# Car Smells of Rubber Burning

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-smells-of-rubber-burning/60130>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** smells, hummer\
**Created:** [January 18, 2011, 8:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-smells-of-rubber-burning/60130 "2011-01-18T20:59:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![RickQP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/50afbb/32.png) [@RickQP](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RickQP)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 8:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-smells-of-rubber-burning/60130/1 "2011-01-18T20:59:00Z")

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Recently, after driving for any amount of time (10 minutes or two hours) when I get out of the car I catch a smell of rubber burning. I drive pretty normal and I do not notice any difference in how the car handles. Also, obviously none of my instrument panel lights indicate anything. Any ideas? Thanks.

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**Author:** ![Triedaq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Triedaq](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Triedaq)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 9:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-smells-of-rubber-burning/60130/2 "2011-01-18T21:42:01Z")

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Often, the burning rubber smell is caused by oil dripping onto the exhaust system. The instrument panel lights won’t detect this. When you smell the burning rubber, open the hood and look for smoke, particularly on the exhaust manifold.

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**Author:** ![tardis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f0a364/32.png) [@tardis](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tardis)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 9:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-smells-of-rubber-burning/60130/3 "2011-01-18T21:56:01Z")

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Alternately, it could be a plastic bag that has blown up under the car and melted to the exhaust system somewhere.