Burning smell inside 97 path

architectdave · Oct 2nd, 2006, 06:10 AM

I have a 97 se with 248k miles. On a recent trip of over an hour highway drivign i started smelling a burnt smell similair to brakes that get too hot. I thought that one of my calipers migh be sticking but when i got home i checked them and they were not overly hot and did not smell.

Over the past couple of weeks i noticed this smell happens when i drive the truck hard likeon the highway. I have determined that its coming thru the vents and it doesnt matter if its on hot or cold - defrost, vent, cabin, floor or what ever. Its not smokey and its not horrible but the smell is there and it gets annoying. At one point i pulled over this weekend and inspecked my truck form top to bottom inside and out and determined it seems to be coming from inside the vehicle as i cant detect any wiff of it outside and there is no obvious signs of anything burning. It does seem to be a weaker smell when i have the fan set to blow on the floor.

has anyone elses experienced this?

golfer · Oct 2nd, 2006, 06:40 AM

Do you experience this without the fan on ??

architectdave · Oct 2nd, 2006, 11:48 AM

yes even with the fan off it smells as the vent pressure is pushing air thru....

tcrote5516 · Oct 2nd, 2006, 05:29 PM

What have you been eating lately?

**88pathoffroad** · Oct 2nd, 2006, 11:12 PM

Pull the blower fan and empty the leaves and pine needles out of it before you catch a car fire. There's a hot wire inside that can do that, IIRC.

architectdave · Oct 3rd, 2006, 06:11 AM

A hot wire? Whats the hot wire?

**88pathoffroad** · Oct 3rd, 2006, 06:40 PM

Lemme see here....where did I read this?

Here you go. NPORA forum post: http://npora.ipbhost.com//index.php?showtopic=7466

architectdave · Oct 4th, 2006, 06:11 AM

88 - YOU ARE THE BOMB!!! I can't thank you enough. Im gonna yank that thing out tonight when I get home !!! Possibley should consider posting a fix for this as a sticky under the tech section.

architectdave · Oct 5th, 2006, 05:50 AM

So I went home last night and there was not a speck of dust in my fan or the plenum for the heating system. I found the resistirs and the heat sink attached to them was shinny and clean.

So i am back to square one.

ANYONE KNOW WHY MY PATH SMELLS LIKE BURING BRAKES IN THE CABIN?

soberinutah · Oct 5th, 2006, 08:27 AM

Dave, while diagnosing a low speed front brake pad squeal when no brakes applied, I used a temp probe on the disc's and calipers after a short cruise. Front right was hotter by 30 degrees. After cleaning and lubing pins and slide surfaces, temps were same. I did notice these calipers seem to hold pads against the disc slightly tighter at rest than any other vehicle I've owned. It was within specs though.

It's been a while so I don't remember temps, but it would be a place to start. Post temps and I will check mine. Outside air temp would be a factor to note also.

Auto transmission or manual?

Try covering air intake at base of windshield.

Could parking brake cable be stuck in it housing and not releasing completly? Temp check rears also.

architectdave · Oct 5th, 2006, 10:13 AM

My wife drove it last night for over an hour one way and said with the recirc engaged and the damper closed the smell was jsut as bad so i think its coming form inside the truck cab.....it does smell like overheated brakes....

architectdave · Dec 18th, 2006, 10:15 AM

Have a bad smell inside the path with the fan on or off recirc of fresh - tore the entire console apart and found nothing.... could it be that my cat converter is getting to hot? its right next to the intake....

**88pathoffroad** · Dec 19th, 2006, 12:56 AM

I dunno what you think the cat looks like, but it's nowhere near being "right next to the intake".

architectdave · Dec 19th, 2006, 03:48 PM

I know exactly what the cat looks like and its below the intake of the heater wehre it goes thru the fire wall....thinking its the hotest thing in teh area that might smell...purely speculation

Pezzy · Dec 19th, 2006, 05:02 PM

you said it smells like brakes... I know you said it seems its comming from the vents... but could your e-brake be sticking??