Burning rubber smell

[bunsen Member Find all posts View Profile Close bunsen]

Well, I finally got to christen the Prado, and give the stubby lever a minor workout

Now, we almost got onto the beach (tyres at road pressure, and not enough loud pedal.... was trying to take it easy so as not to frighten our 11 week old).

Anyway, I thought I'd try low range first, to attempt to get out, and after a quick squirt we could smell what appeared to be burning rubber :? My initial thoughts were the tires, but I wasn't doing 'burnouts' on the sand :?: Anyway, we got out and onto the hard-packed sand and continued on, but upon returning to our residence we noticed the smell again. CDL was unlocked as soon as we got off the beach and onto gravel. I had a good look in the engine bay and under the Prado and couldn't see anything :? The smell appeared to be coming from the front left hand side.

I'm guessing that this was the first time the truck had been offroad, and thought perhaps the oil in the transfer case might've been stagnant (if that is possible) :?:

I've since driven on the highway for about 100km, and have not encountered the smell again.

Let the guessing begin :!: Either way, I'm going to get the Prado serviced shortly, and will mention this to the mechanic.

[Chippy Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chippy]

There's a heap of rubber hose and wiring harness running around the engine bay. Has something come loose and be momentarilly touching against the exhaust manifold ?

If we each have one guess you should have over 1000 possibilities to take to your mechanic

Cheers
Chippy

[Damien Parker Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Damien Parker]

Is it a manual???

Could be a nice dose of clutch...

[bunsen Member Find all posts View Profile Close bunsen]

Is it a manual???

Could be a nice dose of clutch...

It is a manual, and that was another one of my guesses, but I wasn't too tough on the clutch... I don't think :?

[Damien Parker Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Damien Parker]

I would be betting money on it being clutch.

I would be surprised if it was anything else.

[clifton Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close clifton]

I agree with Damien, it will be the new clutch plates, had the same smell with my mates truck when reversing boat up a steep driveway, had us crawling all over the truck to find it, actually the smell was more Yuk than just burning rubber.
I have had one experience where I thought I had given my clutch a bit to much of a workout stopped and when I lifted the bonnet later, it was a Python cooking on the turbocharger housing, poor bugger picked the wrong spot to keep dry that day.

[Prado04 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Prado04]

Yep my bet is the clutch as well i have already had that smell a few times.

[Matt Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Matt]

try low second when getting out of beach bogs..


and yeah.. the clutch is the most likely culprit.

mmm ahh the days of beach going and manuals.. i miss doing the lightning fast gear changes.. but dont miss that burning clutch smell.

[bunsen Member Find all posts View Profile Close bunsen]

Is this 'normal' for an '03 with 37,000km on it :?

[Damien Parker Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Damien Parker]

Its more to do with your own modulation of the clutch and gear selection rather than the fact the car is new.

A 4WD driving course is advisable, just so you know how to attack different types of terrain and gear selection for that terrain.

If you are going to give your clutch a hard time anywhere on gods green, i reckon the beach would have to be the spot.

[bunsen Member Find all posts View Profile Close bunsen]

A 4WD driving course is advisable, just so you know how to attack different types of terrain and gear selection for that terrain.

I did one several years ago when I had an auto Pathfinder. This is my first manual 4by, and the thought has passed through my mind about undertaking another course to get the manual mentality sorted.

I know how to attack the terrain, but where in the guidebooks does it tell you how to attack the terrain when you have an 11 week old on board :?: :P