Strong burnt rubber smell
 

I am getting a burnt rubber smell and I can't be sure what causing it. The only thing I can think of is my clutch. I was trying to get into a small parking garage space. It took quite a bit of maneuvering. I didn't think I was slipping the clutch that much but maybe I was. That was much earlier today and I'm still getting that smell. I'm familiar with a hot clutch smell, but this is more like smoking your tires smell. Any ideas?

Serpentine belt on its way out, or one of the pulleys (alternator, harmonic, water pump, tensioner) to name a few? Not too many components made of rubber that may be causing the smell. Piece of rubber hitting the exhaust...just throwing ideas your way.

How many miles, any mods, blah, blah, blah. This information may aide in the diagnostics...let us know if you find anything.

Look under your car maybe you ran over a plastic bag and the hot exhaust melted it on your exhaust pipes.

Do you notice it while the car is cold?

I don't notice it when the car is cold. The belt looks OK... 38K on the car. I noticed the smell once before, now that I think about it, when parking. Must be from slipping the clutch. My parking place has very limited access and always requires a multi point maneuver to get in. Funny, I never remember a hot clutch smelling so much like rubber. I always remember it as more of a burnt electrical ballast smell.

I get a burnt rubber smell almost everyday and I'm certain that I don't slip the clutch. I drive with SRM on so I can basically let the clutch out really quick between shifts and it feels as smooth as an auto. Not much slippage at all. It takes me about 5-10 ft to get going from a stop and I rarely go above 1200 RPM when starting from a stop. Car also has only 13k on it.

The only time I don't smell it is when it's less than 20 degrees out. The funny thing is, I can only really smell it when the air is on (AC or no AC; goes away with re-circulation on).

When I sniff around the bottom of the windshield (on the outside, where it meets the plastic near the hood) after driving, I smell it there. When I pop the hood after driving, I cannot smell it under the hood or near the transmission. I think I have almost narrowed it down to the plastic below the windshield or just some plastic or rubber somewhere near the cats getting heated up and wafting up into the cabin air system.

Sorry for the big write up, I've just been trying to figure out the cause for a long time lol.

That is where mine smells as well. I really didn't think I was abusing the clutch just backing into my parking space, but I can't think of anything else.
I haven't been driving the Z much this winter so I can't speak about any temperature relation, but it has warmed up here.

get a AT, problem solved :wtf2:

What's wrong? Can't drive a stick? :rofl2:

Never gonna happen!

You should pop the hood after driving for awhile and smell towards the back of the engine where the trans and engine meet. See if you smell anything there and let me know

Yes, that's where I smell it most. That's why I figured it was the clutch. That said, I have no signs of clutch problems. It still bites like brand new. I have no clue. Now that I think about it I remember that same smell maybe a year ago.

Now that's odd because I only smell it on top of the plastic, and the smell is stronger when I pop open the battery cover + clutch/brake cylinder cover. I don't smell it in the open area between the firewall and engine/trans.

I topped up my oil yesterday to right below the full line and noticed the smell was particularly strong this morning once the oil temp gauge read above 180. I'm not sure how burning oil could translate to a burning rubber smell though

It almost has to be my clutch getting warm because I only notice it trying to get in my damn parking space. The car just barely fits, plus there isn't enough room to back straight into it. It is the back corner of the parking garage so it takes lots of maneuvering to get in. I'd like to trade with someone, but I can't imagine anyone willing to switch. Oh well, at least it is heated.