So, I have this burning like smell that started first snow fall this year. Its really hard to describe at first I thought it was the belts but they were fine, then we thought it was a bad balast and that was fine, finally the dealership said it could be salt burning off the exhaust. I notice it more then the roads are wet, which is usually when it's snowing as they repaved the raods with salt, or when the snow melts which obviously washes salt away. Anyone have this problem too? or thoughts?

 

What car & model year?

 

2004 6MT Coupe

 

i use to smell that last winter. does it smell like burning rubber or plastic?

 

Yep, at first I thought it was a burning wire, but then someone else told me it smelt like burning electronics, although nothing is wrong with the car and it wasn't the HID. Its hard to describe but I think you have the idea. On long drives in wet conditions you only smell it when you stop, i guess because when travelling its blown away. Any then you have to roll the window down, like instant headache!

 

it happens to alot of cars, i thought it was just me but it turns out my other friends have the same problem. no smell this year though

 

I get this as well. I thought it might be the heater warming up the all season rubber floor mats, but not sure...

 

I find it strange to think that salt on the exhaust is the culprit.
If that was the case, there would be a lot more people with the issue.

Burning smells are usually fairly distinct.
Electrical overheating/burning smells very different that belts/rubber.
I know it's hard to explain a smell, but that would help.
Is it intermitten or do you just notice it more?

Has the car actually been inspected?
A plastic bag caught on the exhaust is a common 'burning smell' issue.
IDK what else...... maybe something loose rubbing?

 

i got the smell usually when i was stop and the car was idling. it often came from the vents i believed and when i would check all around the outside i couldnt really smell it

 

I get a 'burning' smell from my Krown undercoating once in a while, especially when it's fresh, usually from the vents.

Did you undercoat / rustproof it?

 

I noticed the burning smell before I had it Krowned... but now it could be a mix of things I guess. The fresh krown had a cmpletely different burning smell than this.

 

i dont think its cause of that cause i never got mines done yet

 

From day one when I picked up my car at the border I noticed a burning rubber smell. It was really bad when I first got the car so I had performance auto and cycle check out all my belts and hoses during my inspection. There was nothing. The smell has dissipated a lot but I do still smell it sometimes when idling or just after parking and exiting the car.

Thought it was just me.

 

hmm, been noticing it too, but i assumed it was just the tires (VDC off in the deep snow / slush of the side streets around here), it's definitely rubber, and not plastic. (4 years working in a tire factory and you can tell the difference), if it dries up anytime soon i'll take a look under the car, might be something rubbing, or something touching the exhaust.

i feel like i should install a bash plate and a lift kit to survive the winters here. i think i'm going to have to replace all the bushings again this spring, joy.

 

I noticed it on several coupes when I was test driving them last spring. At the time, I was reading about the oil consumption issues here, so I just assumed they were burning oil. I've never noticed it on the 5AT that I ended up buying.