Strange odors are often a clue to something gone (or about to go) wrong.
An overheated radiator gives off a steamy vapor and a mild odor something
like burning paint. It should warn you to check the temperature gauge or to
stop and check the coolant level.
Overheated brake linings give off a strong definite odor of something burning.
Usually overheated linings are accompanied by squeaking sounds from the wheels,
indicating that the linings are glazed from heat. The best thing to do is stop
and let the brakes cool for about half an hour, but have the brakes checked
as soon as possible.
Burning oil or grease is a strong, pungent odor, usually more noticeable when
the vehicle is not moving. Occasionally, there will be wisps of smoke coming
from under the hood. The problem could be as simple as oil leaking from valve
cover gaskets onto hot exhaust manifolds, or it could be just accumulated grease
from a long overdue engine cleaning.
A frequent smell associated with catalytic converters is the rotten egg smell,
which is unmistakable for anything else. One of the byproducts of the reaction
in the catalytic converter is sulfur dioxide (SO2), which is responsible for
the odor. It does not necessarily indicate a malfunction, but is extremely unpleasant.
| Fig. 1: Vibration diagnosis charts
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| Fig. 2: Noise diagnosis chart
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