Ok, here is the story...and I would appreciate anyone's help/answers to the situation.


I was driving my TSX tonight, nothing very hard at all, just around town for about 20 miles. It had rained about two hours before I took it out and the roads were drying. I got back from driving around and pulled in my garage and as I got out to check my clearance, with the engine still running, I noted a strong burning smell in the garage. I put up the hood and checked around the engine. Now I noticed that the engine was making a ticking sound at idle and the rpms were about 1000. I then gave it some gas and noticed the smell from someplace under the hood and also very strong coming out of the exhaust. I had no smoke come out of the exhaust, however, as mentioned the smell was very bad from the exhausts.

I don't know what to do about this. Is there anyone out there with a situation like this or that has any ideas on my situation? I hope it is nothing too serious because I would hate to have my car with only 5k on it in the shop for weeks.

Thanks for taking the time to read all this.

 

There is a leak somewhere between your headers and exhaust, take it in and have it check out ASAP.

 

Thanks for the reply. I have yet to drive it today because of the occurance but I am about to do so. Hopefully it does not do it again. But, as you mentioned, I should get it fixed very soon I think.

Thanks.

 

1000 RPM at idle for a warm engine sounds high. Somethings up...

 

FYI-Drove the car again today, on freeway and around town, and on the freeway at about 70-75mph the car seems to be loud. When you give the car some gas the exhaust sounds like something off a 1980's POS.

I am now fairly certain that something is wrong with the car. I just don't know what that something is.

 

BTW...I am still open to anyone's ideas as to what is wrong with the car and I appreciate the comments left thus far.

Thanks.

 

Gasket leak seems credible.

 

I hope it isn't a gasket, or something too major.

 

 

Sounds like a gasket leak,.......... like others have suggested. From what you have described,........sounds just like what happened to the old nissan we had,....manifold or gasket leak,....didnt really find out cause it was on its last legs anyway.

 

Have you checked the oil?

 

I checked the oil level the other night and everything is fine which only adds to the mystery of what that smell could be.

I drove last night quite a bit and the car seemed a bit hesitant at times. I thought that maybe the car just needed 'blown out' so I went out on the most deserted stretch of freeway you will ever find in the world, which just got done getting resurfaced, and mashed the accelerator. The car seemed loud and the exhaust again had its 1980's POS exhaust note.

Tell me, could the car have a loose seal on the exhaust? Like someplace under the driver's seat area? Becuase that would also explain things.

Thanks for reading. I am still lost.

 

I would definitely stop driving it and either have it towed to the dealer or drop it off. Get a loaner and have them figure it out.

 

If the car is under waranty yet, just bring it back to the dealership and have them fix it, it will be no charge to you. Your not giving us enough information to help you figure out what the problem is. The only thing people can do is guess and speculate which is a waste of time. But please do update us with what the problem is and what was done to fix it

 

Pretty sure his car is under warranty, he said he's got only 5k (miles?) on it...

to bring it to the dealership and have them fix it.

Please post update. Good luck!

 

I will be calling the dealership on Monday. And keep looking back for updates on this situation.

Thanks.

(On a good note, I washed the car today and at least it looks good).

 

heh not sure if its smart to keep gunning the car...theres obviosuly something wrong, stay off the pedal till you get it checked out.

 

Yeah...I'm sure that I didn't help the issue by driving the car hard but I guess it's better to get that out of my system before it goes into the shop rather than after.

And hell, it sure was fun!

 

stop doodling around and get the car in the shop asap...and get your head examined too.

 

Well, here is an update on the burning TSX.

I called the dealer on Monday and explained my problem to the service guy. After going into 100% detail and telling him everything that happened he told me that it 'didn't sound like anything to worry about'. I was a little thrown by his response and again stated my problems and he told me that some cars just smell like that sometimes. He also said that the exhaust will sometimes produce an odor after driving and there could be a burning/musty smell coming from under the hood at times.

Does anyone else know of any truth to this or was he just blowing me off?

I'm at a bit of a loss now.

 

jimstsx,

You previously posted:

BRING IT TO THE DEALER. If there is a noise associated with the burning smell, surely they will think differently and not blow you off as they did on the phone. If you truly believe there is something wrong with you car - and its clear you do - then its up to you to bring it in and let them see it first hand. Good luck!

 

WHY IS IT you "seem" to be reluctant to bring it to the frigging deal ???? I just dont get it
instead you posting blah-blah like a machine gun here and more blah-blah "going into 100% detail " with the service guy

you do realize your car is under warranty as in free diagnosis/trouble-shoot right ?
When you feel like crap and feel you should see a doc, do you just call one and talk to the doc ?

 

Just some further information on the situation.

The reason that I have not taken the car in from day 1 is that I am over an hour away from my dealer. Not that it is too far of a drive, however, I have not been able to get a free day to take it in since I noted the original odor. Hence the reason I called and explained my situation to the service guy.

It is still sounding loud and it has had a bit of an odor on and off since the original post. So it seems now that if it continues I am going to take it in, especially since this is all covered under warranty.

I hope this clears up why I seemed to be reluctant about taking it in.

Thanks once again.

 

Dude, I hope you find a free day to take it in soon, real soon!!!

In the meantime, you probably shouldn't even drive the car if you don't absolutely have to... take a bus or get a rental or something, to avoid worsening whatever damage there maybe...

I would be worried about your 1hr drive in it to the dealer as well... good luck!

 

I think thats going a little too far...And besides, its under warranty so if it does break down, at least he gets a free tow to the dealer.

So I say, beat the shit out of it

 

haha... sure, it's his car

but seriously, good luck...

 

Any update on this situation?

 

I don't get it either.

Logic dictates that car under warranty = bring back to dealer.

Just cause it's an hour out, are you going to fix it out of your own pocket? I wouldn't think so, so you have to end up bringing it back tot he dealer anways.

 

Hello everyone!!



Here is an update of the situation...and I apologize for the delay in my response recently.

In regards to the car, the dealer told me that there was nothing wrong with it. I was unable to replicate the problem for the dealer and because of this they were unable to find a problem. No smells, no crazy exhaust note, no idling problems, no anything. I explained everything that had been going on with the vehicle and still there was no 'fix' for it since they could not figure out what it was.

I was told that it might just be part of the 'break in' process since there are belts and other engine components that may produce an odor or a noise from time to time.

However, I have been cautious driving the car and am really watching to see if there are any lags in performance and/or gas mileage. As of now the engine seems to be operating well and the smell seems to be gone. The exhaust note, however, IMO still seems to be loud. It might just be me but I am going to try to listen to a few other TSX's to see if their exhaust sound the same.

Has anyone else noted their car doing anything like this since my last post? Because as of now I have basically run into a brick wall, but the car DID stop making the smell. I also intend another follow up on this 'issue' the next time I take it in to the dealer for an oil change.

For now things seem to be settling down...for now.

Thanks for reading and I look forward to seeing your updates.

 

Under 3500 rpm, exhaust note is rather quiet, over 4000, it's music to my ears. Also, could there be a possibility that some plastic/crap stuck onto part of your exhaust while driving and has since burnt off ??

 

I would have to agree with you that there is some sort of 'plastic crap' on some part of the exhaust or under the hood that hasn't totally burnt off yet. That would explain the service department not really being concerned and would also explain why some days it smells real bad and some days not at all.

I just don't know why my car was making such a POS exhaust noise before. Maybe that is part of break-in also.


Would I have had these small issues if I would have just spent the extra money for the NSX?!

 

the burning smell would just be picked up by the cars following you since the engine bay in behind the driver in the NSX



Hi guys... I haven't been here for over a week, been busy lurking around some other forums (oh no... not the "dark" side, just doing some AVS research ) Thought I'd chime back in... jimstsx's post gave me the perfect opp. Thanks

 

Hie and I am from Singapore and I drive a JDM Euro R and my mileage is just 2200KM as car is brand new. I also have this metal burnt smell and you can check the following :

1. Since the engine is inverted, the exhaust is much closer to the firewall. Check any possible leaks from exhaust and the heat shields towards underneath of cabin.

2. If you changed your exhaust to afetrmarket, there may be a tendency that there is slight leak from the joints if the holding bars may not be totally aligned.

Lastly, most new cars have this exhaust and extractor heating up and it takes a while before this burnt metal smell goes away.

Seems more smelly when weather is wet which make sense as moisture release from the burning exhaust gives metal smell..

Hope it helps.

 

Hello and thanks for the ideas about the problem!


I am glad that so many people have taken a look at this thread and responded so well.