Burnt plastic smell and stray bits of white tape in my engine compartment

I've got a 2021 2.7 Taco with just over 1K miles on it. Today I got home and smelled burning plastic. Upon opening the hood, I discovered a few stray bits of white tape on parts of the engine, all on the driver's side. They were just kind of stuck here and there, hanging loose, and the largest piece (which was stuck to a hose that comes out of the driver's side of the engine) looked partially melted.

I'm guessing that the tape was the source of the smell, but of course it could be something else, which leads me to two questions:

1. Has anyone else noticed a burnt plastic smell in your almost brand new 3rd gen?
2. Has anyone else found bits of white tape in your engine block?

 

Its the protective tape thats used for shipping, it may have blown off from yours or another car.

 

Ah...well, I didn't think it needed much more than the description of white tape, especially since I removed all that I could find, but if a pic will help....


I've already removed it all (obviously). It wasn't wrapped nice and neatly around anything - just sort of stuck randomly here and there, almost as if it flew off of something else and then stuck to other things.

 

By Jove, I think that might be it.

 

So far, I found FOUR pieces of the white tape under the hood, hanging from a harness near the battery. Obviously the pieces of tape weren't doing anything, just hanging there. One piece is visible, but inaccessible so I left it.

 

Burnt plastic smell and stray bits of white tape in my engine

Nice title; so the tape is not actually in your engine,,,, it's outside of your engine, under the hood,,,, big difference

 

That is anti tamper tape... Some Toyota dealers place it in there with a very specific purpose. That is, to find out which customers are going to require certain levels of service, and how to best apply that service.

Those that smell the tape, report a concern to the dealer, but have not opened the hood to inspect or remove said tape, get one red check. Those that smell and remove the tape, receive two red check marks.

One check = general pain in the ass. They don't enjoy seeing you come through the door, but find you generally tolerable.

Two checks = full on OCD. They see you come through the door, and everyone runs and hides.

If the above was true, I would likely fall under two checks, but do all my own work.

 

Agreed. OP, details matter.

 

You're right - I have modified the title.

 

You're gonna get along here just fine
We can be shitty bunch at times