Burning smell in my new Prius

Kablooie · 04-02-2004, 10:54 PM

Driving home tonight I noticed a burning smell. Now the car is in the garage and it is so strong that my wife came downstairs to ask what was burning.

Anyone else know of a problem like this?
I'll take it into the dealer tomorrow morning.

Frank Hudon · 04-02-2004, 11:05 PM

if it smells like it's burning I wouldn't park it in the garage till I found out what was causing the odor.

**efusco** · 04-02-2004, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kablooie
Driving home tonight I noticed a burning smell. Now the car is in the garage and it is so strong that my wife came downstairs to ask what was burning.

Anyone else know of a problem like this?
I'll take it into the dealer tomorrow morning.

Does not sound normal...

**Danny** · 04-03-2004, 12:32 AM

Parking brake?

Kablooie · 04-03-2004, 12:48 AM

Not the parking brake. That's the first thing I checked.

**Danny** · 04-03-2004, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kablooie
Not the parking brake. That's the first thing I checked.

[Marty is checking to see if all the parts of the time machine are working before he takes off]
Marty McFly: ...Flux-capacitor... fluxing...

cybele · 04-03-2004, 01:15 AM

Do you smell it more inside the car or outside?

You might want to check around in the wheel wells and outside/under the car in case a shopping bag or some other road debris got up there and some friction caused it to burn.

Brian · 04-03-2004, 01:32 AM

If it is inside, check to see that the back, behind the passenger, seat is clicked all the way into position. That vent right next to it leads to the hybrid battery and if you cover it up it will over heat. Hope you find it.
Brian

john1701a · 04-03-2004, 05:59 AM

My 2004 had an odor for the first week or so.

I never did figure out what component(s) was responsible for that. And I have a heightened sense of Prius awareness, having driven one for over 3 years before that.

It was obviously part of initial break-in.

dlmorgan999 · 04-03-2004, 10:52 AM

I had the same experience as John. I wouldn't classify the odor level as being extremely high, but it *was* enough that I was a bit concerned. However it went away a few days later so I figured it was just part of the break in process.

-- Dave

04-02-2004, 10:54 PM	#1
Kablooie Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: La Canada Posts: 233 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Burning smell in my new Prius Driving home tonight I noticed a burning smell. Now the car is in the garage and it is so strong that my wife came downstairs to ask what was burning. Anyone else know of a problem like this? I'll take it into the dealer tomorrow morning.

04-03-2004, 12:32 AM	#4
Danny Admin/Founder Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 4,555 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #8 Nominated 26 Times in 8 Posts TOTM Awards: 1 Friends: 23	Parking brake? __________________ PriusChat Offers Discounts on: Extended Warranty - $990 : Pre-Paid Maintenance - $875 : HeatShield SunShades : BT Tech Stiffening Plate : All other Prius Accessories

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04-02-2004, 11:05 PM	#2
Frank Hudon Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 4,144 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	if it smells like it's burning I wouldn't park it in the garage till I found out what was causing the odor.

04-03-2004, 12:48 AM	#5
Kablooie Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: La Canada Posts: 233 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Not the parking brake. That's the first thing I checked.

04-03-2004, 01:15 AM	#7
cybele Former Moderator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 406 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Do you smell it more inside the car or outside? You might want to check around in the wheel wells and outside/under the car in case a shopping bag or some other road debris got up there and some friction caused it to burn.

04-03-2004, 01:32 AM	#8
Brian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orange, California Posts: 479 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	If it is inside, check to see that the back, behind the passenger, seat is clicked all the way into position. That vent right next to it leads to the hybrid battery and if you cover it up it will over heat. Hope you find it. Brian

04-03-2004, 05:59 AM	#9
john1701a Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,681 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: Pioneer #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 3	My 2004 had an odor for the first week or so. I never did figure out what component(s) was responsible for that. And I have a heightened sense of Prius awareness, having driven one for over 3 years before that. It was obviously part of initial break-in.

04-03-2004, 10:52 AM	#10
dlmorgan999 Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 3 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I had the same experience as John. I wouldn't classify the odor level as being extremely high, but it was enough that I was a bit concerned. However it went away a few days later so I figured it was just part of the break in process. -- Dave