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YACT: Burning smell from underneath the hood

Defenestrator

Defenestrator

Member
I have a burning smell coming from underneath the hood of my 88 camry. It's pretty strong because everytime I turn off the engine from driving and step outside, I can smell it. I checked the oil, radiator fluid, and the transmission fluid levels, and they all seem to be fine. Any of you uber mechanics know what else can be causing the burning smell?
 
Originally posted by: Defenestrator
I'm not too familiar with the fan belt, why is that causing a burning smell?
Click to expand...

it could be loose or frayed and spinning on a pulley causing it to heat up
 
What kind of smell does it have?

If it is sweet you may have a small water leak somewhere.

Anything else is usually oil. That old of car I would say it may be from your valve covers which is about $10 in parts and a hours time scraping off all the old stuff from the cover and head.

If it is a belt it would have to be looses to burn and if that was the case you would hear it because of the loud screaching sound it makes especially when wet.
 
It's definitely not sweet, nor do I hear any unusual loud sounds from under the hood.

So if it is the valve cover, is that a serious problem that I need to fix right of way?
 
Originally posted by: Defenestrator
It's definitely not sweet, nor do I hear any unusual loud sounds from under the hood.

So if it is the valve cover, is that a serious problem that I need to fix right of way?
Click to expand...

No not right away but if you want the smell to go away you may want to do it. You can do it yourself and save alot of money. It just alot of bolts and a cork or rubber gasket. Take it off and scrape all the stuff from the cover and head, replace with rubber type (lasts longer), and put back on.
$10 and a hours time which most of which is spent cleaning the parts for the new gasket.
 
is there any white smoke? (open hood and look) if there is, there's an oil leak somewhere.

Otherwise it may be one of the belts. Get it looked at immediately. if it's your timing belt, you might lose power driving down the freeway.
 
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