Rubber-y Smell...clutch? - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

Pkush · 03-30-2015, 01:58 PM

So, I've got 14k miles on my BRZ and yesterday I took a 100 mile ride to a state park and back. When I got there and parked I smelled some funky rubber smell inside the cabin and when I walked around the car I couldn't smell it. A buddy who was with me told me he also smelled it but outside (he was in a different car)...
I came back the same 100 miles and caught the faint smell again.

This morning I got to work and got it again...any idea what it might be?

I do have only 14k miles of stick driving experience under my belt, but I drove the way I always do, a bit on the aggressive side but nothing crazy. I smelled my clutch only on the first day I got my car, so this is the second time...Just seeing maybe someone had similar issue, going to take it to dealer soon

*Hachiroku86* · 03-30-2015, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pkush

So, I've got 14k miles on my BRZ and yesterday I took a 100 mile ride to a state park and back. When I got there and parked I smelled some funky rubber smell inside the cabin and when I walked around the car I couldn't smell it. A buddy who was with me told me he also smelled it but outside (he was in a different car)...
I came back the same 100 miles and caught the faint smell again.

This morning I got to work and got it again...any idea what it might be?

I do have only 14k miles of stick driving experience under my belt, but I drove the way I always do, a bit on the aggressive side but nothing crazy. I smelled my clutch only on the first day I got my car, so this is the second time...Just seeing maybe someone had similar issue, going to take it to dealer soon

Any mods?

Pkush · 03-30-2015, 02:34 PM

Hellahorns? lol

Car's basically stock

JB86'd · 03-30-2015, 03:22 PM

I have 13k miles and I used to have an oil burning smell, which I found out was my cam plate so I fixed it that with the Raceseng cam plate, and have verified that I have no oil leaks. Every so often when I drive hard I still get the burning smell that you're describing, but it doesn't really smell like brake or clutch, but if I get near the hood vent where the windshield wipers are it's stronger. I figure it's normal and just the engine bay components getting hot, but I'm no expert.

Error · 03-30-2015, 03:48 PM

I get this smell too OP, it's not putrid or anything repulsive (as I've heard a clutch burning up smells disgusting), but it does smell rubbery and maybe metallic like? I agree with JB86'd that it might be engine bay components getting hot, but I'm not exactly 100 percent sure. I usually smell it by the springs and if I open the hood you get that expel of heat with this unique scent. It doesn't smell like tire rubber though.

Bobblehead · 03-30-2015, 04:01 PM

Were you doing any aggressive braking? After spirited drives I smell a burning smell, not unlike yours. Its hard to really explain it. I narrowed it down (and freaked out the neighbors) smelling around the car. By sticking my nose near the wheels, I think I found it.

Pkush · 03-30-2015, 04:08 PM

Hmmmm. I need to check that. I realized that I have been braking quite a lot yesterday, and today morning I drove to work like a moron so I had to slow down 90 to 0 on an off ramp coming up to a stop light.

thatfilipinoguy · 03-30-2015, 06:52 PM

Check your belts too, people have been having their alt pulley covers coming loose and rubbing the belts. The brakes and clutch give off a worse smell than a rubber would FYI.

#maverick# · 03-30-2015, 08:02 PM

If it was your clutch you'd know. Its hard to describe the smell, it smells like bad fat odor and skunk mixed. Similar to what the brakes would smell like after hard braking smells like.

Pkush · 03-30-2015, 08:03 PM

Guys I know what clutch smells like. The day I picked up my car I burned it a bit lol. This smells similar but it's not even close to as potent.

RoadKillGrill · 03-30-2015, 08:55 PM

Is the cabin circulation on? Mine kicked on today and it smelled a little like clutch. I just turned off ac and rolled the windows down.

03-30-2015, 03:22 PM	#4
JB86'd Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Drives: JAWS Location: socal Posts: 703 Thanks: 753 Thanked 437 Times in 224 Posts Mentioned: 27 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	I have 13k miles and I used to have an oil burning smell, which I found out was my cam plate so I fixed it that with the Raceseng cam plate, and have verified that I have no oil leaks. Every so often when I drive hard I still get the burning smell that you're describing, but it doesn't really smell like brake or clutch, but if I get near the hood vent where the windshield wipers are it's stronger. I figure it's normal and just the engine bay components getting hot, but I'm no expert. __________________

03-30-2015, 04:01 PM	#6
Bobblehead Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Drives: 2013 BRZ (gone) 2016 Ford Fusion SE Location: Western PA Posts: 602 Thanks: 522 Thanked 494 Times in 223 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	Were you doing any aggressive braking? After spirited drives I smell a burning smell, not unlike yours. Its hard to really explain it. I narrowed it down (and freaked out the neighbors) smelling around the car. By sticking my nose near the wheels, I think I found it. __________________

03-30-2015, 08:02 PM	#9
#maverick# Senior Member Join Date: May 2014 Drives: 2006 Pontiac GP (SOLD), 2014 FR-S Location: Chicago Posts: 378 Thanks: 296 Thanked 145 Times in 113 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	If it was your clutch you'd know. Its hard to describe the smell, it smells like bad fat odor and skunk mixed. Similar to what the brakes would smell like after hard braking smells like. __________________ "Project cars are like New Years Eve. Endless preparation, hype, a sleepless night of fun, followed promptly by massive headaches and regret." - Anonymous

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03-30-2015, 03:48 PM	#5
Error Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Drives: FRS Location: Error Posts: 52 Thanks: 59 Thanked 71 Times in 20 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I get this smell too OP, it's not putrid or anything repulsive (as I've heard a clutch burning up smells disgusting), but it does smell rubbery and maybe metallic like? I agree with JB86'd that it might be engine bay components getting hot, but I'm not exactly 100 percent sure. I usually smell it by the springs and if I open the hood you get that expel of heat with this unique scent. It doesn't smell like tire rubber though.

03-30-2015, 06:52 PM	#8
thatfilipinoguy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Drives: 87 Supra, 13 FRS, 05 FXT Location: Honolulu, CA Posts: 485 Thanks: 229 Thanked 144 Times in 118 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Check your belts too, people have been having their alt pulley covers coming loose and rubbing the belts. The brakes and clutch give off a worse smell than a rubber would FYI.

03-30-2015, 08:55 PM	#11
RoadKillGrill Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Drives: FR-S 10 Series M/T Location: Ohio Posts: 29 Thanks: 0 Thanked 15 Times in 11 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Is the cabin circulation on? Mine kicked on today and it smelled a little like clutch. I just turned off ac and rolled the windows down.

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