I have a 2001 Ford Focus zx3 with about 145000 miles, bought it about a year and a half ago and has almost always had the engine light on. Never had any problems with it until this morning. Tried to drive it and it started giving off this burnt plastic/rubber smell and the engine started shaking pretty hard. It shakes at idle, when driving, when stopped. It doesn't matter how fast or how slow, the shaking is constant. A squealing noise from under the hood also started up and worsens as it accelerates. Engine light starts blinking on and off after all of this. Just changed the oil about 3 or 4 days ago so I know it has nothing to do with the oil level. Brought it to the shop this morning but they wont be able to look at it until tomorrow. Any ideas?
DaiDreamer2008
It's hard to tell what exactly is going on with out engine codes... But iirc, a flashing check engine light indicates severe misfire or knock, witch is consistent with running rough and a bad smell. As for the squealing and smell that could be anything... My guess would be the belt... But like I said, it could be anything...
Also, come to think of it, it could just be a seized pulley on the belt altogether, I mean, this would cause a burning smell, the belt would squel and the engine light could flash because the engine is having trouble running due to drag...
Also, come to think of it, it could just be a seized pulley on the belt altogether, I mean, this would cause a burning smell, the belt would squel and the engine light could flash because the engine is having trouble running due to drag...
I would guess with the squealing and the burnt rubber smell is that your belt is slipping and burning
So I know this is a bit late...I actually forgot I posted this. So lets bring everything up to speed. Brought my car to the shop and they said it was my ignition coil. They replaced it and it ran normally after that. Now I have a new problem. This is 4 months later, I have discovered a rapid coolant leak coming from the right side of my engine. One of my friends diagnosed it as a leaking thermostat housing and/or gasket. I plan on replacing it friday but I have been having to drive it with this problem for the past week. It doesn't pver heat as long as I keep coolant in it which I have to do every time I go to drive the car. Other than the leak, it runs fine.....until today. Today I started it up and its giving me the same symptoms it did when my ignition coil failed. Do you think that this could be something else possibly realted to the coolant leak or is it my brand new ignition coil going oit again????
Fix known problems first.
You need to quit deferring necessary repairs, they never fix themselves and they often cause much more expensive problems by waiting.
You need to quit deferring necessary repairs, they never fix themselves and they often cause much more expensive problems by waiting.
Ignition coil is fairly close to the thermostat, coolant spraying all over that could def. cause ign. issues...
More to this than being told, original fault was a coil (?) alone 'and it ran normally after that.' but no way not ever does a coil make squealing noises. Somebody is leaving out details that quite possibly could tilt the outcome. No way on earth would anyone diagnose a coil by squealing noises.
Thermostat housing, gaskets and thermostat were replaced today. The old thermostat housing had a crack on the inside that connected to the engine and that is why it was leaking. No more leak now so that problem is solved. However, the engine problem is still unresolved. Checked the ignition coil for any coolant that might have leaked onto it but it is still dry. The spark plug wells displayed some condensation...did not know if that was normal. Started the car up and I can't pinpoint where the noise is coming from but it seems like it might be coming from the front or left side of the engine...I really cant be sure and I might have smelled a faint gas smell? but I may have been mistaking that for burning coolant that had gotten on the engine from the thermostat housing replacement. I have not been driving it since this developement with the engine and I only drove it a maximum of 30 miles after the start of the massive coolant leak. any ideas?? this car is giving me a headache! (Another note...I am a college student and work a part time job. Getting things fixed right away isnt always feasible)
Check the wiring harness going to the coil. They're known to fray or pull out right at the plug. That would cause the shaking and flashing CEL.
The squealing and burning is likely the serpentine belt, trying to turn a pulley that has seized...water pump, idler, possibly AC compressor.
Both these things require immediate attention in order to avoid more expensive repairs.
The squealing and burning is likely the serpentine belt, trying to turn a pulley that has seized...water pump, idler, possibly AC compressor.
Both these things require immediate attention in order to avoid more expensive repairs.
For all I know, this may be out of date (as in, I don't know what your necroposting policy is here). I kind of found it from a search engine on "Car shaking smells".
My car is... not a Ford Focus. It's a '97 Buick LeSaber. It's crap. When I save the money, along with other things, I want a new car.
Okay, yes, the whining was a major feature, so was shaking (although it was in reverse). Although here the shaking seemed to be accompanied by hesitation to accelerate, especially after stopping. As in, I stopped at a light, and had trouble making it through the light.
Recently, I went to AutoZone and a nearby mechanic was in (he had slow business nearby), so he was like "I'll look at it." Changed transmission fluid (if it had trouble shifting, this was one of the things I was concerned with) and upon opening the car, they found that the last time my engine was worked on, the people forgot to put back in the PCV thing. So the whining was not, as previous mechanics had told me, the belt. Nor was it the water cooler, it was that the engine was sucking in air, and this was causing pressure to build up, pulling at stuff and making a whining sound. The changed transmission seemed to make a difference, and the pollution control valve definitely helped (instantly stopped whining). But car is still shaking, and gives off a burnt smell. I'm getting it checked when I get home tomorrow.
The shaking of the car can also be caused by a bad sparkplug, or bad sparkplug wires, giving intermittent energy to the car.
Also, this.
8 Ways to Diagnose Car Smells - wikiHow
What sort of smell does the car have?
My car is... not a Ford Focus. It's a '97 Buick LeSaber. It's crap. When I save the money, along with other things, I want a new car.
Okay, yes, the whining was a major feature, so was shaking (although it was in reverse). Although here the shaking seemed to be accompanied by hesitation to accelerate, especially after stopping. As in, I stopped at a light, and had trouble making it through the light.
Recently, I went to AutoZone and a nearby mechanic was in (he had slow business nearby), so he was like "I'll look at it." Changed transmission fluid (if it had trouble shifting, this was one of the things I was concerned with) and upon opening the car, they found that the last time my engine was worked on, the people forgot to put back in the PCV thing. So the whining was not, as previous mechanics had told me, the belt. Nor was it the water cooler, it was that the engine was sucking in air, and this was causing pressure to build up, pulling at stuff and making a whining sound. The changed transmission seemed to make a difference, and the pollution control valve definitely helped (instantly stopped whining). But car is still shaking, and gives off a burnt smell. I'm getting it checked when I get home tomorrow.
The shaking of the car can also be caused by a bad sparkplug, or bad sparkplug wires, giving intermittent energy to the car.
Also, this.
8 Ways to Diagnose Car Smells - wikiHow
What sort of smell does the car have?
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