Hi guys am getting a slight burning smell in the engine compartment? Someone mentioned it smelled like oil . Anything I should be worried about / check? I opened engine Bonnet other than smell visually nothing looked amiss.

Why don't you take it to a Fiat dealership and let them look at it?

You check the oil every ten days or so don't you? Can't be that then.....

Ouch! Stands well back and waits for the barrage of abuse.......:devil:

ahmett said:

Hi guys am getting a slight burning smell in the engine compartment? Someone mentioned it smelled like oil . Anything I should be worried about / check? I opened engine Bonnet other than smell visually nothing looked amiss.

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One thing you can check is whether oil or transmission fluid is dripping onto the hot bits, especially the manifold & exhaust.

My usual maxim is that most problems are caused by the last component to be worked on; what was the last thing anyone did to your car?

Do you carry a fire extinguisher? Might just be worth considering.

jrkitching said:

One thing you can check is whether oil or transmission fluid is dripping onto the hot bits, especially the manifold & exhaust.

My usual maxim is that most problems are caused by the last component to be worked on; what was the last thing anyone did to your car?

Do you carry a fire extinguisher? Might just be worth considering.

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yeah i think its related to the transmission fluid thing because i took it to dealer today, the dualogic system was playing up again. They did some tests and said just keep on driving it like this, nothing wrong for now. and yes i do have a fire extinguisher in the car. = )

Selespeed fluid is nowhere near any hot bits for it to be able to burn though

Ok ahmett, I'm being perfectly serious here. I realise it isn't the same engine as you have it's just a thought. How often/do top up with oil often? Have a look at the following thread. It might mean nothing in your case, just trying to help:

http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/spider-1966-up/191099-oil-leak-exhaust-manifold-stud.html

frupi said:

Ok ahmett, I'm being perfectly serious here. I realise it isn't the same engine as you have it's just a thought. How often/do top up with oil often? Have a look at the following thread. It might mean nothing in your case, just trying to help:

http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/spider-1966-up/191099-oil-leak-exhaust-manifold-stud.html

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i checked the oil level yesterday, was a bit below max so i put in 200 ml of oil after about 4,000 kms since the last service. Perfectly within limits.

Most Easterly Pandas said:

Selespeed fluid is nowhere near any hot bits for it to be able to burn though

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maybe its the clutch = ) the smell comes from the front left side of the car. and how about gearbox oil? i noticed a slight leak coming from the gearbox itself a while back. i dont know the bosch guys noticed the smell and had a good look at the car from the top and below over a period of 30 mins-1 hour including diagnostics. and basically said just keep on driving it. They initially thought the potentiometer was playing up but they checked it and couldnt find anything wrong. they took it for 2 test drives and noitced the gearbox warning light would come on and off but it was instantaneous and fault code was saying problem in gear selector mechanism. Then they mocked me saying do you have a Fiat warranty? And smiling at the same time = ) And they were going on about how superior the DSG was to this rubbish gearbox system. = )


Its under warranty anyway (gearbox system) since they replaced it a month ago so absolute worst case it breaks down while driving and i'll get it towed there.

OK guys its definitely the clutch. I put a light on the front left tire and i could see faint smoke coming out from overheating and a slight smell. Does this mean the clutch is getting more and more damaged or can it take a decent amount of abuse. Car feels normal otherwise.

Gearbox oil leaking on to the clutch plate and burning off perhaps?

ahmett said:

OK guys its definitely the clutch. I put a light on the front left tire and i could see faint smoke coming out from overheating and a slight smell. Does this mean the clutch is getting more and more damaged or can it take a decent amount of abuse. Car feels normal otherwise.

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I take it this has nothing to do with the way you drive then ahmett? :devil:

I've only ever owned one car where I had to swap the clutch out and that was my old Nissan Primera. It failed at 120,000 miles. I bought that car with just 20k on the clock and I eventually put 143k on it over 9.5 years, so I think the first clutch did pretty well to last the time it did.

Hope you get things sorted.

Mercky said:

Gearbox oil leaking on to the clutch plate and burning off perhaps?

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Sounds quite realistic. The dealer guy said it was smelt like oil so i am assuming its that. Thing is they didnt seem to take the oil smell seriously at all, as if it wasnt a big deal = ) I saw them with a spanner maybe some oil leaked when they were working on it? Car feels ok so i guess i'll just keep on driving it for now = )

frupi said:

I take it this has nothing to do with the way you drive then ahmett? :devil:

I've only ever owned one car where I had to swap the clutch out and that was my old Nissan Primera. It failed at 120,000 miles. I bought that car with just 20k on the clock and I eventually put 143k on it over 9.5 years, so I think the first clutch did pretty well to last the time it did.

Hope you get things sorted.

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when the actuator failed the other month the car was at 60,000 miles. We changed the clutch and saw that the clutch was still 'ok'. It had a few scratches on the top but was in one piece. Thing is, with the dualogic, you dont have manual control of the clutch so i assume it will wear quicker than a manual.

I don't even know what a dualogic is lol! And no, I've not done any searches to find out either!

Mercky said:

Gearbox oil leaking on to the clutch plate and burning off perhaps?

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Wow just noticed a few drops of oil on the floor of garage after I reversed so that must be the cause of the smell! Garage tomorrow. Oil was very clear so must be gearbox oil

Yes sir gearbox oil leak!

Ahmett, have you got any kind of warranty to cover you for this?

jrkitching said:

Ahmett, have you got any kind of warranty to cover you for this?

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well yes these guys are the ones who fixed my dualogic and clutch and replaced my gearbox oil 1 month ago and they gave me a 2 year warranty on the gearbox system so i guess yes! they are working on my car as we speak i think the parts they need just arrived i am sitting in the lounge area with my laptop waiting.

ahmett said:

well yes these guys are the ones who fixed my dualogic and clutch and replaced my gearbox oil 1 month ago and they gave me a 2 year warranty on the gearbox system so i guess yes! they are working on my car as we speak i think the parts they need just arrived i am sitting in the lounge area with my laptop waiting.

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That's good news.

If the oil has got onto the clutch friction plate, they'll need to replace that as well as fixing the leak or it won't last long.

I have a burning smell in my house today - a rubbish tip caught fire last night & is still alight. .

jrkitching said:

Ahmett, have you got any kind of warranty to cover you for this?

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ok leak is fixed, no more smell. From what i saw fluid leaked onto exhaust? That possible?

It actually wasnt covered under warranty cost me 98 euros! warranty is only for parts and labor concerning parts changed not general area of car. oh well wear and tear slowly slowly changing every bit in the car = )