Smell of burning Rubber in the hood

[camryfreak]

Hi all,

Just got registered in this forum, and have been enjoying your various posts.
I do have a problem with my 93 Camry LE however, each time I take it for a spin, I normally smell an unusual odor oozing from the hood especially when its parked after a spin. Sometimes I notice tiny fumes (smells like burning rubber) coming out from the hood. When I pop the hood, I can't really pinpoint exactly where the fume is coming from yet the car drives fine and shifts well. Although it appears its coming from "underneath" the engine, but I'm NOT sure.
Can anyone tell me where to look or what to do? I would appreciate. I do NOT want to spend tons of $$$$$ taking it to the dealerships.
Again, there's no overheating problems - obvious from the gauge, and the car drives well.

Thanks

[Daniel M. Dreifus]

Check the spark plug wires where they go down into the metal spark plug tubes - if they're shorting to ground inside where you can't see, can create the symptoms you describe. Pull the plug wires and look for charring at the rubber boot that covers the plug.

[yotatechie04]

You might also want to check out the air intake hose, which has been known to melt after aging for quite some time.

[AndyM1978]

I'm willing to bet that it's a bad valve cover gasket. On my car, I also couldn't figure out where the smoke was coming from. Eventually, I discovered a blob of fried oil on top of my exhaust pipe that runs under my engine. That is when I discovered that the oil was dripping from behind the engine onto the hot pipe where it would roast. I actually thought it was rubber too. See if you can see anything wet when shining a flashlight at the back of your engine.

BTW. A valve cover gasket is relatively cheap to replace.

[Mike Gerber]

camryfreak,

In addition to what others have suggested here, also check your exhaust system for a plastic bag stuck to it. This happens more often than most people think and the smell is awful and has sometimes been described as a "burning rubber smell." If you find this is the case, when it's cool, just get under there and scrape as much of it off as you can; the rest will have to burn off. Just a thought and something you can easily check yourself.

Mike

[yotatechie04]

A bad valve cover gasket was something that I forgot to mention, I had the same thing happen to me last year, although I couldn't really remember all that much about it because I do so much with the car that I have trouble remembering it all...

[Grymloco]

Originally Posted by Mike Gerber

camryfreak,

In addition to what others have suggested here, also check your exhaust system for a plastic bag stuck to it. This happens more often than most people think and the smell is awful and has sometimes been described as a "burning rubber smell." If you find this is the case, when it's cool, just get under there and scrape as much of it off as you can; the rest will have to burn off. Just a thought and something you can easily check yourself.

Mike

how could you not remember all the things that have been done to your own car? anyways! ive also found the same smell coming from my own 2000 camry.. it appears that once ive taken a considerable trip, i walk to the rear end of the casr and smell a burnt oil/rubber smell also. im at the point where im going to get my car lifted to check the underside exhaust. i bought car as is from dealership. sucks when struts and shit have to be replaced and you are worried about smells.. just want it to run to place to place.
i knw this doesnt help. but it sure does help me, considering someone elses' car is also fucked up.. hahaah.

[yotatechie04]

It's rather difficult for me to remember everything that I do to my car, I mean I'm always doing something to it, whether it be servicing something, modifying something, adding something, taking something off, or whatever. Most usually I keep track of my mods, and I attempt to keep track of maintenance.

[Mycar97LE]

I got the same problem with my car too. Only worse, when i drive up steep hills at high speeds especially. the burning rubber/ sulfur smell pours in through the air vents to the point where it's unbearable. I took it to the shop, the told me the head gasket is leaking oil into the manifold and it's contaminating all of engine components. They said to make my car "perfect" it would cost 2000. So i said fck it. That was 7 months ago. And i still have the same problems. The transmission squeks too and my suspension is shot too. The car's like a boat. I'm just waiting for the engine to explode. lol

[Grymloco]

Originally Posted by Mycar97LE

I got the same problem with my car too. Only worse, when i drive up steep hills at high speeds especially. the burning rubber/ sulfur smell pours in through the air vents to the point where it's unbearable. I took it to the shop, the told me the head gasket is leaking oil into the manifold and it's contaminating all of engine components. They said to make my car "perfect" it would cost 2000. So i said fck it. That was 7 months ago. And i still have the same problems. The transmission squeks too and my suspension is shot too. The car's like a boat. I'm just waiting for the engine to explode. lol

hahhaah that post was totally the shit, i happen to still own a 1988 toyota corolla wagon and ive put this thing thru hell!! ran it into a metal guard rail bursting the serpentine belt, its needed brakes, new tires, new exhuast, new radio, new doors, new wipers, etc, all the ininmate objects needed to actually get to work, its even got the pos tag on the back in huge black .. often used for garage sale signs.. letters on the back window. its fucking great, anyhow.. i bought the p.o.s. for $200 and spent a total of $700 and i have a piece of shit still, but hey, it works.. the fucking thing is rusting to the ground, has so many fucked up things like.. if driver side door is open, driver side back doesnt open, vice versus, cant open door from inside on passenger side. same with the doors being open at same time problem. the dashboard is all "PUNCHED" up, steerign wheal's honking mechanism totally fucking up from being punched considerably.. love the car tho, hope it explodes with me in it.. if i drive into a lake.. call my next of kin. best $200 ive ever spent. toyotas are beautiful and however you take care of them... miticuously or otherwise, they are all gonna fucking last for years and years..
ride till you, or it dies...


MY

[camryfreak]

93 camry finally has a clunking noise (like metal hitting against each other) when cranking the engine. Engine @ 160K miles
The car moves and shifts good but has a clunking noise - I guess the engine is gone? There's oil in the engine, also oil in tranny but the clunking noise wouldn't stop!
I don't know what's wrong with it. I had a previous problem of interface gasket between main engine/tranny but couldn't fix it due to outrageous auto mechanic bills. However the oil leaks were almost negligible. I do NOT think its related to this current problem since I still have oil properly gauged in the engine and tranny.

I'm thinking I need to buy a used engine so I can do a swap. Any hope for this engine?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!