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Burning smell in my new Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Kablooie, Apr 2, 2004.

  1. Kablooie

    Kablooie Member

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    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.
     
    #1 Kablooie, Apr 2, 2004
  2. Frank Hudon

    Frank Hudon Senior Member

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    if it smells like it's burning I wouldn't park it in the garage till I found out what was causing the odor.
     
    #2 Frank Hudon, Apr 2, 2004
  3. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Does not sound normal...
     
    #3 efusco, Apr 2, 2004
  4. Danny

    Danny Admin/Founder
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    Parking brake?
     
    #4 Danny, Apr 3, 2004
  5. Kablooie

    Kablooie Member

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    Not the parking brake. That's the first thing I checked.
     
    #5 Kablooie, Apr 3, 2004
  6. Danny

    Danny Admin/Founder
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    [Marty is checking to see if all the parts of the time machine are working before he takes off]
    Marty McFly: ...Flux-capacitor... fluxing...
     
    #6 Danny, Apr 3, 2004
  7. cybele

    cybele New Member

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    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.
     
    #7 cybele, Apr 3, 2004
  8. Brian

    Brian Member

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    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
     
    #8 Brian, Apr 3, 2004
  9. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    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.
     
    #9 john1701a, Apr 3, 2004
  10. dlmorgan999

    dlmorgan999 New Member

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    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
     
    #10 dlmorgan999, Apr 3, 2004
  11. bookrats

    bookrats New Member

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    :lol:

    Ah, yes -- who can forget the distinct smell you get when you toss an entire stale Domino's pizza into the Prius' Mr. Fusion converter... :mrgreen:
     
    #11 bookrats, Apr 3, 2004
  12. Kablooie

    Kablooie Member

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    OK I found out the problem.

    Parts of a new engine are coated with something called cosmoline. It gradually burns off and the smell goes away.

    For some reason the smell was particularly strong last night but it isn't a problem.

    Whew!
     
    #12 Kablooie, Apr 3, 2004
  13. Danny

    Danny Admin/Founder
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    Told you it was the parking brake!!!

    :lol: :mrgreen:

    Ok, so not really....
     
    #13 Danny, Apr 3, 2004
  14. RobertO

    RobertO New Member

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    YOU LET IT BURN OFF???!!!???

    Man, You crazy! I got seriously high on that stuff and my glaucoma is gone forever.

    What a waste....!

    Glad you baby is normal, now.

    Go forth and drive much...


    Bob
     
    #14 RobertO, Apr 3, 2004
  15. Raenstoirm

    Raenstoirm New Member

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    International dealerships cover the cars is cosmoline before they go on the boats to protect them from the salt on the trip. Usually the port removes all of it, but I guess in your case they did not.
    Glad it turned out to be nothing!
     
    #15 Raenstoirm, Apr 3, 2004
  16. bookrats

    bookrats New Member

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    Thanks for posting the answer!

    This is just the sort of thing I can picture happening the first night I bring home my Prius (at some day in the far future)... Leading to much wailing and gnashing of teeth.
     
    #16 bookrats, Apr 4, 2004
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