"Hot" smell coming from alternator

[Wilso]

Hey guys,
Since about 1-2 weeks ago I've been noticing this hot rubbery like smell coming through the vents. I pop the hood sniff around and I finally figure out that it's the alternator (saving you the long version of the story). Do you think it's a faulty alternator? Or because I'm using rear-defrost and using the heat it's just putting more stress on it?
Any help could be appreciated

[humfrz]

hmmm.......using the heater shouldn't overload the alternator.

Nor should using the rear defroster.

You might put a volt meter on the battery, with the car running, to see if the alternator is charging properly.

Does the belt feel hot or look like it's been overheated (maybe the alternator is binding).

Best yet, is to take it into the dealer ..... and they will probably tell you "it's normal" .....

humfrz

[Wilso]

Haven't checked if the belts were hot yet. Didn't think of that. I will try that out!
Yeah after reading all of these dealer horror stories I don't know if I want to do that :/

[Hakuzen]

I get a hot rubbery smell through my vents every once in awhile, its usually faint and goes away pretty quick.. Was hoping it was normal =\ It only happens every once in awhile when the car has been running for awhile, so its pretty tough to reproduce for a dealer tech

[Wilso]

I got it almost every night on my way home/ to work and my car was maybe running for 15 minutes? Long trips doesn't seem to affect it as much. As of now I haven't smelled it for a few days so let's hope everything is okay lol

[Anomie]

Also been noticing a burning rubber smell after letting the car warm up which goes away pretty quickly. Anyone find the source of this?

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by Anomie

Also been noticing a burning rubber smell after letting the car warm up which goes away pretty quickly. Anyone find the source of this?

How long have you had the car? Mine emitted the occasional weird smell for the first two months of ownership. 19k miles later and no issues.

[Norton 850]

I, too, notice an odd burning smell occasionally. I noticed it the first day I bought the car and attributed it to cooking-off some residue in the new exhaust system. However, some 1,000 miles later, I still smell it ever so often.

I've never owned a car that had so many niggling problems as this one does.

[EastBayCanuck]

hmm I typically get this after my morning commute. I typically don't smell it though till I get to a certain light after getting off the highway (sometimes the stop light I've hit). I do tend to run the heater in the morning ride in.

[Subaruwrxfan]

Add me to the list, I notice this smell off and on in my car too, just passed 25k miles. Burning rubber smell. Subscribed to see if anyone figures out what it is. Doesn't bother me enough to go through pestering the dealer about it.

[PERRIN_Chris]

I get a weird rubber burning smell when I have the heater on full, and I turn the vents to between foot and foot and windshield defrost. I don't like having full foot and windshield defrost since it turns on the A/C. I'm hoping it's doing this because of the hot air going through the windshield defrost vents.

I'm hoping it goes away, it seems to get better if I turn the heat down, or just turn the vents back to face and foot. I've driven my car about 1500 miles so far.

[DJCarbine]

Originally Posted by PERRIN_Chris

I get a weird rubber burning smell when I have the heater on full, and I turn the vents to between foot and foot and windshield defrost. I don't like having full foot and windshield defrost since it turns on the A/C. I'm hoping it's doing this because of the hot air going through the windshield defrost vents.

I'm hoping it goes away, it seems to get better if I turn the heat down, or just turn the vents back to face and foot. I've driven my car about 1500 miles so far.

I get this exact same thing, ~13K miles

[Anomie]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

How long have you had the car? Mine emitted the occasional weird smell for the first two months of ownership. 19k miles later and no issues.

Only had it a couple months, 1200 miles on it. May bring it to the dealer if it keeps bothering me, hopefully it goes away

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by Anomie

Only had it a couple months, 1200 miles on it. May bring it to the dealer if it keeps bothering me, hopefully it goes away

I wouldn't worry about it, mine smelled funny up until around 3,000 miles (not necessarily rubber smell, just funny smells in general), I'd be surprised if they told you it was a problem, just normal vehicle break in. I don't mean to discourage you though, certainly worth the assurance and documentation purposes.