Hi all!

Just picked up an 04 Punto Friday with roughly 80 000 miles on the odometer . It had just recently had its timing belt changed, oil and plugs as well as a new thermostat. Upon first driving it everything seemed to be working just fine, after stopping however I noticed some light burnt smell. The previous owner pointed to the AC and the fact that it had been sparsely used over the past year. However upon driving it for a few days I notice the burnt smell even if the AC is turned off. You won't smell it inside, only outside and it seems to be emerging from the engine compartment. My first thought was the brakes perhaps but now I'm leaning more towards the cooler/fan. Any one have any ideas?

P.S. Clutch works very well, i.e. don't think it is that.

Thanks!
/John

A few thoughts...

Check for plastic bags or other bits that might get stuck under the car. These melt on the exhaust and create a burning smell.

New gaskets can smell for a time after being fitted.

Oil, coolant etc spilt on exhaust or sweaty engine block can cause the liquid to burn as engine warms up

Slipping / worn alternator belt

When I was 18 I was so heavy on both the accelerator and the brakes that when I got home the brakes used to smoke...

Even if clutch works fine it can still smell if you're riding the clutch as is often the case when you get a new car. Until you get used to the way the car handles it is normal to use the clutch a bit more than you would normally.

Check the resistor pack

Probably started to melting - and the plastic melts - its stinks

Ziggy

Thanks Core and Ziggy.

Ziggy - Are we talking the heating or blower resistor. Where is it located?

/John

JohnColo said:

Thanks Core and Ziggy.

Ziggy - Are we talking the heating or blower resistor. Where is it located?

/John

Click to expand...

YES- remove fan motor under dash ( footwell area)

is your a UK car of US drivers side on left..??

Charlie

It's Swedish (American currently residing in Sweden). But wouldn't that blow the smell inside the car? Smells like it's emitted from somewhere in the engine compartment.

/John

The other issue that sometimes pops up is that a cable, wire or hose might have come loose and is burning against the engine or exhaust.

If the car is running right and there are no funny noises etc...Give the car a nice long burn on the motorway or drive it for a few days longer and then see if the smell goes away. A lot of the times whatever it was (usually something minor) has burnt away.

Was oil spilled on the engine when changing it? Could be that burning off

You will have to get your scooby sniffer out and have a rummage when its hot to see where the smells coming from

It could be anything from oil dripping onto the cat and smelling
From the Oil Recirculation pipe pumping oil vapour into the enginebay then cabin
It could be a binding brake causing you issues

Ziggy

As you can see from the thoughts already expressed above JohnColo, there could be any number of issues causing the burning smell. You will need to do what Ziggy suggested and "get your scooby sniffer out"

On the 16V engine the cover for the camshaft locking tool is over the exhaust manifold, and the screwed thread of the cover is running down hill. The oil drop that forms on the cover will then occasionally drop down onto the hot exhaust and produce a sudden burnt smell. I was particularly getting this smell when I pulled into my bumpy drive.

I put a bit of ptfe tape on my one and touch wood it has been fine since.

Thanks everybody,
Took the car to a shop today and lifted it, turned out it was this thingy (pictured) that was busted and was leaking oil. Also the left wheel gaiter was also entirely worn out. 200 dollars replace both as well as tightening the hand break.

Now off to trying to get my Blaupunkt radio to go from waiting to code, and then get the code...

that's your exhaust flexi joint..
it shouldn't have oil in.. / around .. must be dripping from the engine / gearbox above

or possibly grease flung from the split gaiter..,
sounds like you are now o.k. ,
Charlie