Burning Smells Inside Your Car: What to do?

Burning smells inside your car: What you need to know

Have you ever – or are you currently – experiencing burning smells inside your car? If you have, you know just how stressful it can be. The odor is unpleasant in itself and not only that, usually means that you’re going to be due for car repairs. Toyota of Clermont’s auto service team is here to help! We’re teaching you how to identify four different types of burning smells and what they mean, as well as the car repairs that typically come along with them. Check out the handy guide below.

Four burning smells and what they mean

Burning Smell #1: Oil

Burning oil means that somewhere under the hood, there’s a leak… and this can be extremely problematic. Leaking oil can not only cause your car to overheat (resulting in significant engine damage), but also damage your timing belt or crankshaft, both of which are expensive car repairs. Leaking oil can even cause a fire if it hits the exhaust. Never ignore this odor in your car; bring it to Toyota of Clermont ASAP to let our auto care experts pinpoint where the leak is and fix it.

Burning Smell #2: Plastic

Burning plastic smells typically originate from your car’s wiring. The wiring is almost always made from soy-based plastic, and this means it tastes delicious to mice, rats, squirrels, raccoons, and other rodents. Whether they’ve made a snack of your wiring insulation or the insulation has been damaged or worn down in another way, burning plastic smells mean that you have exposed wires underneath your hood. Exposed wires can cause sparks and in turn, start a fire. Let Toyota of Clermont’s techs take care of these car repairs as quickly as you can.

Burning Smell #3: Rubber

A burning rubber smell means that a hose or belt has somehow gotten loose or broken and is touching something hot, resulting in it either burning or melting. Either way, it can cause issues – melted hoses can cause leaks, and melted belts can do major damage to your engine. If you smell burning rubber, schedule car repairs at our Clermont car care center so our techs can fix the issue and get you back on the road sans odor.

Burning Smell #4: Carpet

Burning carpet is a smell that will throw you off – it actually stems from your car’s brakes. This unpleasant odor means that your brake pads and/or rotors are overheating. It can be due to sticking calipers or brake pads that have worn too thin; whatever the cause, this smell means your brake pads and/or rotors are about to be damaged. Brake pads can be replaced relatively cheaply, but replacing your rotors is an expensive car repair no matter which way you cut it.

Get affordable car repairs at Toyota of Clermont

Need to schedule car repairs or have our techs help you diagnose a burning smell in your car? Toyota of Clermont is at your service and we’re open seven days a week at 16851 State Road 50. You can call us ahead of time to schedule an appointment at 352-404-7000 or schedule online for convenience!