1998 Honda Accord slipping a/c belt and burning oil smell

Hi mcbranno,

Did you check the alternator belt adjustment?

Do you have any issues with consumption of engine oil?

khlow--

Bought car used and from service records I see the belts were last changed at 120k, so they're about due. Burning oil smell disappeared at last oil change and the oil filter practically fell into my hands off the body of the car, so I figure there was a leak/burning oil situation.

I'm leaning toward a bearing in my a/c going bad b/c the squealing really kicks up when I turn on the a/c and then fades after 10-15 seconds. I still hear a bit of a squeak as the engine runs with the a/c off, so that's probably a belt, but I get a killer squeal when I cut the a/c on, so I'm thinking a bearing as well??

If it is a bad bearing, the noise would not fade. More likely the belt tension is insufficient and some readjustment might reduce or eliminate the noise. However a belt change is ion order.

Good info, thank you. Changed out the belts today and she's running smoothly again. All the best --MB

Hi mcbranno,

I have the same 'burnt oil smell' problem with the A/C vent in my 2002 Volvo S80 2.9.

What did you find was the real problem with your 'burnt oil smell' issue? Did you change both oil and filter? Or did something else help it go away? How did you solve the issue?

Thanks in advance for helping.
Prsm

Prsm,

Sorry for such a late reply. The burning oil smell did go completely away after I changed oil and filter. As stated, the filter practically fell off in my hand. There was also obvioys signs of oil leakage from the filter. On the Accord, the filter iis above/near several different components that run hot, so my assumption is that the loose filter allowed oil to leak onto something hot, where it burned off and caused that smell. An oil change and a properly tightened filter solved the problem. Hope this helps, and if not I'd give the car a good inspection to check for signs of oil leaking onto something hot. --Best, Mike