While driving there was a burnt rubber or burnt plastic smell and smoke was coming from the engine

MATTHEW MOLDENHAUER

MEMBER
2001 CHEVROLET TRACKER
70,000 MILES

I started my car and I drove it about twenty miles and when I came to a stop it smelled like burnt rubber or burnt plastic and it was smoking out of the engine. For a while it was billowing out smoke and I would smoke, and I let it cool down for about 10 minutes and I realized my heater is no longer working. It's no longer working, and it started for about 2 seconds and then shut off and I did it again it started for about 2 seconds and shut off. Then I saw that the Engine light it was on, and the battery light was on, and the oil light was on, and I just had an oil change less than a month ago, so I don't know what is wrong but I'm too afraid to even start at this point.

1 Reply

SQM

MECHANIC
6,383 POSTS

Hello,

It sounds like the engine might have overheated. The smoke could be from coolant.

Did the temperature gauge go too high while this was happening?
Is there any fluid leaking under the vehicle?

Here is a helpful guide:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/symptoms-of-an-overheating-engine

A good first step would be to check the components under the hood.
Check the coolant level as well as the oil.
If there is a leak, it is a good chance there will be signs of it.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/coolant-leak-symptoms

Until you figure out what might be the issue, it is a good idea not to start it as if it is out of coolant or oil. Starting will damage the engine.

Let me know what you find.
Thank you.