Drivetrain Smell 2010

[h1h0silver]

The past few days I have been noticing a burning smell. First, it was faint and only when i stopped. Then it got to the point where I can actually smell while driving with windows up or down. Now it's horrible and may choke you out.

I first thought maybe I'm burning oil. Level is fine and color matches mileage for this change. I'm at 19000 miles or so and due for another change.

Then I look at the rotors for abnormal brake wear. I know these cars have TSB for brake drag. Dealership already turned me down once for complaining about rear drag. No more wear than I expected.

I believe it smells much like overheated gear oil. Possibly front transfer case or there is something leaking and being burned off. I don't see any "smoke" and haven't pulled the plastic fluid collection pan from underneath to check for leaks.

Any ideas?

 

[jmpSHO2nd]

Dealer should be able to figure it out for you.
Quan ao nu dep Quan ao tre em Quan ao so sinh Chup anh san pham http://doxinh.com.vn/danh-muc/quan-ao-thoi-trang/ Thoi trang cong so nu cao cap Thoi trang cong so nu cao cap

 

[shaker281]

Also, consider the possibility something (plastic shopping bag?) has come up from the road and melted onto your catalytic converter.

 

[Showgun]

Also, consider the possibility something (plastic shopping bag?) has come up from the road and melted onto your catalytic converter.

Good point, Shaker.....I've heard of that happening occasionally. and could be anywhere on the exhaust. Certainly the cat gets the hottest but whole exhaust gets quite hot too.

 

[cheech]

The past few days I have been noticing a burning smell. First, it was faint and only when i stopped. Then it got to the point where I can actually smell while driving with windows up or down. Now it's horrible and may choke you out.

I first thought maybe I'm burning oil. Level is fine and color matches mileage for this change. I'm at 19000 miles or so and due for another change.

Then I look at the rotors for abnormal brake wear. I know these cars have TSB for brake drag. Dealership already turned me down once for complaining about rear drag. No more wear than I expected.

I believe it smells much like overheated gear oil. Possibly front transfer case or there is something leaking and being burned off. I don't see any "smoke" and haven't pulled the plastic fluid collection pan from underneath to check for leaks.

Any ideas?

My rear turbo return tube gasket was leaking onto the exhaust. I have seen 3 others do this. Real pain to change but its your dealers pain not yours.

 

[Showgun]

My rear turbo return tube gasket was leaking onto the exhaust. I have seen 3 others do this. Real pain to change but its your dealers pain not yours.

........and what is it that was burning, cheech? The gasket?

 

[cheech]

........and what is it that was burning, cheech? The gasket?

Oil was running down the right rear corner of the subframe burning on the exhaust.

 

[Showgun]

Oil was running down the right rear corner of the subframe burning on the exhaust.

Oh ok....The Oil Return Tube was leaking. Yikes. That must have caused quite a stink in the car???
Sounds like something worth watching out for right.

 

[h1h0silver]

After reading through any TSB that could be related, I assume a leak from the PTU.

I slid under the car and sure enough, something is leaking. Something above or from the PTU and dripping it's way onto exhaust piping. The fluid is a clear/light brown.

Red = auto tranny fluid <--- not the case
dark brown/black = engine oil <----nope (turbo leak this color?)
light brown = gearbox oil/PTU fluid or brake fluid or power steering fluid

Brake reservoir is full.
The PTU vent seems to be blowing onto brake reservoir.
I also looked at the output shaft seal of PTU and seems there is hint of leak there.

Let's see how long the dealer takes on this and if I get a loaner.

 

[Showgun]

After reading through any TSB that could be related, I assume a leak from the PTU.

I slid under the car and sure enough, something is leaking. Something above or from the PTU and dripping it's way onto exhaust piping. The fluid is a clear/light brown.

Red = auto tranny fluid <--- not the case
dark brown/black = engine oil <----nope (turbo leak this color?)
light brown = gearbox oil/PTU fluid or brake fluid or power steering fluid

Brake reservoir is full.
The PTU vent seems to be blowing onto brake reservoir.
I also looked at the output shaft seal of PTU and seems there is hint of leak there.

Let's see how long the dealer takes on this and if I get a loaner.

Good luck on both of those. Please let us know what transpires on both fronts.

 

[h1h0silver]

Dropped the car off. The demonship says they don't have loaner cars anymore due to people screwing them over or some load of garbage. The only demonship that does loaners is the dealer that I purchased from 50 miles away. The last time I used them, it took 3 hours to get a car from rental company 2 miles away.

Luckily, the local Ford is only 2 sites down from where my wife works. So I had to hoof it across 2 dealerships to say, "Babe, wanna take me home?"

No call yet on the car problem.

 

[SHO U UP]

Dropped the car off. The demonship says they don't have loaner cars anymore due to people screwing them over or some load of garbage. The only demonship that does loaners is the dealer that I purchased from 50 miles away. The last time I used them, it took 3 hours to get a car from rental company 2 miles away.

Luckily, the local Ford is only 2 sites down from where my wife works. So I had to hoof it across 2 dealerships to say, "Babe, wanna take me home?"

No call yet on the car problem.

You should get a loaner. Mine has been in the dealer since Monday night due to a misfire condition and they gave me an "upgraded" HHR to drive last night. My 1st car they tried to give my wife was a Kia or a Hyundai as a loaner. My wife said that was unacceptable in a nice tone, and I got the all mighty PT Cruiser wanna-be. :laugh_ti: But Ford doesn't loan out their cars anymore, but IIRC Enterprise rental has a contract with them. That's who my loaner is thru.

 

[h1h0silver]

2 days have passed and no call yet. I just called them and they said they have gaskets on order for the PTU.

Also had them check out my window trim and the keyless access panel on driver door. Trim a little out of whack and drags on window operation. The access panel actually peels away at the top. Adhesive failing. Anyone experience this?

I wish I could have read the stamp on the PTU to determine if it is the ones that must be replaced. I hope I don't develop any other problems after this fix.

More of an update on monday, estimated completion.

 

[SoCalSHO]

The past few days I have been noticing a burning smell. First, it was faint and only when i stopped. Then it got to the point where I can actually smell while driving with windows up or down. Now it's horrible and may choke you out.

I first thought maybe I'm burning oil. Level is fine and color matches mileage for this change. I'm at 19000 miles or so and due for another change.

Then I look at the rotors for abnormal brake wear. I know these cars have TSB for brake drag. Dealership already turned me down once for complaining about rear drag. No more wear than I expected.

I believe it smells much like overheated gear oil. Possibly front transfer case or there is something leaking and being burned off. I don't see any "smoke" and haven't pulled the plastic fluid collection pan from underneath to check for leaks.

Any ideas?

Any resolution yet?

I have had this same problem. I reported it to the dealer at around 3K miles. They of course could not find anything. I smell it daily. I do not notice any oil level change, and I have checked under the car. Really starting to annoy me. I will have the dealer check again when it goes back to replace the taillights (for the chrome issue, and to replace the strut on the trunk which leaked all over).

 

[h1h0silver]

It is the PTU leaking. I knew that before taking it to dealer. Crawl under and look for fluid. If you see a light brown fluid on a component that is centered under engine, to right of transmission, that's it.

Car has been in shop for 2 weeks now. Waiting on parts, waiting on parts. They got parts on Tuesday and ready Wed. No call. Call them Wednesday to see what's up, didn't get all parts needed. Now they want to offer a rental. I deploy in a few days, so no need for rental and my wife gonna have to pick it up and I will not get to test it for couple months.

 

[Crazy8]

2 days have passed and no call yet. I just called them and they said they have gaskets on order for the PTU.

Also had them check out my window trim and the keyless access panel on driver door. Trim a little out of whack and drags on window operation. The access panel actually peels away at the top. Adhesive failing. Anyone experience this?

I wish I could have read the stamp on the PTU to determine if it is the ones that must be replaced. I hope I don't develop any other problems after this fix.

More of an update on monday, estimated completion.

The number pad was pulling away at the top of my ride.

 

[SoCalSHO]

It is the PTU leaking. I knew that before taking it to dealer. Crawl under and look for fluid. If you see a light brown fluid on a component that is centered under engine, to right of transmission, that's it.

Car has been in shop for 2 weeks now. Waiting on parts, waiting on parts. They got parts on Tuesday and ready Wed. No call. Call them Wednesday to see what's up, didn't get all parts needed. Now they want to offer a rental. I deploy in a few days, so no need for rental and my wife gonna have to pick it up and I will not get to test it for couple months.

Sorry to say that is not the case on my car. I looked all over the underside of my car after I took the shield off, used a high power light, and did not see any new or old leaks.

Although I did notice the metal heat shielding that is on the under-car shield had been work through by the exhaust ****** from the cat that sits right above. Since the shield was worn through, the material under the metal heat shield was kind of singed/melted....But whatever the condition, I was able to just rub it off. So you guys may want to look at your undercar shields and see if the exhaust ****** has rubbed a hole in it. Maybe I will drive with it off and see if there is a difference.

 

[nynd]

Do me a favour and check your engine cover (the one with the SHO written on it) in the engine compartment. See if it shows signs of melting or shredding that the fragments are burning. You'll need to remove the oil fill cap and then pull up to remove the plastic cover.

 

[SoCalSHO]

I don't run with the cover on. I did just put it on though. It makes the smell regardless.

I did remove my tune about a week ago and just noticed the smell has lessened. Hopefully that did not cause it. I am going to put the tune back on and see what happens.

 

[GLADIATOR]

Did the dealer resolve? I just started a thread about this and then saw yours. I looked for leaks but will look again. What is PTU???