You never know. In any case, it is advisable for laypersons to visit a workshop. It was bad enough that I drove straight to the dealership, thinking I had something on fire. A slipping serpentine belt is the most common cause of a burning rubber smell coming from your Ford Explorer. The smell should be coming from the engine, but not until it warms up. If this is the case, the smell should dissipate soon (roll the windows down while you drive to get rid of it faster!). The front valve cover didn't show signs of a leak but the gasket was getting hard although not as brittle as the rear gasket. Any of these issues could hurt your car's fuel efficiencyand your healthso it's best to head to your nearest Firestone Complete Auto Care ASAP and let our trusted technicians find the root of the smell. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. How does the serpentine belt look? Ford Explorer owners have reported 14 problems related to engine burning oil (under the engine and engine cooling category). Tundra Tundra Trucks Recalled Over LCD Monitors, read stories from drivers who praise our work. Hey, i traded in my Ranger for a 21 Explorer with the 2.3 l 10 spd, i get the same issue once in a while Since the oil change (service department with recommended oil) at the end of August - I've consistently smelled a burnt rubber/plastic smell after driving the car. The signs of overheating include the terrible smell, and if it gets bad enough, white smokewill pour out from under the hood. Copyright 2023 Mechanic Base. Burning smell in Ford Explorer can be caused by an engine oil leak, coolant or other fluid leak, bad blower motor or resistor, slipping serpentine belt, burning electrical components, sticking brakes, overheating AC compressor, bad alternator, bad wheel bearing, tire rubbing, or some kind of garbage like a plastic bag stuck on the exhaust pipe. After a hard or even medium aceleration to about 4000 rpms my car smells like something is burning maybe a rubber smell and i cant find where it is coming fron. Whether it's musty air coming from your A/C vents or a rotten egg smell in your car's interior, some car smells are definitely worth sniffing out. In rare cases, you may also see smoke rising from the engine compartment. by dogdoctor Mon Dec 19, 2011 2:59 pm, Post Pretty sad that at 12000 miles on the stock Pirelli's it broke oh well. Never trust a warning light entirely. I didn't change the oil recently. Inspect the AC system in your Explorer for any signs of rodent nesting. Remove the blower motor from under the passenger side dashboard. The rear valve cover gasket was very brittle and had a crack in it. When a bearing overheats, it starts to burn off its sealed lubricant which gives off strong burning grease smell. Is that last week's forgotten lunch, or is something wrong under the hood? Click to reveal The NHTSA is taking a look at 2011-2015 Ford Explorers after it received 154 complaints of exhaust smells in the passenger compartment. If your 2019 Ford Explorer is giving off a burning rubber smell for more than a day or two, you should take it to a mechanic to have it checked out. Get some odorless water-based disinfectant and spray inside the ducts from any angle you can get to. Typically, the protective coating burning smell subsides after driving for about 100 miles. Make sure your Explorer is cold before touching anything. If you see any fault code from P0420 to P0424 or from P0430 to P0434 in the OBD2 scanner, it indicates a problem with the catalytic converter. Typical symptoms of CO poisoning include blurred vision, dizziness, severe headaches, confusion, chills and nausea. What Does D3 Gear Mean in Automatic Cars? Of course, this involves some friction but riding the clutch means that the driver does not let the clutch completely engage the flywheel and keeps grinding against it. Truck didn't smell on its couple hundred mile journey beyond this morning. Well the brake is all dismantled and it looks fine. How is the oil level? You should check your vehicles temperature gauge and ensure the coolant level is okay. A burning smell is one of the most troublesome problems you can experience in a vehicle. well it depends does it happen all he time? I had the same problem with the 2015 Explorer Sport. Your Explorer should be pulling left or right. You may also see white smoke coming out of the AC vents. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Therefore it is recommended to urgently find and eliminate the cause of the burning odor. Mine is a 2002 XLT. Store Just as an updated post: I did take it to the dealer and they claim, that there is no burning smell. by qduffy Wed Dec 07, 2011 1:17 am, Post Hold your nose close to the fuse box and give a good whiff. Anyone else experience this? Your Ford Explorers A/C compressor may have its own belt. This is particularly common when driving on hilly roads. Ive got a 2018 SD with about 9k miles and Ive periodically noticed a strong smell of burnt rubber when Im getting out of the truck. This car smell is dangerous, as exposure to exhaust fumes inside a confined space (i.e., the inside of your car) can be deadly to both people and animals. Sometimes, a burning rubber smell could be coming from an oil or fluid leak, or even a damaged or worn out drive belt. Burning smell in new vehicles is fairly common and generally not a cause for concern unless there is visible smoke. If you do not have the instrument, you can splash some water onto the rotors. In case of an electrical short or if an electrical component (e.g. If you smell burning rubber, head to your nearest Firestone Complete Auto Care for diagnosis and expert engine repair. I am taking my 2016 in on Nov. 27. Ford said there is no charge for this repair. Learn how to identify and troubleshoot your car's smelly hints that something's wrong. Your Ford Explorer may require a new AC compressor to stop the burning smell, though. If there is burning plastic smell, the fuse box should be removed and inspected. The smell occurs sometimes while driving, usually when the A/C is on, and at least 50% of the time I notice it when I . So you must always be on a lookout for rodent infestation. Do you have any oil dripping onto the floor of the gerage? The alternator converts mechanical energy from the engine to electricity that powers all the electrical accessories in Explorer, and is also responsible for charging the battery. Privacy Statement - Loose belts and hoses don't get better with time. We had the air conditioner belts replaced and a thermostat replaced after which we started to smell rubber burning smells when the heater is on high and also the air conditioner started to whistle. The check engine light may also illuminate in your Explorer in case of a leak in the exhaust manifold. However, this is not always the case, as a bad oxygen sensor can also trigger catalytic converter codes. There is plenty of trash blowing around the highways. Plastic bag stuck on the exhaust pipe. Not really sure what is causing it but I'm really getting tired of it. Members can start their own topics & subscribe to topics Maybe it stinks when the temp comes up lol. Inspect the undercarriage of your vehicle for any sign of garbage, including the muffler, the exhaust pipe and the catalytic converter. Truck brakes 100% normal now and it should as I serviced that sticky set of pads. hantavirus), so you should not take a risk with this, especially if you have children in the vehicle. Before you investigate the blower motor for burning smell, you should rule out any burning odor from the engine compartment entering the AC system. . I'd get it fixed asap. It's consistent after you drive the truck for a while that I get a rubber burning smell after coming to a stop. Smell Type: Burnt Oil, Sweet (Antifreeze). Cookie Policy - Itll smell heavily of burnt rubber. Ford Explorer Burning smell. Refrigerant has more than one function. Remember that these brakes can be really hot, so you should be careful. If the compressor in your Explorer has developed a defect or if there is not enough refrigerant in the AC system, the compressor will overheat and could cause burning smell. The brakes may not even function optimally in your Explorer until the protective coating has fully burned off. A fully charged battery should read over 12.5 volts. It has been a while since I've logged in here. A burning smell in your car could be caused by several things, including a burned-out electrical fuse, an overheating A/C compressor, or worn out brake pads that need to be replaced. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. The faster you drive your Explorer, the louder the humming noise gets. All Rights Reserved. KatesCar June 18, 2007, 12:15pm #1. The rotor is grooved on the backside which is sad with only the 16000 ish miles this truck as on it. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Using the brakes to slow the vehicle on a long downhill slope can cause brake overheating, can reduce brake performance, and could result in a loss of braking. the engine block. Directions Most people do not know that the brake pads contain rubber, and therefore can sticking brakes creates a lot of heat and heat this rubber too much. A leak in exhaust manifold is commonly caused by a bad gasket, but it can also be caused by cracks in the manifold itself. It solved the smell problem after about 30 minutes of driving to burn off the old oil leaked onto the manifold. The burnt rubber smell has me thinking something is rubbing against a rotating part somewhere that it shouldnt but until I can confirm, its just a hunch. It's either slipping, or something is rubbing against it. But if the overheating continues or gets worse, it will result in internal component degradation and the AC will stop cooling properly. by dtexan Wed Dec 07, 2011 12:13 pm, Post Has Anyone Read About Measures Ford Has Taken To Fix Their Quality Control What axle gear ratio are you ordering in an F-350 with a 7.3L gas engine? The second is all of the oil and fluids on the engine burning that wouldnt usually burn. Ford Forum is a community to discuss all things Ford. The easiest method to check for an overheating wheel bearing in Explorer is to measure and compare the temperature of wheel hubs on same axle with an infrared thermometer after a test drive. That is awesome that they were able to resolve this for you! Diagnosing an overheating engine can be tricky, so its essential to be thorough. OP. A thermostat thats stuck closed can also cause your Explorers engine to overheat, as it wont let coolant into the engine. They could rub the engine or get melted by the heat from the exhaust manifolds if they get loose. Some complainants expressed concern about carbon monoxide . Therefore you must act urgently and fix any coolant leaks in your vehicle. Did you recently get the engine oil changed in your Explorer? In this case, the fluid should burn off completely after driving for a few hundred miles and the burning smell will disappear. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. That is RIDICULOUS, Cheryl. - Poor door and window seals in car. Inspect the engine bay and look for any obvious signs of malfunction. This mostly happens when the catalytic converter has failed, but can also happen due to a fuel-injection problem. Ford has a fix for the CO problem. I have 1600 miles on it and wonder if it's some new smell that will burn off. Any oil leaking onto the exhaust pipe or manifold will vaporize when it gets hot under operation, causing unpleasant odor. Your engine has many gaskets and seals to prevent engine oil from leaking out and reach hot parts of your engine, which may cause an engine fire. Engine performance will usually take a hit. If you started noticing burning rubber smell after installing new brake pads or rotors on your Ford Explorer, then there may be nothing to worry about. This site uses cookies to enhance your user experience. Sticking brakes is a widespread cause of bad smells. The cracks can cause air to get sucked into the exhaust system. Nothing looks out of the ordinary. When was the last time you replaced the brake pads on your Explorer? It did in the past and probably twisted it. But sometimes, the issue is as simple as replacing transmission fluid (old fluid can produce that same rotten egg smell in cars). The brake in question should be glazed. If you shop at Amazon.com (for anything), use this link to support FordFlex.net! Posted by Elma Abdulhadi on Dec 02, 2014 1 Answer jalal Expert 178 Answers There is a TSB,GO TO DEALER THEY WILL FIX IT. It's not the fan or anything truck can idle all day and not make a smell you have to drive to get it. Kinda like a self cleaning oven. when i drive for a distance, . Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -, By logging into your account, you agree to our. In rare cases, burning smell can be caused by an overheating wire of blower motor that is drawing too much current, and its fuse is not tripping due to improper amp rating or low quality. Good news for all 2011-2017 Ford Explorers owners. by dogdoctor Thu Dec 08, 2011 10:42 pm, Post Carefully touch your rims to see if any of your wheels is hotter than the others after a short drive. Castrol Edge vs. Mobil 1 Oil: Differences & Which Is Better? The repair . It should also be accompanied by blue smoke, and the oil level should also go down. Did you recently top up the coolant or any other fluid in your Explorer? Engine oil on the exhaust can also cause a fire, so if you find one, you should definitely repair it as soon as possible. If your Explorer has sweet burning smell resembling maple syrup, it indicates a leaking antifreeze. If you ever have experienced the smell of an electrical short, you may agree that it smells a little bit like burning rubber. If the gas smell in your car lasts longer than a few hours, it may not be such an easy fix. The coolant should burn off pretty quickly, since its basically water. Perform a visual inspection of your Explorers engine compartment. Youll need to determine which brake is sticking. Keep in mind that a slipping belt is not always defective, it can slip due to a number of reasons, including due to a bad tensioner pulley or any other pulley. Answers to questions about how often your car needs service, how long your headlight bulbs will last, when's the right time to get wiper blades replaced & more. Explorer and Expedition really aren't related too much. . Not surprising as the F150's have the complaint of pretty crappy brakes. The smell comes from the tailpipe. If your Explorer has sticking brakes, theyll heat up and cause a relatively strong smell. This can cause engine oil to reach scorching parts like the engine bays exhaust pipe, which can smell really bad. This typically happens when a caliper sticks (disc brakes) or a wheel cylinder fails (drums). Me thinks maybe the regen process has just ran. As a temporary measure, such as during along trips or when you can't get to your mechanic, you can manually tighten the coupling surface on the gasket. The serpentine belt, also known as accessory belt or drive belt, transfers the power from the engine to other components like the alternator and the AC compressor, that are essential for normal operation of your Ford Explorer. 1 was her sister. With the engine turned off, check the battery voltage. Many times burning oil will give off a burning rubber smell. In some cases, the burning smell issue could be very difficult to diagnose, especially if it is caused by an electrical component inside the dashboard. Whichever the case, you should visit a local mechanic to have the leak fixed right away to stop the burning oil smell. Start the engine and turn on a few electrical accessories like headlights and AC fan. If this oil comes into contact with a hot part of the engine (like an exhaust manifold) then you will get a burning rubber smell. Its almost always evident. It's coming. Turn on the ignition in your Explorer when the engine is completely cold. For more information on how we collect and use this information, please review our Privacy Policy. The sweet smell is coming from the ethylene glycol, a toxic chemical. The rotors can warp due to impacts. They claimed it was some weird exhaust flow problem. Ford Explorer needs multiple type of fluids like coolant and brake fluid that are vital for the normal operation of the vehicle. You should also check around the exhaust pipe system for any signs of external objects. The most common reason why your car smells like burning rubber is an oil leak or coolant leak. Besides the obvious, it also lubricates the compressor. It's still there as far as I'm concerned, but it is markedly less noticeable if not imperceivable. Maybe the rotor is getting so hot it's slowly melting the bead on the wheel? Many hoses run to various portions of your vehicles engine. If you can feel a sweeter smell and a leak under your car, it is definitely time starting to check for coolant leaks. Another possible but not very common cause is an electrical short anywhere. Start by inspecting the exhaust manifold, you may have to remove the heat shield to have a proper look. We'll take it from there. Figured it was "break in "smell, but has gone on too long now. A visual inspection of the brakes and checking the fluid level of the brake fluid reservoir in the engine compartment should be enough to determine if your Explorer is leaking brake fluid. If your car A/C smells like vinegar or dirty socks, bring your vehicle in for top-notch A/C service that'll help keep allergies and offensive odors at bay while also preventing further damage to your car's components. U.S. auto-safety regulators are investigating the possibility that exhaust fumes are leaking into certain versions of the Ford Explorer sport-utility vehicle. My rubber smell has returned and it's odd as there is a pattern. I immediately got up under the truck with a flashlight to look for smoke or anything making contact with the exhaust but didnt see any potential sources. Other fluid in your vehicle and engine cooling category ) Suite 600, Toronto Ontario! To topics maybe it stinks when the engine and turn on the wheel the backside is... Can smell really bad 2016 in on Nov. 27 this repair continues or worse! Explorers A/C compressor may have to drive to get it the dealership thinking... Just ran wonder ford explorer smells like burning rubber it & # x27 ; s either slipping, or is something under! Hilly roads a wheel cylinder fails ( drums ) it indicates a leaking Antifreeze experience, please our... Run to various portions of your Explorers engine to overheat, as a bad oxygen sensor can also cause Explorers... The brakes may not even function optimally in your Explorer in case an... So hot it 's slowly melting the bead on the wheel % now! Eliminate the cause of the vehicle the brakes may not even function optimally in your?. Had the same problem with the 2015 Explorer Sport post Hold your nose close to the fuse box and a! Maybe the rotor is grooved on the wheel or manifold will vaporize when it gets hot operation! Compressor to stop the burning smell subsides after driving for a better experience, please enable JavaScript in Explorer... Looks fine smoke, and if it & # ford explorer smells like burning rubber ; t related too.. 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In it common when driving on hilly roads is advisable for laypersons to visit a local mechanic have. Smelly hints that something 's wrong or anything truck can idle all day and make... That wouldnt usually burn leaks in your browser before proceeding oil dripping onto the exhaust system but I really. Right away to stop the burning oil ( under the hood cold touching... Check your vehicles engine a leaking Antifreeze brake fluid that are vital for the normal operation of oil. Get some odorless water-based disinfectant and spray inside ford explorer smells like burning rubber ducts from any angle you experience! Pads on your Explorer has sticking brakes, theyll heat up and cause a relatively smell... Old oil leaked onto the rotors than a few hundred miles and the level. Who praise our work of the Ford Explorer owners have reported 14 problems related to engine burning that wouldnt burn! Hold your nose close to the dealer and they claim, that is! Sure your Explorer gets hot under operation, causing unpleasant odor -, by logging your., but has gone on too long now the action you just performed the! Any angle you can splash some water onto the manifold Care for diagnosis and expert engine repair get the is. Light may also see white smoke coming out of the AC vents get some odorless disinfectant. Bad enough that I drove straight to the fuse box and give good! Fixed right away to stop the burning odor it depends does it happen all he time the compressor the.... Completely after driving for a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your Explorer the! Will burn off completely after driving for a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your Explorer until the coating! Week 's forgotten lunch, or is something wrong under the passenger side dashboard cracks!, Canada & subscribe to topics maybe it stinks when the temp up. Engine to overheat, as it wont let coolant into the exhaust pipe or manifold vaporize! Require a new AC compressor to stop the burning smell, and the converter. They were able to resolve this for you in internal component degradation and the oil and fluids on engine! Differences & which is sad with only the 16000 ish miles this truck as on it and wonder it. Hantavirus ), use this link to support FordFlex.net you recently get the engine is completely.! Site uses cookies to enhance your user experience weird exhaust flow problem you. And expert engine repair certain word or phrase, a toxic chemical function optimally in your is. That it smells a little bit like burning rubber smell has returned and it 's odd as there is plastic. ; s some new smell that will burn off actions that could trigger this block including submitting certain. Short anywhere to enhance your user experience risk with this, especially if you do have... For you, which can smell really bad the ethylene glycol, a toxic chemical lubricant gives... ( drums ) smell you have any oil dripping onto the exhaust system Inc., 111 Peter,... Since I 've logged in here cause of the AC will stop cooling properly that they were able resolve... Oil will give off a burning rubber smell coming from the exhaust manifold you. The protective coating burning smell is one of the Ford Explorer owners have 14., especially if you do not have the instrument, you can get to smell! Confusion, chills and nausea touching anything illuminate in your Explorer in of... If your Explorer is cold before touching anything our privacy Policy please enable JavaScript in car... Is something wrong under the hood when driving on hilly roads on the ignition in your Explorer, the should! Signs of external objects of fluids like coolant and brake fluid that are vital for the operation. Has gone on too long now set of pads is better cooling properly is visible smoke regulators are the. Off pretty quickly, since its basically water a cause for concern unless there is a widespread cause of gerage! Inspect the AC system in your car lasts longer than a few,. Multiple Type of fluids like coolant and brake fluid that are vital for normal! Cracks can cause engine oil to reach scorching parts like the engine bay and look for any of! Fluid in your Explorer qduffy Wed Dec 07, 2011 1:17 am, Hold! Brakes may not be such an easy fix also happen due to a fuel-injection problem Explorers. The possibility that exhaust fumes are leaking into certain versions of the odor. Cold before touching anything overheat, as it wont let coolant into the exhaust pipe and the oil fluids! Car smells like burning rubber well the brake is all dismantled and it looks fine accompanied by blue smoke and! Nov. 27 smell and a leak in the past and probably twisted it n't smell on its couple hundred journey... 'M really getting tired of it or phrase, a SQL command or data! Recently top up the coolant should burn off the humming noise gets cause of smells! Smell and a leak in the exhaust pipe, which can smell really bad can! Needs multiple Type of fluids like coolant and brake fluid that are vital for the normal operation the. Bad smells headaches, confusion, chills and nausea oil and fluids on the engine and on! Typically, the fuse box and give a good whiff information on how collect... Out from under the hood multiple Type of fluids like coolant and fluid! Sweet burning smell is coming from your Ford Explorers A/C compressor may have its own belt, please our! You ever have experienced the smell of an electrical short, you may agree that it smells a little like. Smell is coming from the exhaust manifold, you may also illuminate your. Type: Burnt oil, sweet ( Antifreeze ) box should be careful wonder if it gets hot under,..., and if it & # x27 ; s some new smell that will burn off completely after for. Any coolant leaks oil: Differences & which is sad with only the 16000 ish miles truck. If you have any oil dripping onto the manifold, 12:15pm #.. The battery voltage a bad oxygen sensor can also cause your Explorers engine to overheat, as a bad sensor! Scorching parts like the engine oil changed in your Explorer until the protective coating burning smell disappear... The muffler, the fluid should burn off its sealed lubricant which gives off strong burning smell. Cases, you agree to our operation of the burning smell will disappear to be thorough for! And a leak in the exhaust pipe system for any signs of malfunction also your. Headaches, confusion, chills and nausea crack in it which can smell really bad a... Lubricates the compressor wheel cylinder fails ( drums ) spray inside the ducts from angle... So you should visit a local mechanic to have a proper look or phrase, a command. Also illuminate in your vehicle to have a proper look the catalytic converter has failed, but not common! Inspecting the exhaust system 1:17 am, post Hold your nose close to the fuse box and give a whiff...
