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[bighed]

For about the last week, every now and then I get a burning smell in the cabin. Then after about ten secs it totaly disappears. Climate is on eco and stereo is on. Driving home in the morning i will leave heating off with stereo on and vice versa on way back to work to see if I can find out whats causing this? Have bought a fire extinguisher just to be on the safe side. Any ideas on what to try?  :-/

[dbug]

Leaking cam covers??

[Tafty]

Leaking cam covers??

Ditto or tensioner on way out a possiblity. Had this myself.

Pop the lid in the morning and have a look - more than likely the cam cover seal(s) is/are leaking and dripping oil onto the exhaust manifold.

[bighed]

I know my one is leaking but its not as bad as it was when i first had the car as have had them both done but passenger side is still weeping a bit. The covers were done about 4 months ago and its only started smelling. Its not a burning oil smell, its hard to describe really  :-/

[bighed]

What tensioner and where would this be please?

[Timbuk]

What tensioner and where would this be please?

Cambelt

[Andy B]

What tensioner and where would this be please?

Top left pulley of the 'fan belt', as you look under the bonnet. It's the one you put the 15 mm socket/spanner on to relieve the 'fan belt' tension when removing it.

[dbug]

What tensioner and where would this be please?

Top left pulley of the 'fan belt', as you look under the bonnet. It's the one you put the 15 mm socket/spanner on to relieve the 'fan belt' tension when removing it.

Thats not cambelt tensioner - thats tensioner for aux belt.
Cam belt tensioner is behind cover on front of engine.

[Tafty]

What tensioner and where would this be please?

Top left pulley of the 'fan belt', as you look under the bonnet. It's the one you put the 15 mm socket/spanner on to relieve the 'fan belt' tension when removing it.

Thats not cambelt tensioner - thats tensioner for aux belt.
Cam belt tensioner is behind cover on front of engine.

Either/or will give symptoms of burning if the bearings seize. They both have belts  

[Andy B]

....
Thats not cambelt tensioner - thats tensioner for aux belt.
.......

I know  . It's me you can see under the bonnet of Ian_D's car trying to sort out the GM cam belt.  

[bighed]

Would this smell on and off. It might smell once on a fifteen mile trip for about ten secs?
And is it likely to damage engine?  :-/

[Andy B]

Would this smell on and off. It might smell once on a fifteen mile trip for about ten secs?
And is it likely to damage engine?  :-/

Mmmm? I need another battery in the crystal ball before I can answer that one! You need to give the engine bay a good coat of looking at!      

[bighed]

I could look at it for hours on end but it still wouldnt help as I dont know what im looking at  :-/ (obviously an engine!) but my mechanical skills engine wise are non existant.   If there is anyone local who could point me in the right direction, Im a quick learner!!  

[Andy B]

I could look at it for hours on end but it still wouldnt help as I dont know what im looking at  :-/ (obviously an engine!) but my mechanical skills engine wise are non existant.   If there is anyone local who could point me in the right direction, Im a quick learner!!  

If it was your cam belt - ie the belt you can NOT see, then a definite YES it could bugger you engine up ££££'s to sort out. If it's the auxillary/fan belt then NO it won't, you'll just lose altrnator power steering air con if it breaks. I get an oily burning smell too, very occasionally after a long run, which is a leaky cam cover. It could, as suggested, be your cam cover. Pop a spark lead off and see if there's loads of oil down the plug hole.

[bighed]

As above my one gasket is leaking slightly after being changed, but the burning smell doesnt smell of oil??  

Any offers of help would be very welcome