burning smell

[DarkKnigh2060]

Hey everybody. I just had a quick question about my Yaris. It's an 2007 HB, automatic transmission, with 66k miles. When I go over 90 mph I get this burning smell. Anyone know what that means?

And yes, I know the obvious solution is to not go that fast, but I was just wondering if it was something I should be concerned with.

Thanks!

[R2D2]

No Joke, my wife got mine to do that once (09 5 dr Auto) passing a bunch of cars on a huge hill at about 80 mph. She has a much heavier foot than I do! Anyway, when she finally backed off the smell went away and I could find absolutely nothing wrong with the car. I actually chocked it up to the exhaust getting hotter than normal but I honestly don't know. She hasn't driven since, so I may never smell it again until she does. She kills my FE avg!

R2

[brg88tx]

my sedan can go 80 mph on cruise control for 5 hours straight with no problems and no burn smell, and still gets 37mpg at that speed.

[R2D2]

I'm sure it will, but I was referring to a hill that is very steep and a couple miles long-right to the floor for several minutes straight.

Maybe the smell came from another car.

[OtownYaris]

One of the few times I got my Yaris over 80-ish I remember smelling a sulphur odor. When I got out it was coming from the tailpipe so my guess is the catalytic convertor. I've read that happens when the fuel mixture is too rich. If that's what you're smelling I'd say you're probably ok. That happened to me over 3 years ago and no issues.

[yaris2010RS]

if ur car is not use to being "beat on" (mine is very use to it), when u do finally push it the carbon build up in the heads and exhaust will burn off and give off an odor as the mixture needs to adjust.

also i have found some A\T giving a funny burning smell when high rev\resistance shifts are required. in my experiences this is a event that will only occur 2 or 3 times (my personal experiences with a camry)

[R2D2]

Thanks guys. I always suspected it was exhaust related in my case, but couldn't prove it.

[Hershey]

We too have a very steep hill to climb and sometimes get the smell as well . It's the plastic intake manifold . Soon as you notice the smell, pull off to the side of the road ( if possible ) , pop the hood , and smell the plastic intake manifold . That could be the source of the scent . Especially occurs under hard excelleration .

[DarkKnigh2060]

I live in a pretty flat area (Houston, TX) so I don't really have to climb hills. I can go 80 just fine, but I almost never push it up to 90 but the two times that I have the smell came in. It stopped as soon as I slowed back down.

[Ryu]

That happens to me too if I take on the hill for too long with high rev.
Next time if you have to take on uphill for a much longer time, try to lower your rev when you take on the uphill then you should be fine.

[Betrivent]

I'm pretty sure the burning smell is the engine burning off built up carbon from regular use. Think of it like a stream collecting sediment, the stream being your engine and the sediment being carbon. During a flood (high rev/use/throttle what have you) the increase in water volume will wash away all the buiilt up sediment leaving the riverbed as clear as before.

[big lo]

I have noticed this with my wifes 2010 LB, when I punch the gas there is a burning smell, and monday we taking it the dealer to see what's up, keep you guys posted

[Hershey]

I'm pretty sure the burning smell is the engine burning off built up carbon from regular use. Think of it like a stream collecting sediment, the stream being your engine and the sediment being carbon. During a flood (high rev/use/throttle what have you) the increase in water volume will wash away all the buiilt up sediment leaving the riverbed as clear as before. It's the plastice intake manifold . Several times when this occurred I pulled off to the side of the road , popped the hood , and followed my nose ( :biggrin: ) to locate the source , that being the manifold .