I had two that looked just like that years ago.
Do all C5's smell?
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,856
Likes: 242
From: Hillsboro OR
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,107
Likes: 7
From: Sandy Ego Ca.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,308
Likes: 104
From: Orange County California
Pro
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 543
Likes: 0
From: Orlando Fl
I am pretty sure it is the diff leaking on the exhaust. Mine does the same thing. Fortuantely I have a very good idea what gear oil with friction modifier in it smells like 
so it was pretty easy to diagnose. The fixing it part i'm not excited about.
so it was pretty easy to diagnose. The fixing it part i'm not excited about.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 722
Likes: 8
From: N.Canton Ohio
When I had my car for sale,a prospect came and test drove it.
He was concerned about a burn smell coming from car. I never noticed it. Thought he was
or just trying to degrade the car.
I think some people have a defective C5 smell gene
He was concerned about a burn smell coming from car. I never noticed it. Thought he was
or just trying to degrade the car.I think some people have a defective C5 smell gene
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Racer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 304
Likes: 0
From: Pasadena Maryland
Everybody's sense of smell is different. What smells offensive to one doesn't smell bad to the next fellow. When I first bought my 05 this past Oct I didn't notice anything during the test drive. I knew the owner and he always takes his cars to the dealer for service. After two years he buys a new car.
When my neighbor took it for a ride he came back and said he smelled anti-freeze. I popped the hood and I certainly smelled it too. No visible leaks of any kind anywhere. The garage floor was dry as well as the engine. Took it into the dealership and told them. They performed a pressure test on the coolant system and low and behold they found a very small leak on the water pump. They replaced it and no problems since (knock on wood).
When my neighbor took it for a ride he came back and said he smelled anti-freeze. I popped the hood and I certainly smelled it too. No visible leaks of any kind anywhere. The garage floor was dry as well as the engine. Took it into the dealership and told them. They performed a pressure test on the coolant system and low and behold they found a very small leak on the water pump. They replaced it and no problems since (knock on wood).
Racer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 457
Likes: 34
From: Hamilton Montana
Does the smell happen after hard driving, or normal cruising? One of the most noticable smells after driving hard is usually the brakes. If you smell it when just cruising, it's probably some fluid on the exhaust, like the rest of the guys are saying.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 385
Likes: 0
From: CA
Mine had a bit of a smell to it tonight. I got on it first through second gear then coasted up the street and shut it down for the night. The car is an 02 Z06 with 9k miles, I certainly hope its not a leak somewhere. Could it be the breaks and tires? Or what else could it be? It is like a slight burning smell, and it seems to be coming from the back. The car is bone stock by the way.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,107
Likes: 7
From: Sandy Ego Ca.
Its deffinately comming from the rear..I have no leaks.( none that I can see)
It really does smell like a tire rubbing....
Thread Starter
Original Founding Member!
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 9,037
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From: Granby, MA
Cruise-In 1, 3, 9. 10 & 11 Veteran
so Iam learning
Iam actually surprised to see so many C5's that do indeed smell and coming from the way people are describing it, it sounds exactly like mine. So I guess I now know, gets that some of us lucky people got the stinky ones lol.....eh it doesn't hurt performance....maybe when I change my exhaust it will go away. Who knows maybe its got something to do with the cats. My car is 6 yrs old with 72,000 on it.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 10,336
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From: Bellville OH
St. Jude Donor '06
