Burning smell

[gem_man]

Hi all

Picked up my 2000 450 Chim last week.

Everything fantastic until tonight

Drove about 20 miles on motorway at around 70 all ok

Then into slow moving traffic and then inch-at-a-time traffic for about 10 mins. It wanted to stall on one occassion.

Back onto motorway, all seemed fine

Then about 5 miles down the road as strong burning smell developed. At first I assumed it was outside but it persisted for about 10 mins.

Got a bit worried so came onto slip road of service area.

As I slowed for the roundabout at end of slip the dash lights flicked on and off a couple of times (maybe the headlights too)and engine faltered.

Checked her over at the service area. All looked ok. No flames leaping out the bonnet etc.

Lifted the bonnet no obvious burning things. Felt the wheels, they were cold.

The temperature outside was about zero so I would have seen any exhaust escaping from somewhere other than where it should have been.

Temperature guage was normal.

I recognise the smell but cant put my finger on it. Sort of burning plastic bag smell. I though maybe I had ran over a carrier bag that then stuck to the exhaust system but I am positive I would have seen a bag in the road, so I am ruling this out.

Took it easy for the remaining 10 miles home with only a slight whiff of burning.

Anyone got any ideas as to what this might have been?

Needless to say I am now not happy driving her for fear of a fire at 70mph.

The car is perfect in every way. Near mint I would say EXCEPT that the electric mirros to do not work.
BUT, I noticed once I came out of the service area, the drivers mirror had moved to the far right. (may have absolutely nothing to do with it, but very odd)

I have gone from exstatic and confident with her to worried and cautious. Not what I had hoped for week one.

Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

Kind regards to all

[grumbledoak]

I would have bet on the "plastic bag somewhere hot" explanation, until you mentioned the mirrors.
Could the familiar smell have been an electrical short ?

[GAjon]

Sounds like some kind of elecrical short, the smell being wiring getting hot to point of burning, is the fan linked to an overide switch in the cabin?
With you being in traffic for 10 minutes the cooling fan(s) may have cut in so the short may be there.
Did you have on wipers? heaters? Lights? Check each circuit.
Definately needs checking

[gem_man]

Hmmm not familiar enough with the whiff of shorting electrics but I was wondering the same thing. I suppose the electrics are covered in plastic, so that could explain the plasticy smell.
Just wish I could pinpoint where I have smelt that smell before.

What do reckon would happen if I contued to drive her with an electrical short?

I am going to have to get her to someone who knows about this sort of stuff and that will involve a 30 mile drive.

[GAjon]

Take it in daylight, and on a fine day where you can avoid having to use any of the auxilliary electrical circuits (not so easy this time of year), better still try and get an auto spark to your home address.

[grumbledoak]

Electrical short isn't that likely to cause a fire - you want a fuel or oil leak to get a good fire going. But it could easily leave you at the roadside, which is a good way to fall out of love with a car.

If you aren't confident sorting it yourself, I'd book her in and drive down at a quiet traffic time.
With an RAC card and mobile.


But sticking your nose all over the place to find source of the smell should work, given some patience.
HTH

[gem_man]

I am not sure if there is an over-ride switch in the cabin. If there is, I have not found it yet.

I would have expected the smell to have been strongest when the fan started up when I was in traffic (if indeed it did start). But the smell gstarted and grew strong when I was on open road with it being Zero degrees outside.

yes, lights and heater where on. No need for wipers.

[byker28i]

Have you asked the previous owner if he'd give you any clues?

You never know - it might be something he'd had before?

Edited by byker28i on Sunday 17th December 19:41

[blujay10]

If you bought from a dealer then i would go straight back, if not take it straight to a good indie/main dealer. you need you confidence back - these cars are simply the best, nothing else to it. You will probably find its nothing major. Good luck, would be interested to know how you get on.

[gem_man]

Good thinking Byker. Hopefully I will get the docs trough in a day or so. I can track him/her down then.

[gem_man]

blujay10 said:

If you bought from a dealer then i would go straight back, if not take it straight to a good indie/main dealer.

I would certainly mention it to the dealer that sold it to me. He is a good guy and I am sure will be very keen to get it sorted.

I was intending to get her off to Dreadnaught in Callander (these are the main and only official TVR service place in Scotland) for a boot to bonnet thorough check anyway. With a request for suggestions as to what I could get them to do to prolong her great looks and handling.

This I believe is beyond what I should expect from someone who sold the car and also I really would want a true TVR professional looking at her.

Now that this has happened I feel I should just ask them to include a thorough check for this problem.

I am not sure if I am being unjust on the capabilities of the service chaps at the place I bought the car. Its just that they could be working on a Ferrari one minute and a noble the next.
I would sooner have a TVR nut looking at her.

This no reflecton on the garage that sold the car, they have been brilliant and I trust them implicitly to be fair.

Edited by gem_man on Monday 18th December 00:05

[GAjon]

'Electrical short isn't that likely to cause a fire'

Don't you believe it, A good short will get the loom glowing red hot, anything close, including the plastic coating on the wire will ignite, giving you little time to do anything about it.

[grumbledoak]

I do agree that it is possible John, I just said it wasn't that likely. In most cases you would just blow some fuses, or get left at the roadside. Most of the car fires we get reported here seem to have been Cerberas with degraded fuel lines, though the photos are quite frightening.

[Don]

Just recently had a massive stink from a LEAF stuck up against the exhaust manifold in the engine bay...worth a check...

[Danger]

Just a possibility but old heat shields in my engine bay caused a strong smell of burning fibreglass. One repositioned and one new solved it. Not expensive

[gruffgriff]

I too suffered a `that burning plastic smell IS me!` moment.......it was simply a cable tie that had fatigued, split and dropped on to the exhaust manifold and melted, giving off more fumes than it`s size suggests it could. I definitely recommend checking your wiring for any evidence of disappearing ties - the cheapest fix there is!

[shameless]

gem_man said:

Hi all

Picked up my 2000 450 Chim last week.

Everything fantastic until tonight

Drove about 20 miles on motorway at around 70 all ok

Then into slow moving traffic and then inch-at-a-time traffic for about 10 mins. It wanted to stall on one occassion.

Back onto motorway, all seemed fine

Then about 5 miles down the road as strong burning smell developed. At first I assumed it was outside but it persisted for about 10 mins.

Got a bit worried so came onto slip road of service area.

As I slowed for the roundabout at end of slip the dash lights flicked on and off a couple of times (maybe the headlights too)and engine faltered.

Checked her over at the service area. All looked ok. No flames leaping out the bonnet etc.

Lifted the bonnet no obvious burning things. Felt the wheels, they were cold.

The temperature outside was about zero so I would have seen any exhaust escaping from somewhere other than where it should have been.

Temperature guage was normal.

I recognise the smell but cant put my finger on it. Sort of burning plastic bag smell. I though maybe I had ran over a carrier bag that then stuck to the exhaust system but I am positive I would have seen a bag in the road, so I am ruling this out.

Took it easy for the remaining 10 miles home with only a slight whiff of burning.

Anyone got any ideas as to what this might have been?

Needless to say I am now not happy driving her for fear of a fire at 70mph.

The car is perfect in every way. Near mint I would say EXCEPT that the electric mirros to do not work.
BUT, I noticed once I came out of the service area, the drivers mirror had moved to the far right. (may have absolutely nothing to do with it, but very odd)

I have gone from exstatic and confident with her to worried and cautious. Not what I had hoped for week one.

Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

Kind regards to all

It sounds like the fusable link on the main loom from the battery (located above the battery) they have a tendancy to work them-selves loose, and get hot causing the plasic to melt(worth checking out!)

Edited by shameless on Sunday 17th December 22:35

[GAjon]

Remember you said your dash lights, and maybe your head lights flickered, also your engine faultered, these are all signs of an electrical short. By the way when a short occurs it bypasses the fuse box, hence 'short'.

[tvrski]

electrical shortcuts can lead to a major fire, bad connections with high current (like headlights) can melt or even catch fire, overcharging battery can also give some sickening smell. starter can stick to starting and lead to fire but this makes a lot of noise too
good luck, in case of doubt let someone else check

[gem_man]

Thanks for all the advice chaps.

I will investigate your comments.

I have sent an email to Dreadnaught. Hopefully they can fit her in fairly soon.

I just hope that the smell is not indicative of serious damage to the loop or other stuff on the car. (and I hope I dont have an "incident" on route)

Hopefully she will up and ready to go ASAP

Kind regards