Burning Smell

[mru22]

I recently got an 07 s2000 and have noticed that there is a burning rubber type smell coming from the rear wheel well. The car has 1400 miles on it.

I took it over to the dealer and he put it on the rack to make sure the brakes were not wearing unevenly or that there was not any residue or visible leaks. It was an unscheduled appointment so they didn't do a full diagnositc test or test drive.

If I want to investigate futher I'll have to schedule an appointment but before doing so I wanted to ask if anyone has experinced similar symptoms ?

He also mentioned that there is an undercoating on the Catalytic converter when the cars are shipped from Japan but I figured if that was it, it would be gone by now.

Any thoughts ?

[Java Junky]

Mr. U;
Is the smell present when the car is jus' runnin' n' idlin' r' is it only aroun' when it's been run r' is runnin' (bein' driven-type runnin')?
If it's when it's jus' sittin' still idlin' get thee under it n' do a full system check of your exhaust for somethin' stuck on it n' causin' the smell.
If it's when it's runnin' r' jus' havin' been run, get thee under it n' do a thorough check of the area of the offendin' wheel/wheel well.
As it's new, my money'd be on some paper r' somesuch burnin' off yer shiny new pipes.
Be well.
Java

[Bubblerboy64]

I noticed the same thing one time with my year 2000 S2000 (25K miles). I had been running the car hard and when I got out of the car and walked around to the passengers side of the car I noticed a hot smell. I am assuming that I gotten the exhaust hotter then typical and I was burning off a little oil which had accumulated on the exhaust either from the road or the recent oil change. I suspect the original posted just had something similar burning off.

[mru22]

Originally Posted by Bubblerboy64

I noticed the same thing one time with my year 2000 S2000 (25K miles). I had been running the car hard and when I got out of the car and walked around to the passengers side of the car I noticed a hot smell. I am assuming that I gotten the exhaust hotter then typical and I was burning off a little oil which had accumulated on the exhaust either from the road or the recent oil change. I suspect the original posted just had something similar burning off.

I had the car visually inspected at the dealer they found no plastic bags or any leaks. They checked the brakes for unever wear and said they were fine too.

It was an unscheduled appointment so they only looked under the car there was no test drive or full diagnostic test.

If my car is burning oil already at 1400 miles then that is pretty pitiful. I did not drive it real hard yet.

[mru22]

Originally Posted by Java Junky

Mr. U;
Is the smell present when the car is jus' runnin' n' idlin' r' is it only aroun' when it's been run r' is runnin' (bein' driven-type runnin')?
If it's when it's jus' sittin' still idlin' get thee under it n' do a full system check of your exhaust for somethin' stuck on it n' causin' the smell.
If it's when it's runnin' r' jus' havin' been run, get thee under it n' do a thorough check of the area of the offendin' wheel/wheel well.
As it's new, my money'd be on some paper r' somesuch burnin' off yer shiny new pipes.
Be well.
Java

I notice the burn smell after I get out from driving the car. I suppose I could let it sit at idle and see what happens but I think there is a relationship from driving more and at higher speeds. I'm not talking about burning out or racing the car but rather higher RPMs.

[Bubblerboy64]

I don't think you have anything to worry about here. I've had a number of new cars and they typically have similar smells while burning off the "stuff" that needs burned off. Watch fluid levels on the outside chance something is leaking but it seems very unlikely to me that there is a problem. I am not worried about mine. I changed the oil and I know some of the oil ran under the car from the filter change and I am certain that what is smelling on my car. . John

[allmotor13]

dont worry i just got my 06 2 months ago and had that same smell. its just the rear end, tranny, and motor breaking in. this is normal for a new car. the smell should go away buy 2000 miles just after your 2nd oil change. i might note that i hope you took it easy driving the car for the first 2000 miles so the piston rings and cams to seat prop. NO high revs yet. you could damage the engine or rear end/LSD if not brooken in prop. good luck and have fun after break'en

[mru22]

Originally Posted by allmotor13

dont worry i just got my 06 2 months ago and had that same smell. its just the rear end, tranny, and motor breaking in. this is normal for a new car. the smell should go away buy 2000 miles just after your 2nd oil change. i might note that i hope you took it easy driving the car for the first 2000 miles so the piston rings and cams to seat prop. NO high revs yet. you could damage the engine or rear end/LSD if not brooken in prop. good luck and have fun after break'en

Shoot Well I have had high revs on the car. Not often but I have had near 8000 rpms a few times once the car got over 1000 miles. The first 1000 miles I drove it easy. If I did in fact damage the rear end what should I look for ?

[allmotor13]

i doubt you did any damage to your rearend with just a few high rev bursts here and there, but you had 1000 miles on it thats good. you should be fine.

[menacexp]

i have an 04 and i had a smiliar smell...i think it was burning oil from street racing, lol...but i've been driving it like a baby lately and no smell.

[mru22]

Originally Posted by menacexp

i have an 04 and i had a smiliar smell...i think it was burning oil from street racing, lol...but i've been driving it like a baby lately and no smell.

I have not been racing it at all and it just seems every time I go out an drive around for even 15-20 minutes and then park it, it smells like burning rubber.

Is it possible one of the brake pads on the rear is partially locked or stuck ?

[spa01s2k]

Originally Posted by mru22

Is it possible one of the brake pads on the rear is partially locked or stuck ?

That is a possibility. After you drive the car get down next to each wheel and see if you can smell a difference between wheels. Sound kind of weird but its worth a shot. Also look at each rotor and see if there are any dark spots from over heating (possibly even some bluing).

[mru22]

I cant see any bluing and at this point can't really see anything. However since I am far from a mechanic its time to take it back. I'll follow up with a post after I go.

[spa01s2k]

Originally Posted by mru22

I cant see any bluing and at this point can't really see anything. However since I am far from a mechanic its time to take it back. I'll follow up with a post after I go.

Just an idea, take it to a different shop to see what they have to say. I've worked for a few different shops and every place has a different approach to fix a car (or find a problem).

[Java Junky]

Well, if it actually is rubber that you're smellin' then it ain't the brake draggin'.
Have you gotten down on the ground n' given it a look-see yet?
Many problems are detected by the simplest of visual inspections.
We can sit here goin' on about how it could be the frizzim r' the croutons but the thing that's godda be done is ya godda get down n' give it a good look-see.
Yeah, could it be aftermarket rims with the wrong offset causin' the stock rubber to chew the body? Sure. But it could be lots'a other stuff too.
Won't it leave you kind'a red-faced when you bring it into the mech, he reaches down n' pulls the remains of a rubber fender flare off'a your exhaust pipe? That'll be $65., thank'ya very much. Come back n' see us again soon now, heah?
Check it out U.
Be well n' keep us posted.
Java

[mru22]

Originally Posted by Java Junky

Well, if it actually is rubber that you're smellin' then it ain't the brake draggin'.
Have you gotten down on the ground n' given it a look-see yet?
Many problems are detected by the simplest of visual inspections.
We can sit here goin' on about how it could be the frizzim r' the croutons but the thing that's godda be done is ya godda get down n' give it a good look-see.
Yeah, could it be aftermarket rims with the wrong offset causin' the stock rubber to chew the body? Sure. But it could be lots'a other stuff too.
Won't it leave you kind'a red-faced when you bring it into the mech, he reaches down n' pulls the remains of a rubber fender flare off'a your exhaust pipe? That'll be $65., thank'ya very much. Come back n' see us again soon now, heah?
Check it out U.
Be well n' keep us posted.
Java

Well its under warranty with on 1700 miles so I'm not worried about going to the dealer. I was under the car twice with a flashlight and they(dealer) already had the car once on the Rack to check for something on the exhaust such as leaks/plastic bags etc.

Since it was an unscheduled visit at the time, they did not do a full diagnostic test or test drive. Whatever it is, I would not expect it to be on a new car. I owned a GS-R 7 years before getting this one and never had any smell like this. I know the GS-R is 100% from Japan just like the S so I would imagine if there was an undercoating smell, I would have noticed on the acura back when I originally bought it.

[spa01s2k]

This first few times I drove my S2000 I could smell a rubber smell too. When I got down and looked for something, I could see nothing. After awhile I realized it was my rear tires, they sit so close to the exhaust (plus its rear drive) that I don't worry about the smell any more.

[mru22]

Originally Posted by spa01s2k

This first few times I drove my S2000 I could smell a rubber smell too. When I got down and looked for something, I could see nothing. After awhile I realized it was my rear tires, they sit so close to the exhaust (plus its rear drive) that I don't worry about the smell any more.

Its not very pleasant once the car is in the garage. I took it back to the dealer and they want to keep the car for the whole day. They are not sure what it is but the guy can smell it as well and agrees its unusual. I'm a little concerned that they may not find the cause. I wonder if its possibly emissions related. Also is there a chance I'm ruining the engine ?

[Bubblerboy64]

Hold on a minute here. You're not riuning the engine. It's likely something very simple and the dealer will figure it out. I know it's a new car and you in love but I think I sense your getting a little overly concerned. If you hear huff beats think horses not zebra's until you see the stripes. If it was the engine there would be all manor of other symptoms.

[mru22]

Originally Posted by Bubblerboy64

Hold on a minute here. You're not riuning the engine. It's likely something very simple and the dealer will figure it out. I know it's a new car and you in love but I think I sense your getting a little overly concerned. If you hear huff beats think horses not zebra's until you see the stripes. If it was the engine there would be all manor of other symptoms.

Good point. I guess I'm just bumed out that something has already happened and I've only had the car a month. I'll post a follow up thread after the next dealer trip. Thanks.

[spa01s2k]

Originally Posted by mru22

Good point. I guess I'm just bumed out that something has already happened and I've only had the car a month. I'll post a follow up thread after the next dealer trip. Thanks.

Don't be too bummed out, I don't think it going to be anything major (at least I hope not). This one has me stumped , definitely let us know what they find.

[mru22]

Well the car went back to the dealer today and after hours of inspection/ test driving,hooking it up to the computer etc they found nothing

So now I don't know what to think. The only thing the service advisor mentioned is that if something starts to go like the differential it should get worse quickly. He said everything looked perfectly fine so I suppose I'll drive it for a little while longer and see what happens. I suppose my nex step is to contact a factory representative.

[Bubblerboy64]

Sounds like the story a friend told me. 60 year old guy goes to the Dr for a physical and the Doc says everything is fine. Fact is the Dr made the comment that he hopes when he is 60 years of age he is in as good a condition as the patient. Bad news is a couple weeks later the fellow is dead. So the moral to that story is Dr's and mechanics a like can fix the obvious. The little stuff like a bad coronary artery is hard to spot until it gets bad enough to cause a problem. What choice do you have. Drive the thing it will get better or worse. The factory rep is going to tell you the same thing. I suspect there is a simple solution and you will eventually figure it out. What it is is anyone guess and we'll all likely feel stupid when it finally is out. Sure you don't have a cat that's peeing of the exhaust at night? Kidding you and I know it's frustrating but I'd drive the car and figure its warranted and it will either burn off get worse or the cat will get caught in the act. Good luck.. John H

[mru22]

That's a good analogy for sure! I figure if there really is something wrong then it will get worse especially when summer hits. Maybe what consider a weird smell is somewhat normal to others not sure. I guess time will tell.

Thanks for the advice,