Electrical "burning" Smell
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,738
Likes: 10
From: Austin, Texas
Electrical "burning" Smell
I just started getting this awful (smells like burning electrical) smell in the cockpit through the vents. I did a search on "smell" and saw nothing along these lines.
Under the hood the smell is most noticable just to the right (looking at the car from the front) of the battery box. I did check for any leaking from the battery, as it is the original Delco. But it appears to be fine. It looks dry and I see no evidence of acid. When these things leak do you need to remove the battery to see it?
I opened the fuse box and see no evidence of any problem there.
This only seems to happen while the car is idling. With it closed up, the vents on, an traveling at normal (90 to 100 mph :) speeds, I can not detect the smell.
Any ideas?????
:confused: :confused: :confused:
Under the hood the smell is most noticable just to the right (looking at the car from the front) of the battery box. I did check for any leaking from the battery, as it is the original Delco. But it appears to be fine. It looks dry and I see no evidence of acid. When these things leak do you need to remove the battery to see it?
I opened the fuse box and see no evidence of any problem there.
This only seems to happen while the car is idling. With it closed up, the vents on, an traveling at normal (90 to 100 mph :) speeds, I can not detect the smell.
Any ideas?????
:confused: :confused: :confused:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 7,981
Likes: 37
From: Piedmont, SC Currently Own: 99 Nassau blue FRC. Previously Owned: 84,95,98 Indy Pace,01 Z06
Re: Electrical "burning" Smell (roscoe118)
Take the battery out and look to see if you see any corrosion of any sort. To help verify that you don't have a battery leak take some baking soda and sprinkle it around the battery tray. If bubbling occurs there is signs of battery acid. I didn't see mine leaking either until I pulled it out and the frame up under the battery tray had already corroded!! Good Luck in your findings :seeya
Jason
Jason
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,738
Likes: 10
From: Austin, Texas
Re: Electrical "burning" Smell (roscoe118)
May have found out the cause of the smell :U . Just spoke with a friend that owns a 98, and he told me that driving for a prolonged period of time (ie. permanently) with the Active Handling on will cause a "glaze" to build up on the clutch. He had experienced the same smell.
To clean it off, turn off the Active Handling, and very carefully pop the clutch moderately hard several times. If it feel like your clutch is slipping this will fix that as well. The clutch should feel much better after doing this.
Don't forget to re-engage the Active Handing.
I haven't actually done this yet, but he has and said it worked great.
Anyone else out there here this same thing?
To clean it off, turn off the Active Handling, and very carefully pop the clutch moderately hard several times. If it feel like your clutch is slipping this will fix that as well. The clutch should feel much better after doing this.
Don't forget to re-engage the Active Handing.
I haven't actually done this yet, but he has and said it worked great.
Anyone else out there here this same thing?
Racer
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 304
Likes: 0
From: sometown new york
Re: Electrical "burning" Smell (roscoe118)
I had that same smell on my 91. Shorlty afterward, there were flames in the engine bay. :eek: Blower motor shorted and started the fire. May she rest in peace. :sad:
