell leaves within a week.

Figure 1. Burn marks on a rotor.

Step 2 – Check your tires

Ever heard the phrase "burning rubber?"

You can check the tires while inspecting the brakes on your car. In fact, if the brakes are experiencing some high temperature environments, I would not be surprised if the tires are feeling it as well. The burning smell from tires is distinct and smells like burnt rubber. Alternatively, if you're not a hooligan, but still suspect a burnt rubber smell, it might tire rub. Tire rub usually occurs when you lower the vehicle and the tires rub against the fender opening when going over bumps or dips. Check the sidewalls of your tires and the insides of your fenders for evidence of rubbing. To stop the rubbing, either increase the ride height, modify the fenders, or increase negative camber on the wheel alignment so the wheels are tilted farther in and clear the fender.

Figure 2. A GT500 with a happy driver, warming up its tires.

Step 3 – Check for leaks

A heater hose may have busted.

If the smell you are experiencing is somewhat sweet, then you have a coolant leak somewhere on the vehicle. Keep an eye on the temperature gauge to see if it ever rises past the normal operating temperature. Take the flashlight and, while the engine is running, look for signs of smoke. You can also try using your nose to locate the smell, but inhaling too much can be bad for your lungs, so it's not recommended. Check the basic locations for leaks, including the water pump and heater hoses.

Figure 3. Coolant leak.

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