1998 Honda Accord slipping A/C belt and burning oil smell

Tiny
MCBRANNO
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 HONDA ACCORD
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 185,000 MILES
I've got a belt that squeals every time I turn on the A/C, but I also get a burnt oil smell when I run the A/C as well. Exhaust components look clean, so I don't think I've got a leak--heat--stink issue. Any ideas?
Monday, April 13th, 2009 AT 7:38 PM

6 Replies

Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
Hi mcbranno,

Did you check the alternator belt adjustment?

Do you have any issues with consumption of engine oil?
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Sunday, April 19th, 2009 AT 10:06 AM
Tiny
MCBRANNO
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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?
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Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009 AT 10:31 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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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.
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Thursday, April 23rd, 2009 AT 8:19 AM
Tiny
MCBRANNO
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Good info, thank you. Changed out the belts today and she's running smoothly again. All the best --MB
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Saturday, April 25th, 2009 AT 6:15 PM
Tiny
PRSM
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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
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Monday, May 11th, 2009 AT 1:01 AM
Tiny
MCBRANNO
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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
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Sunday, May 24th, 2009 AT 8:23 AM

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