Burning smell

[medieval]

Evening all - I thought I would seek the advice of the Cerbera massive on a recent issue of concern.

I must however confess to a dark secret - I have not driven the cerb for some three months owing to other commitments and away time

However,put that right this Sunday when I took the car out (good lady wife, two children and the German Shepherd all in)for a 50 mile run out.

All well until the run back honme when we noticed a slight burning smell and a thin white stream of smoke issuing from the widscreen edge of the bonnet. Engine off, all exit (I know that part of the drill at least) carefully lift the bonnet and no flames but a thin smoke issue appearing to come from the engine valley towards the rear of the block (windscreen end) Smoke stops immedaitely and no further drama so start again and proceed home but the same symptoms appear again on the drive.

I have checked under the bonnet, lifted the bat wing section and can see nothing burnt, no blacked areas and nothing that could conceivably give rise to this.

Just to confirm, this was not steam, no smell of fuel and the odour was one more of dust or possibly electrical but I cannot pin point the source.

Any ideas guys and yes I promise to drive it more.

Thanks in advance and regards all.

[Erich Stahler]

You say you haven't used the car for a while, did you have to take the battery cover off to charge it? if so would almost guarantee it will be your windscreen washer pipe has melted, its routed round the back of the battery and if it's not located correctly it can end up touching one of the exhaust manifolds which results in a nice plume or white smoke for a few minutes.

[Moulder]

Now that's the burning smell sorted, please answer the question........

Where does the German Shepherd sit?

[N1CERB]

Could also have been like you say, dust? Or small oil collection that burned away during your drive. Or one of many tubes, pipes and cables touching the manifolds?

I reckon the dog will have been sat on the back seat. Just a guess though!
I had a my Newfoundland in the Cerb at the weekend, now that was a sight to see! She was in the front tho.

Cheers

[medieval]

Thanks guys - will check again for all connections but just wanted to check I wasn't missing anything obvious.

The dog sits in the front passenger footwell - he's just coming up for four months old so I cant see the position being long term.

Kind regards all.

[TimJM]

It will be the breather. I have never seen the problem myself but it sounds just like this:

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=323652&hw=+%2Bsmoke 

Edited to say: While I say it will be the breather please take into account I know nothing about fixing cerberas and that is why my car has been at various garages around the UK for 3 months now.

Edited by TimJM on Wednesday 29th August 19:36