Looking for a bit of advice really. Just started my Evo GP up for the first time in a few days and as soon as I turned the ignition there was a strange popping sound from the engine. Smoke started to rise from the bonnet and then filled the car. It was white smoke and the smell is burning rubber/plastic.
I have looked under the bonnet and there is no sign of any burning, everything looks pretty normal.

Never had any trouble with it before now. Not sure what to do! Daren't start it again incase it catches fire. Will this just be a warranty job?

Thanks

Spike87 said:

Looking for a bit of advice really. Just started my Evo GP up for the first time in a few days and as soon as I turned the ignition there was a strange popping sound from the engine. Smoke started to rise from the bonnet and then filled the car. It was white smoke and the smell is burning rubber/plastic.
I have looked under the bonnet and there is no sign of any burning, everything looks pretty normal.

Never had any trouble with it before now. Not sure what to do! Daren't start it again incase it catches fire. Will this just be a warranty job?

Thanks

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Definetly a warrenty job

Deffo warranty job, infact i'd suggest phoning dealership and getting them to pick it up if smoke was that bad.

Yeah will have to phone dealership tomorrow. I daren't switch it on incase it catches fire. The interior still stinks of burning.

I'll guess it's a 1.4 16v with aircon and the alternator has seized thus rubbing/snapping the belt

Well after a bit more investigating, it was definitely rubber that I could smell. As you open the bonnet, on the left hand side sort of left/under the engine there is a rubber band that turns when the car is started. When touching the accelerator, the rubber band spins faster. Don't have a clue what it is though! Just started the car and everything seems fine. No smoke, no warning signs. There are rubber shavings all over the floor so it does look as if parts of it have ground against something. Car is booked in for Monday. I'm just glad it's nothing too serious!

Oh and yes, it's a 1.4 16V MultiAir.

As T says, it'll be the alternator belt - i wonder if a rogue drain hose has got through onto an Evo, T?!

There was a fairly widespread problem with the Alfa MiTo (which is based on the Punto) where the water from the windscreen would drip down through it's drain hole and (due to an incorrectly shaped drain tube) straight onto the alternator. In cold weather the water freezes and stops the alternator moving. When you start the car the belt tries to turn the alternator but can't and therefore it shreads and causes smoke! Sounds worse than it is.

Phone the garage and say you've got a frozen alternator & the belt has shredded and filled the car with smoke. They might be surprised that it's happened on an Evo (the modification was carried out 12 months ago so no Evo should have this problem) but they should know about it from the odd Grande Punto or if theyre an Alfa dealer, from the MiTo.

unless the car has been parked on an incline and the water has dribbled onto it

if the belt has not snapped try warming the alternator for 10 to 15 mins with a hair drier if de frost it

vid of what your looking for

Does the belt still need replacing if it hasn't snapped? There's rubber shavings all over the floor where the car was parked (not on incline). There's also still a terrible smell inside the car of burning rubber which blew through the fans.

Spike87 said:

Does the belt still need replacing if it hasn't snapped? There's rubber shavings all over the floor where the car was parked (not on incline). There's also still a terrible smell inside the car of burning rubber which blew through the fans.

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I'd leave the car open for awhile to air it out, wouldn't bother trying to get air fresheners etc as you cant get rid of smells by just covering them up with something else, just air it out for a few hours (obviously keep an eye on it so no1 runs off with it!)

Alternatively, I don't know if the garage would valet the interior to get the smell out?

Spike87 said:

Does the belt still need replacing if it hasn't snapped? There's rubber shavings all over the floor where the car was parked (not on incline). There's also still a terrible smell inside the car of burning rubber which blew through the fans.

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Id say that because there's rubber shavings from the belt on the floor, the belt has possibly lost some of its strength, so i'd more or less insist that the garage change the belt & drain tube, and thoroughly check the condition of the alternator.

If they decide not to change the alternator (the dont always need changing when this happens) i'd email Fiat UK detailing that this has happened & ask them to note the file for your car so that if the alternator fails at a later date, they have a record of this event. Also ask them to acknowledge your email.

Well, you were all correct. The alternator belt has shredded slightly, it's booked in for a new belt later this week.

Many thanks for all your help.

Before it goes for repair, have a look at the video Andy posted, to see if the same thing happens on your car. If it does, phone the dealer and make sure they order modified drain tubes from the windscreen scuttle because that'll be what it needs to stop this happening again.

If they don't know about it, suggest they phone an Alfa dealer - they definately will!