Burning Rubber?

[White Mule]

I have smelt burning rubber at the end of my 10km commute lately.

When I get home and climb out, there it is

It has been around -8 ish for daytime highs.

Puzzled.

[mararmeisto]

Do you have the A/C on to help with defrosting the windows? It's automatic for a newer ride, but I suspect your '91 doesn't do this, so you may have left this on inadvertently. Or you may have turned it on intentionally, knowing the A/C helps dehumidify the warmed air being blasted onto the windshield.

Either way, your A/C compressor may be seized or froze and the belt is slipping/burning.

Otherwise, it might be one of your other belts. Have you been watching the engine temps? Have they been creeping up and down? Really shouldn't move much at all at -8°. Check the belt.

[White Mule]

I just came in after starting it and found the A/C was not on.

I will check the A/C belt when it warms up a bit (-15c presently).

Engine temps have been stable.

I do however recall a couple of weeks ago, when I heard a strange and new sound while warming it up. Problem was that I had my heavy tooook over my ears at the time. Canadian dress code

[mararmeisto]

Is the tuque still on your head? Not somewhere in the engine bay?

Anyway, other than the tires there isn't much moving rubber in a vehicle, so I couldn't say what else it might be other than belts.

[madmazda]

lets hope it's not a short on a wire on one of your MANY mods..... wouldn't want to see the ole white mule burn at all possible a wire is touching something warm or a short someplace

[White Mule]

Is it possible that one of those "Brown Glaciers" that likes to live on the mud flap could have been responsible?

Perhaps ice/rubber friction?

[jaggedfish]

Hey White Mule!

I would think the "brown glacier" theory would be a long shot. I can't see the snow/ice building up so much that it would cause that because the glacier would melt long before the tire would get hot enough to smell like it was burning.

I would check all your belts are turning while the motor is running. Possible also that your a/c belt has broken and is hanging where it rubs against spinning pulleys.

Can't bring myself to think the tires would have anything to do with it. Keep us posted on your findings!

Cheers!
Ian

[thedjjack]

Balance shaft belt ok?

[White Mule]

To follow-up (some what).

No icebergs = No rubber burning.

I say "some what" because I haven't checked the belts yet. Having said that, wouldn't the burning rubber be constant if a belt was loose or seized?

It seems after washing the "brown glaciers" away, the rubber thing has gone away as well.

[White Mule]

Do I have to remove the bottom protection plate to access all of the belts?

[FalcoColumbarius]

Out of curiosity... Are you still getting this smell or was it just the one time?

Could it be a seized E brake? I remember once following a Porsche which had smoke coming out of the rear wheels (in this case they had forgotten to take the E brake off). Also, the smell of brakes is not that unlike the smell of burning rubber. Just a thought.

If you haven't been getting the smell lately then maybe you smelled someone else's car? I have had bad experiences with cars that when I detect the slightest symptom I get this sinking feeling in the pit of my gut. One time I drove the MLB into London Drugs car park to pick something up and when I came out I saw green fluid on the ground beneath my front bumper and my heart stopped. Then it occurred to me that I have a mid engine vehicle and my rad is much further back. Just another thought... smiles.

Falco.

[White Mule]

Out of curiosity... Are you still getting this smell or was it just the one time?

I noticed again last night and again this morning. Its coming from me forsure. Its odd how it hasn't been consistent.
The e-brake hasn't been used in some time. I am also noticing considerably high use of fuel as well. Something just aint right with the Mule
Tonight I will get underneath, along with the slush/snow/ice/salt/gravel/muck to take a closer look.
From the top side, all belts are fine.
Do I have to remove stuff below for better inspection?
Thanks Falco.

[thedjjack]

to check the timing belt you need to take off the plastic cover at the front of the motor. It takes a few 10 or 12mm bolts. I think you can do it with the v-belts on. Use a flash light to see if the balance shaft belt is ok.

good luck.

[snelson]

Hey Mule,
I would also check the inside of your front tires, as you may know the upper ball joint is ridiculously close to the rubber of the tire on the inside (within about 1/2 inch on mine at least), I wonder it something is wrong up there. Easy to check if you just do a full turn of the wheels and check the clearance and condition of your tire(s).
Hope you track it down
Steve

[White Mule]

Thanks for that Steve, I will check that next.

All belts appear to be fine.

I removed the shroud over the fan, as well as the timing cover. I think I could see and feel all the belts involved.

The rubber smell only appears when moving, not in park/idle.