Need advice - burning smell from 2001 996 3.4 C4...
Discussion
Only my 2nd post and need some advice if anyone can help?
I can smell a burning smell which seems like it's coming from under the rear wheel arches. This is after even a short journey, say 8 miles.
At first i thought it must be the rear brakes, which were upgraded by the previous owner to AP brakes (or something, not up on names, etc). Anyway, my dad, who was a mechanic for 20+ years has rulled them out, as he said they feel cold even right after driving, and would of felt hot if they were sticking.
I think we have also ruled out low oil, as that seems to be okay.
We have just noticed the water level is a little below minimum, so will top up tomorrow, but it is only slightly below minimum.
Could it be the low water? It doesn't run over hot, around the 80 mark?
But the smell still seems like its coming from under the rear arches more than when you open the bonet.
The brakes also squeek, but they are new (fitted in August)...do these racing brakes smeel different to normal and should they squeek?
Any idea's? water level? brakes? anything else?
I have almost zero mechanical knowledge, so any help is appreciated.
On a seperate note, still can't quite get over how good the car is...different league to anything else i have driven
I can smell a burning smell which seems like it's coming from under the rear wheel arches. This is after even a short journey, say 8 miles.
At first i thought it must be the rear brakes, which were upgraded by the previous owner to AP brakes (or something, not up on names, etc). Anyway, my dad, who was a mechanic for 20+ years has rulled them out, as he said they feel cold even right after driving, and would of felt hot if they were sticking.
I think we have also ruled out low oil, as that seems to be okay.
We have just noticed the water level is a little below minimum, so will top up tomorrow, but it is only slightly below minimum.
Could it be the low water? It doesn't run over hot, around the 80 mark?
But the smell still seems like its coming from under the rear arches more than when you open the bonet.
The brakes also squeek, but they are new (fitted in August)...do these racing brakes smeel different to normal and should they squeek?
Any idea's? water level? brakes? anything else?
I have almost zero mechanical knowledge, so any help is appreciated.
On a seperate note, still can't quite get over how good the car is...different league to anything else i have driven
Oil leaking onto the exhaust headers or system? either after a recent change or maybe a small leak ?
Guess it would be hard to see but the smell is very specific, oils smells as if something actually is burning whilst coolant smells a bit sweet almost sickly.
A mechanic should be able to tell you what the smell is , i.e. what is actually burning and then its next to trace the leak.
Good luck.....
Guess it would be hard to see but the smell is very specific, oils smells as if something actually is burning whilst coolant smells a bit sweet almost sickly.
A mechanic should be able to tell you what the smell is , i.e. what is actually burning and then its next to trace the leak.
Good luck.....
ive found in my experience with these cars that mud and dirt on the rear silencers causes this my work shop is on a farm estate and theres plenty of mud on the roads there each time i come back off test they smell of burning from rear arches....
as long as your tyres are not over hot and no apparent oil leaks id go with the mud theory....
as long as your tyres are not over hot and no apparent oil leaks id go with the mud theory....
jac-in-a-box said:
Had a similar scare after the OPC serviced my car...apparently they applied some sort of wax preservative to the exposed areas of the engine and transmission. Disappeared after a few weeks.
I had exactly the same (scary) thing after my 996 serviced. The smell disappeared after a week or so.
It could be many many different things. Get the car to a good specialist and have it checked over. It would be a shame if the thing went up in smoke or something failed catastrophically when it could have been nipped in the bud.
It may be something and nothing but at least get it looked at.
Depending how hard you drive the car it is even possible to get a bit of a smell off the rear tyres after a bit of work.
Henry
It may be something and nothing but at least get it looked at.
Depending how hard you drive the car it is even possible to get a bit of a smell off the rear tyres after a bit of work.
Henry
More than likely it is the Cosmoline that is applied to underside of the drivetrain on all new Porsches as Jac-in-a-box said. It smells a little like burning oil when it gets hot. Look under the engine, If it is brownish in color on the engine, etc. That is the cosmoline. Zymol makes a product callled Strik that removes it, if you deside to do so. It probably doesn't hurt anything to leave it on however. Just gets a little smelly sometimes when you shut the car off in an enclosed area.
Craig
>> Edited by caccobra on Saturday 4th February 17:32
Craig
>> Edited by caccobra on Saturday 4th February 17:32
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