New Forester burning smell?

Y

yngver

Hi, I have only had my new 2006 Forester (5 spd) for a few days.
Granted I am still getting used to the shifting as it's different than
my old Honda, but is it normal to have a strong burning smell when I
put it in reverse? This has happened twice and was a bit alarming. Is
this just part of the break-in process (currently have only 40 miles on
it) or is it something I need to discuss with the dealer?

-Yngver
 
yngver said:
Hi, I have only had my new 2006 Forester (5 spd) for a few days.
Granted I am still getting used to the shifting as it's different than
my old Honda, but is it normal to have a strong burning smell when I
put it in reverse? This has happened twice and was a bit alarming. Is
this just part of the break-in process (currently have only 40 miles on
it) or is it something I need to discuss with the dealer?

-Yngver

Are you slipping the clutch excessively? Overheated clutch lining has a
fairly characteristic "burned" odor. Even if this is the case, I can't
imagine why it would occur only in reverse, if anything due to the
shorter durations/lower speeds and low gear involved in reverse, I'd
expect it to be less not more than any clutch overheating while going
forward. Hard to imagine there's a situation in the trans where it is
actually overheating during the brief period the car is typically in
reverse, at least not without other symptoms like noise, vibration, then
failure. I guess the other possibility is something in the reverse
light circuit is overheating electrically. If that's the case I'd
expect a blown fuse, which would presumably end the overheating. Put
the car in reverse while sitting still & see if you get the smell & if
the backup lights come on. As an aside, my wife's 2006 Impreza wagon
w/automatic produces a fairly strong burning smell outside the car after
it is driven awhile then parked. I had it in to the dealer for an
unrelated warranty issue (leaking tail light lens) & they said the smell
was due to an excess of cosmoline (a rust inhibiting coating) on a
portion of the exhaust. Conceivably true, I plan to check it myself if
it doesn't diminish soon.

Dan
 
All new cars smell for while as the paint
and various other stuff burns off the exhaust,
cat, clutch and brakes bedding in etc.
Maybe you're reversing back into the toxic cloud
you're trailing behind you?
-C-
 
Dan said:
Are you slipping the clutch excessively? Overheated clutch lining has a
fairly characteristic "burned" odor. Even if this is the case, I can't
imagine why it would occur only in reverse, if anything due to the
shorter durations/lower speeds and low gear involved in reverse, I'd
expect it to be less not more than any clutch overheating while going
forward. Hard to imagine there's a situation in the trans where it is
actually overheating during the brief period the car is typically in
reverse, at least not without other symptoms like noise, vibration, then
failure. I guess the other possibility is something in the reverse
light circuit is overheating electrically. If that's the case I'd
expect a blown fuse, which would presumably end the overheating. Put
the car in reverse while sitting still & see if you get the smell & if
the backup lights come on. As an aside, my wife's 2006 Impreza wagon
w/automatic produces a fairly strong burning smell outside the car after
it is driven awhile then parked. I had it in to the dealer for an
unrelated warranty issue (leaking tail light lens) & they said the smell
was due to an excess of cosmoline (a rust inhibiting coating) on a
portion of the exhaust. Conceivably true, I plan to check it myself if
it doesn't diminish soon.
Well, I guess I could be slipping the clutch; I don't know. It occurred
after I had some trouble getting it into reverse. I haven't noticed it
when shifting into reverse was easy. And I'm not talking about going
very far in reverse; just backing out of the garage or out of a parking
space. Both times I was sure it was in reverse, but the car wouldn't
move so I had to try it again a couple times. Maybe I do need to have
the dealer look at it because I've never had other cars give off a
great odor just because it took a couple tries to get it in
reverse--and I've been driving manual transmissions most of my life. I
guess it could be the cosmoline too but I only smelled it these two
times when backing up and it quickly dissipated.

Thanks, I will have my husband take a look at the backup lights when I
put it in reverse, just to check that possibility.
-Yngver
 
Clive said:
All new cars smell for while as the paint
and various other stuff burns off the exhaust,
cat, clutch and brakes bedding in etc.
Maybe you're reversing back into the toxic cloud
you're trailing behind you?
-C-

Maybe. I hope that's all it is, just various stuff burning off the
clutch and transmission. I suspect that's what the dealer will tell me.
-Yngver
 
Dan said:
Are you slipping the clutch excessively? Overheated clutch lining has a
fairly characteristic "burned" odor. Even if this is the case, I can't
imagine why it would occur only in reverse, if anything due to the
shorter durations/lower speeds and low gear involved in reverse, I'd
expect it to be less not more than any clutch overheating while going
forward. Hard to imagine there's a situation in the trans where it is
actually overheating during the brief period the car is typically in
reverse, at least not without other symptoms like noise, vibration, then
failure. I guess the other possibility is something in the reverse
light circuit is overheating electrically. If that's the case I'd
expect a blown fuse, which would presumably end the overheating. Put
the car in reverse while sitting still & see if you get the smell & if
the backup lights come on. As an aside, my wife's 2006 Impreza wagon
w/automatic produces a fairly strong burning smell outside the car after
it is driven awhile then parked. I had it in to the dealer for an
unrelated warranty issue (leaking tail light lens) & they said the smell
was due to an excess of cosmoline (a rust inhibiting coating) on a
portion of the exhaust. Conceivably true, I plan to check it myself if
it doesn't diminish soon.

Dan
My clutch stinks MUCH worse than any other stick shift I've owned if
Islip the clutch. I have to back UPwards outta my drive and I've had to
train myself to 'dump and pray' to avoid the stench. probably modern
clutches have no asbestos and the newer material just smells worse - I
dunno.

Carl
 
Carl said:
My clutch stinks MUCH worse than any other stick shift I've owned if
Islip the clutch. I have to back UPwards outta my drive and I've had to
train myself to 'dump and pray' to avoid the stench. probably modern
clutches have no asbestos and the newer material just smells worse - I
dunno.

Carl
I've only had Hondas before this--maybe Subarus just have really stinky
clutches then? I haven't noticed it with my husband's five year old
Legacy but if I had when it was new, I guess I would have assumed it
was due to his aggressive driving habits. His clutch doesn't produce an
odor now, but it's his second one and well broken in. Thanks for the
info.
-Yngver
 
Hi, I have only had my new 2006 Forester (5 spd) for a few days.
Granted I am still getting used to the shifting as it's different than
my old Honda, but is it normal to have a strong burning smell when I
put it in reverse?

Are you sure you're just not smelling it in reverse due to different
airflow patterns?

My '01 OBW and my '05 Tacoma were the stinkiest vehicles I've ever
noticed when new. They smelled so bad, you'd swear they painted the
muffler. <G> The smells were what I would compare to burning fluids
& plastics, so I'm guessing they were assembly lubes and sealers.

Neither vehicle had a noticeable smell from inside when moving or
stopped, but it was strong when I backed up or stood outside and
nearby when the car was hot. Others even commented on the smells when
standing next to the hot vehicles at mountain bike trail heads. The
smells quickly went away by about 250 miles.

Just a thought, since you've only got 40 miles...
 
Bonehenge said:
Are you sure you're just not smelling it in reverse due to different
airflow patterns?

My '01 OBW and my '05 Tacoma were the stinkiest vehicles I've ever
noticed when new. They smelled so bad, you'd swear they painted the
muffler. <G> The smells were what I would compare to burning fluids
& plastics, so I'm guessing they were assembly lubes and sealers.

Neither vehicle had a noticeable smell from inside when moving or
stopped, but it was strong when I backed up or stood outside and
nearby when the car was hot. Others even commented on the smells when
standing next to the hot vehicles at mountain bike trail heads. The
smells quickly went away by about 250 miles.

Just a thought, since you've only got 40 miles...

Thanks. Now I have 90 miles, and I haven't notice the burning smell
since those first two episodes. Either I am getting used to the clutch
and getting it into reverse, or the new car lubes and oils and other
stuff is starting to dissipate.

Now if I just knew how seriously to take what it says in the owner's
manual. Don't drive too long in a snowstorm because snow might get into
the engine? Don't drive with the moonroof fully open because it might
not be safe? And the one about how other keys on your keychain might
pull your key into an "undesired" position in the ignition switch?
Sheesh.
-Yngver
 
Now if I just knew how seriously to take what it says in the owner's
manual. Don't drive too long in a snowstorm because snow might get
into the engine?

Say what now?
 
Probably put those directions into the same category as "do not use this
hairdryer in the shower" or similar lawsuit avoiders.
Dave
 
yngver said:
Now if I just knew how seriously to take what it says in the owner's
manual. Don't drive too long in a snowstorm because snow might get into
the engine? Don't drive with the moonroof fully open because it might
not be safe? And the one about how other keys on your keychain might
pull your key into an "undesired" position in the ignition switch?
Sheesh.
-Yngver

Remember where those statements come from... <G>
 
I just got an 06 wrx and noticed the same smell for the first ~150
miles or so. Don't be alarmed.
 
06rexwagon said:
I just got an 06 wrx and noticed the same smell for the first ~150
miles or so. Don't be alarmed.

Thanks. I have about 250 miles on the Forester now and I haven't
noticed that burning smell since the first couple occasions. But I am
more accustomed to the clutch now too.
 

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