O.K. So here's the deal. Last weekend I installed a new Vararam intake. Also installed a newly programmed PCM at the same time. Took it out for a drive (ran like a striped---!), brought it back into the garage, shut it off and got out. As soon as I got out, I got hit with a pungent smell. Smelled like something getting hot or burning. (Actually smelled like burnt Chinese food). Anyway, after sniffing around I discovered the smell was strongest right around the battery area. I didn't smell it on the engine side of the battery partiton but I did on the battery side. It was also strong around the right side fender vent. My first thought was the new PCM was getting hot for what ever reason. I took it out some more the next day and the same smell came back. No codes were thrown and the car was still running great. I pulled the wheel and the access panel to the PCM and the PCM was cool! Nothing in that area was warm at all. The fuse box was just barely warm (the one next to the battery). The blower motor runs fine as I thought of it too. For the life of me, I can't figure out where the smell is coming from. The only other possibility is the plastic off of the Vararam intake. The air is heated up in the hot intake and possibly putting off the smell?? But why is the smell strongest in the battery area? Anyone by chance experienced this anomoly after Vararam install?? :rolleyes: :banghead: :banghead:

[Modified by MikeyD, 7:29 PM 11/18/2003]


[Modified by MikeyD, 7:30 PM 11/18/2003]

 

Check to make sure that the battery isn't leaking. If you disconnected the battery terminals for the PCM install you may have developed a leak at the terminals while tightening up the cables. :cheers:

 

Absolutely no changes in smell after I installed my VaraRam. :nonod:

Have you checked to see if you might have accidentally dropped something near a hot area in the engine bay during the install and it's melting? Maybe something near the exhaust?

 

I had mine installed a couple of weeks ago and everything is perfect....no smell at all except burning rubber :eek:

 

:iagree:

 

I've checked everywhere that everyone has said to check. I pulled the battery terminal off and didn't see any signs of leakage. I checked around the exhaust manifold - notta. I checked everything by feel in and around the battery. Again - notta :banghead: I hate to take this thing very far from home until I figure out where the smell is coming from.

 

UPDATE: I think I found the source. I put the car up on ramps and found some type of black soot crap all over the right exhaust pipe from the pipe flange back to the precats! Don't have a clue what it is but its got to be the source of the smell. I'm cleaning it off right now! Thanks everyone. Whew!! :cheers:

 

:cheers: :cool:

 

Coincidence . . . :yesnod: :thumbs:

Whew! :D

 

Glad you found the source of the odor. :yesnod: I was gonna suggest checking the exhaust pipes for a plastic bag or something similar. If one gets trapped under the car while driving down the road it could get itself wrapped around a hot pipe and give you a stink. :chevy

 

I would check your a/f before you continue to drive the car.

 

I too have the vararam on my 97. I noticed a few of you have the Z06 screens installed. Any problems? Any benefits? Do you have the stick on screens or what?

 

I put screens on mine to block any large particals from entering the airbox. Haven't noticed any problems & still gained 3/10ths in 1/4th mile. :cool:

 

:iagree: :auto: :steering: :thumbs:

 

I plan on putting them on as well for the same reason. After talking to Vararam, they said there is only about a 3/100th second difference in the 1/4 with the screen versus no screen. I'm not sure how you can measure that small of a difference with any consistency but I'd say based on that small of a difference it would be worth it. We have a lot of Walmart sacks floating around here. I can just see sucking one of those up and choking the motor while in traffic! :rolleyes:

 

Thanks. How do they install? Should I look for a particular mounting style?