Yea, I've been searching about this issue as well. Just as nr2134 said, the smell seems to be coming from near the intake on the engine side of the compartment (rather than the little alcove where the JDM battery cover would cover up) I'm not sure if I should be reassured that this is happening to others. Don't know if it's normal, or if it's an issue with the vehicle. I originally thought it was my rainx windshield washer fluid. I thought it was draining into the engine compartment and burning (there's silicon in the fluid) but sometimes the smell would come on even when I don't use the washers. Ditto on what RADIOGUY21 said, only smell it when the car's been running in cold weather and sitting at a stop light or slow moving traffic.

 

i had the same damn problem for about 3 weeks!!! I was so frusterated, but i finally decided to look under my cay car and apperently i ran over a plastic bag which ended up getting stuck and the exhaust pipes melted the plastic right on to it. I took off what i can so the smell ain't bad anymore but i could kina smell it still.

 

I would mention it to the dealer. Several people on the board have experienced it for various reasons but I would not classify it as the norm. You would hear more stories from Z and coupe guys if it were. I mean it is the same engine.

 

noticed the smell also after normal driving recently.

 

well i just got the car back and obviously they cannot reproduce the sound. Everything is within spec and I shouldnt worry about it. Well tonight when im not at an Infiniti dealership, I will try and capture a sound clip.

I didnt smell any burning rubber driving back from the dealer though.

 

For me it's my tires. Ever since I got these 20's with these cheap Champiro??? tires, they have had a slight rubber smell radiating from them. It's my own fault though
The stock ones only smelled when I was trying to get them to smell

 

I actually just encountered the same kinda smell on my 04-x it seems to only smell when the exhaust is warm and when I stop. When I get out of the car and look underneath while the car is warm the resonator is almost smoking I havent gone under the car yet but Im guessing I ran over a bag or something but I have a coupe middy on the way so well find out next week !

 

I think I have come to a conclusion on when the burning rubber smell comes into the cabin. I know from what I can tell there is no burning belts, no plastic bags trapped on exhaust, and nothing physically showing signs of burning. But..

Whenever I turn on the heat, I always use the auto climate control without recycled air. As you all know when you push AUTO it turns on the A/C compressor, which I immediately turn off because I dont see a point in having A/C on for heat. Well the auto climate control must not like me shutting off the A/C because it burns rubber somewhere and blows it into the car. I was sitting at my gf's driveway waiting for about 5 mins last night with the car running and auto heat set to about 73'. The classic burning smell started to fill the cabin and was progressively filling the air, it smelled really bad. So for the heck of it I pushed the A/C button and immediately the burning rubber smell disapated. Recycled air was still OFF.

I dont know if any of you guys use your auto climate control like this but i guess from now on my car needs the A/C on while I use my heat? Am I causing the auto climate system to malfunction when I turn off the A/C?

 

you need to take it to the dealer. That is not good for your heater to smell like burnt rubber.

 

I've always turned off the AC when the heat is on. I only use the AC when I'm trying to defrost the windows. The problem never occurs when it's warmer outside (-5 to -10 degrees C) even when the heat is set to 32 degrees C inside the vehicle. However, if the outside temperature is below -10 C the smell occurs.

 

I noticed that burning rubber smell too occasionally when the heater is ON. I mostly have airflow directed towards the footwell area so I initially thought the smell was coming from my new winter boots getting hot & toasty <LOL>. I can smell a hint of burnt rubber when I get out of the car sometimes but it doesn't last. Nothing seems to be amiss too. Mines didn't seem related to AC operation at all. Would love to know what you guys uncover.

 

I have this smell too! Now I have to get new tires, I wonder if its related? LOL!

 

Me too...I haven't been able to figure it out.
Going to replace the belts this weekend to see if thats the culprit.

If someone figures it out, please let us know!

 

I have same smell on cold days when heater is on for long time. It is a design flaw-after I complained to dealer they gave me free engine wash and said "there's some road grime on engine" and "ventilation ducts pick up smell of engine".
So for few days I was "enjoying" smell of whatever crap they used to wash engine with. I am confident that it my case heater simply draws smelly air from under the hood, nothing burns internally.

 

I have noticed this same smell too on my '06 sedan with the heater on. Like someone stated above it seems to smell when I have the heater on, set to my feet, having fresh air flow rathan than recycled air and manually turning the a.c. off. When I switched the setting to blow out the vents towards my face, there was no burning smell, but when I get out of the car, I can smell a hint of something burning as well.