So today I just started getting a really bad burning smell from what seems like my timing belt area. Smells like burning rubber; obviously not my t-belt because car still runs fine. Okay, I'll admit, 138k+ miles and I haven't done my t-belt change yet (I'm broke). Thinking it might be my balance shaft belt, which is why I haven't noticed any change in engine performance. Searched the posts but couldn't find anything like this; hopefully going to pull the head cover on Saturday and take a look inside but thought I'd see if anyone else had ideas. I suppose it could be the t-belt starting to shred and burn or something too I know, I'm going to get it changed asap...

 

Occurred to me today as well, could this be a pump going out? Water or oil? What symptoms would I see?

 

Dude, this problem is not something you want to put off finding out what it is.

If I was to guess, it sounds like your T-belt is slowly working it's way off of the cam gears and rubbing the T-belt cover.

If you are due a timing belt change, get it done. You are going to have major problems if it goes.

First thing I would do is pull the valvecover.....and don't drive the car anymore until you find out what the problem is.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by AndyD &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Dude, this problem is not something you want to put off finding out what it is.

If I was to guess, it sounds like your T-belt is slowly working it's way off of the cam gears and rubbing the T-belt cover.

If you are due a timing belt change, get it done. You are going to have major problems if it goes.

First thing I would do is pull the valvecover.....and don't drive the car anymore until you find out what the problem is.</TD></TR></TABLE>

x2

get your tbelt, waterpump, auto tensioner and seals replaced ASAP unless you want to destroy your engine.

 

x3 on that.

138 and no change sounds like a soon disaster.

i'd change it before you go even more broke replacing 16 bent valves along with your T-belt

 

Update for anyone that's been following along... finally pulled my valve cover and upper t-belt cover and fortunately my t-belt is still holding up okay. HOWEVER, it is extremely loose which leads me strongly to believe that my auto tensioner went out. AndyD, you were right, it must have been the t-belt rubbing because it was right on the edge of the cam gears (intake side especially); I put it back on the center on the gears and now no more burning smell. Unfortunately I have to drive my car to get to work and school (so I'm babying it like crazy), but I'm getting paid well for a job in about a week so I'm going to order all the parts and hopefully change it within 2 weeks or so. Thinking about UR pulleys, electric water pump, cam gears and the obligatory manual tensioner while I'm in there doing all the work...