Burning Smell..

So for the past couple of weeks I've started noticed a burning smell when I get out of my truck. It doesn't seem to happen after every trip, but pretty frequent. I'm no mechanic so I'm not sure what I should be looking at for leaks. I've checked my oil and it was full, not low or anything so that looks good.

One thing I think I've noticed is the smell is only or mainly coming from the driver side. I checked yesterday and I could barely smell it from the passenger side, so maybe that helps narrow it down. The first time I noticed the smell, was after a few days of rain (this was again a few weeks ago). I don't smell it in the cab, just when I open the door I can smell it radiating from the wheel well/under the truck.


Does anybody have ideas what this burning smell could be or what I should be checking? Again, I'm no mechanic and will be taking it in for my 20k service in about a thousand miles.

 

The last time I had a burning smell was when a plastic bag melted on my exhaust and was burnt to a crisp when I found it a week later.

 

That very well could be it. I'll have to crawl under and check the exhaust to see if anything is baked on it.

 

It actually sounds like it's your brakes. The pad, or pistons inside the caliper might be seized/stuck causing the pad to drag on the rotor overheating them, which will have a burning smell.

 

I thought it might be my brakes too, so one day I was really rough on my brakes, hard stops, long slow stops etc and that time when I got home I didn't smell anything.

 

I honestly don't what it could be then, hopefully the dealer will be able to find it and take care of it for you.

 

Check the installation of your driver’s side floor mat, pronto!

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/check-installation-of-drivers-floor-mat.607569/#post-20520980

 

Also, brakes have a very distinct smell. I think you would know if it was brakes. I vote for trash or oil as stated above.

G.

 

I'm hoping for trash. Gonna crawl under with a flashlight after work today and do a good examination.

 

What's the burning smell like?

 

May have found the culprit?

 

Stop smokin weed in your truck

 

Probably picked a bag or something on the road. Sticks instantly to a hot cat. Done the same thing. Wanna bet hot cat phrase gets a whole lot of comments unrelated to plastic bags

 

Maybe there is a small leak that isnt reaching the ground but dripping on the exhaust pipe causing the burning smell. A very oil leak can take a long time to notice. Does it smell fishy? If so then it might be coolant. Oil smell is very distinct and you would know if its oil.

 

Some kids put a dead groundhog on my neighbors engine. Check for dead animals

 

Drugs are bad m'kay?!

 

"Burning smell"?

could be the 3rd gen section melting down...

 

Since when do we have heat shields on the cats?

 

Im also getting a burning smell over the last few days. In my case it does have that smell of overheated brakes. I can smell it inside after driving a while and when i get out as well. About ready to call for an appointment. Truck only has 3k miles.

 

This thread is awesome! Here's what I found under my truck that was causing a real nasty burning-garbage/brush-fire smell in my garage immediately after parking it. I initially thought it was a dragging brake, so I checked all the rotors and drums with a temp gun. All were the same'ish, so I found this thread, got the tip about something stuck on the exhaust, and viola!



Roasted and toasted! This weed was wedged in near the Y-pipe area! With reduced mileage due to COVID, it never fully burned in the clear!