Bad smell

[ppratt]

OK I have this bad smell coming from my car. It smells like someone sliped the clutch to much. It can't be the clutch cuz I have a automatic. My brakes are needing to be replaced soon but I don't think that could be it. I can't smeel it in the car, it's only when i get out. It started about a week ago. My car is a 2000 GL3 with 55K miles. Any ideas what this could be?

[dopey]

clogged catalytic converter most likely. does it smell like rotten eggs?

of another possibilitly..... has fiesty been in ur car recently?? haha

[3.4Alero]

You know, as soon as I read the title of the thread, I KNEW Sweet couldn't pass that up. LOL

When you get out of the car, can you tell where the smell is coming from (at least front or back of car)?

[overdrive75]

Burnt up brakes and clutch can smell almost the same. So don't rule the brakes out just yet.

[ppratt]

I would say the smellis coming from the front. thats if I had to guess. I haven't lokked at my brakes yet to see how bad they are they were getting thier when I put my winter tires on back in november. I don't understand it though. Because I just change my front a little over a year ago, but they are going bad. Do our cars go through brakes that quick?

[johny_boy32]

i wouldnt rule out fisty either

[dopey]

Originally posted by 3.4Alero@Feb 12 2004, 02:49 PM
You know, as soon as I read the title of the thread, I KNEW Sweet couldn't pass that up. LOL

shet i think people would be dissapointed if i didnt make a comment i this thread ;)

[sound_xtreme]

i had frozen brakes calipers up front, real bad burnt smell after driving 300 miles with them stuck. lol. i had to replace everything. Calipers, pads, rotors, guide pins, i even did the hoses

[ppratt]

How would i know I know if they were frozen or not I know calipers are supposed to float.

[3.4Alero]

Yea, if you smell something and it is coming from the brakes, then it isn't going to be the brakes going bad, it would most likely be the caliper sticking a bit. BUT, the stuck caliper will cause your pads to wear damn quick, if that is what it is.

Either take it off yourself and try to push the piston back into the cylinder, or just take it to a brake place and have them look at it. When you take it off, use a piece of wood and a clamp to try and get the piston back in. If you have to really force it, or it doesn't move at all, then get a new caliper.

[sound_xtreme]

^ you're not supposed to do that without bleeding with ABS

[3.4Alero]

Without doing what? Changing out the caliper or trying to slide the piston back in? I've changed pads / rotors on my alero without bleeding the brakes. No probs with sliding the piston back in. What is the problem with not bleeding?

[BLK03GXS]

Forcing fluid back, in an abs system can cause failure of the module, mostly becaue dirt that may work its way into the caliper when the fluid is forced back it may travel to the ABS module,
Yes calipers are spostu float, but some times they dont, they stick and then you get issues with this... un-even pad ware is annother symptom of sticky calipers.

[3.4Alero]

OK, that makes sense. But it seems to me if you inspect the boot thoroughly, and it is not worn or cracked at all, then you should not have any concerns about dirt.

[overdrive75]

Don't worry about bleeding the brakes, the procedure from GM actually calls for pumping the pedal 25 times, with the key off. Nothing about bleeding the brakes. You only have to bleed them once you have changed the caliper.

[3.4Alero]

Thanks, that's what I thought.