# Burning rubber smell

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/burning-rubber-smell/45105>\
**Category:** General Discussion\
**Tags:** chrysler\
**Created:** [February 25, 2010, 2:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/burning-rubber-smell/45105 "2010-02-25T14:25:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![guysmith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3e96dc/32.png) [@guysmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/guysmith)\
**Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 2:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/burning-rubber-smell/45105/1 "2010-02-25T14:25:45Z")

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My 2005 Town & Country sometimes smells of burning rubber. Mechanic can`t find the problem. Want to know why it happens. Any concerns for safety?

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**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\
**Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 3:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/burning-rubber-smell/45105/2 "2010-02-25T15:46:23Z")

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Under what conditions do you smell the burning rubber? Is there a common set of circumstances or is it random?

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**Author:** ![mb5191](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@mb5191](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mb5191)\
**Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 3:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/burning-rubber-smell/45105/3 "2010-02-25T15:55:49Z")

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I agree, there could be several possibilities all ranging from a dragging serpentine belt (although it would’ve snapped by now if that was the case), dragging brakes (common), or something completely different. Where is the smell coming from? When does it occur? Etc. Etc…

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**Author:** ![guysmith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3e96dc/32.png) [@guysmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/guysmith)\
**Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 4:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/burning-rubber-smell/45105/4 "2010-02-25T16:51:56Z")

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One time we had driven alnost miles-the next was 13 miles-usually we couldn`t smell it inside but could smell it outside-we park it outside now because we fear it might catch fire. The dealer can`t find the problem-they said bring it to them when it smells hot-it usually happens when they are not open.  
Someone said check the brakes or the transmission-both seem to be working ok as far as we can tell.

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**Author:** ![guysmith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3e96dc/32.png) [@guysmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/guysmith)\
**Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 5:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/burning-rubber-smell/45105/5 "2010-02-25T17:15:09Z")

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should have been almost 100 miles

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**Author:** ![dagosa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dagosa/32/9837_2.png) [@dagosa](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dagosa)\
**Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 6:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/burning-rubber-smell/45105/6 "2010-02-25T18:42:00Z")

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Sometimes an oil leak dripping on hot components can smell when driving that might not show up easily. If the hot oil also falls on rubber components, the smell would be more pungent. Heat in the proximity of rubber components might yield the smell too.