Engine burning smell?

Tiny
KDAYO07
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 MAZDA RX8
I have a problem with my rx8. I had my clutch and flywheel replace by the dealer but after that I have been getting a burning smell coming from the vent when I drive fast. Even for a little bit. The engine light will start flashing and I have gotten the top of the line ignition coils but nothing. If I'm driving slow it doesn't smell but as soon as I accelerate, and have the widows down, you can smell it. You can't smell it when the AC is on or the windows are closed. I don't want to go to the dealer and have them mess with it and mess it up even more without knowing where to look. I had the engine replace at 70,000 miles and all maintenance have been done by the dealer. I should have just bought the Z
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Wednesday, September 29th, 2010 AT 4:07 PM

10 Replies

Tiny
MHPAUTOS
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Hi there,

Thank you for the donation,

The first thing you need to do is get a scan done to see why the check light is activated, do this and let me know what code is set.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Thursday, September 30th, 2010 AT 3:05 AM
Tiny
KDAYO07
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The code is P0300. Multiple misfiring which could mean anything. But the engine light only start blinking when I drive down heel, never uphill or straight. The burning smell steal there. I'm thinking that the smell is the clutch or something. Any ideas
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Thursday, September 30th, 2010 AT 10:10 PM
Tiny
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Do a clutch stall test,

With the engine running handbrake on hard select 1st and try and drive off the engine should stall as the clutch bights in, if it slips and smells, yes the clutch is faulty.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Friday, October 1st, 2010 AT 3:38 AM
Tiny
KDAYO07
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I try what you told me and the engine didn't stall or no burning smell, so slipping so the clutch is fine.
I thinking about changing the spark plug and cables first. I have OKADA ignition coil that are about a year old so I don't think that is it.
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Friday, October 1st, 2010 AT 9:50 AM
Tiny
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OK,

do the full tune up and check for any vacuum leaks as well,

mark (mhpautos)
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Friday, October 1st, 2010 AT 10:24 AM
Tiny
KDAYO07
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Got it. Will keep you posted
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Friday, October 1st, 2010 AT 10:25 AM
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
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Just to let you know that I am not always on at this time of night (my time) I am in Aust and it is 1-30AM here, but I will see your posts so do not think that I have forgotten to reply if I do no come on for a while.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Friday, October 1st, 2010 AT 10:31 AM
Tiny
KDAYO07
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Got it
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Friday, October 1st, 2010 AT 10:33 AM
Tiny
ITBROKE
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  • 56 POSTS
My son's 2004 RX8 had a recent engine rebuild. A burning rubber smell around the rear wheel well had us concerned about a tire rubbing on something and heating up after a drive. It turned out to be the catalytic converter was getting red hot.
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Tuesday, October 22nd, 2019 AT 8:20 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Excellent addition to this thread!
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Saturday, October 26th, 2019 AT 12:24 PM

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