2005...23K

Lately, I have been taking the car on 60-100 mile drives and have had very few occasions to use the heater during this hot summer but tonight, after being at a location five miles away for three hours, I turned on the heat and after three miles, I smelled something burning and assumed that it was from a passing vehicle....maybe breaks??? Electrical??? It continued so I turned off the heater and it dissipated. I turned it back on and the scent returned.

I parked in my driveway and opened the hood and could smell nothing unusual.

I was hoping to take it on another drive of about 90 miles tomorrow evening.

 

I got in the car yesterday and the heater was still in the on position and still stank, I think like burning brakes. I turned it off and cranked up the fan and the oder went away. I drove 10 miles, parked for a couple of hours then drove home and the odor is still there if the heat is turned on.

 

If you turn the fan on with no heat do you still get the smell? More than likely the blower motor resistor.

 

No odor with fan and no heat.

Thanks for the suggestion.

 

One one other thing it may be , pop the hood look on the passenger side of the engine at the valve cover it may be leaking oil from the back corner closest to the firewall also check the small valve cover that's bolted on top of it it's about 6 inches long or so with a couple of bolts in it and a hose coming off of it, that is your positive crankcase ventilation cover and there's one on each side they are prone to leaking there is multiple threads here on the form explaining how to fix them, I believe that's what your problem is.

 

I think that I found the hose that you describe and it appears intact but I will need to research the repair threads to find out.

I have never noticed any spots in the driveway where is is parks that would indicate a leak.

My '99 Astro has begun to experience the same issue but it has 100k more miles!

I posted on the Astro/Safarri forum and here was one reply...

Your van and your Crossfire both have surprisingly similar ignition lock cylinders (The part that the key fits into, which isn't actually the "switch"). Both are manufactured by Strattec, a division of Briggs and Stratton.
My first advice would be to try your spare keys and see if that solves the problem. Let us know how you make out....

Tried the other key on the Crossfire and it did not help.

 

Sorry the way I worded the statement about the positive crankcase ventilation hose may have been misleading, the small hose attached to the back of the small cover does not leak it's the cover itself that leaks because there is no hard gasket, it's only silicone that seals it, the Torx head bolts overtime loosen and can cause a couple of problems, they can cause slightly uneven idle and oil leak. Probably the reason you don't see any drips on your driveway is because these cars have a plastic belly pan that catches any drips .unless it's really pouring the oil out you wouldn't see any. my car had the burning oil smell that came through the vents until I pulled the PCV covers off thoroughly cleaned them and reinstalled them using black RTV, no more burning smell. And by the way the main valve cover gaskets are still good and are not leaking after 12 years and 123000 miles, I did retorque the main valve cover bolts using the proper torque specification found here on the Forum in the repair manual.

 

Really happy to hear that someone else had the same issue! Hard to believe it was 12 years ago. It must be relatively rare problem. What was the scent that you smelled? I have not smelled burning brakes for some time but that it what it reminded me of.

It rained this evening so hopefully I can do some research in the morning.

I mistakenly posted the ignition issue. After two years of blissful ownership I have suddenly experienced two problems!

 

I thought that I had posted about my "sticky ignition key" but now realized, after having done a search of my past posts, that I had only read other posts. Sorry for the confusion!

 

With work and rain it has been hard to find the time to make the repair!

I really appreciate the fact that you have had the same issue, found the solution and took the time to respond to my post!

You mentioned that yours had a "burning oil" scent. Mine smells more like brakes? or electrical?

Took the car on a 40 mile drive last night with no issues. I did smell the odor (but not as bad) when I first turned on the defrost even when it was set on the cool setting.

 

Well you can always try the simpler things first have you changed your cabin filter and cleaned out the compartment they're bad about collecting debris and by the way that's the same compartment that you're blower motor resistor and blower motor are in. You seem pretty confident that the smell is more like brakes or electrical. I think I would discount brakes because you had just gotten in the car and had not moved it yet so the brakes were not hot, I still think the prime candidate is the blower motor resistor and or blower motor. Could be as simple as a buildup of debris. I have found on my car that I need to change the filter twice a year not because the filter gets clogged up but mainly to keep the debris cleaned out. By any chance does the carpet get wet on the passenger side in the footwell? It is possible you have a coolant leak at the heater core, antifreeze has a similar smell to brakes. Could be a number of things I'm afraid you're just going to have to take some time and run it down. Good luck keep us posted 😉

 

The filter had a lot of debris and stank like whatever it is that I been smelling. I idled for 10 minutes with the heat blowing on high and that may have been the issue as it appears to have abated! I wonder where the odor came from? I replaced the filter last year in an attempt to remove the "melted crayon" stink. Either that stink has dissipated or I have gotten somewhat used to it!

Until last year, I had never heard of a cabin air filter and I have been driving for forty years! What issues would arise from not using a filter?

I will check it again the next time I drive it and report back.

Thanks!

 

The filter keeps dirt and debris and fine dust from accumulating in your duct work and Vents, not to mention your lungs. I would rather take 10 minutes and change the filter and keep the inside of my car clean. 👍

 

When I started the car without the filter and cover, the AC sputtered and then seemed to perform badly that day. I have since put the cover back on and the AC now is working properly.

Still a mystery as to how that odor settled in my filter.

There were leaves and debris in the on the filter. How do they get there? From the cowl?

I am one of those rare individuals that drives usually with my windows down (except on the interstate or when it is hot) so I guess that I my interior and lungs are accumulating fine dust

 

The filter gets moist from damp air and water droplets that can get in the AC air intake and that can start mildew on the filter. Even worse is when the drainage under the cowl gets plugged or partially plugged and water rises up to the air intake. This can let water enter the cars interior and start mildew on the carpets, you may not even notice the damp carpets, just the smell. This water can damage the heater fan as well.
With the filter cover off the airflow will be upset and not function properly. I guess as the fan is on the outside of the filter the air would be blown directly into the car without passing the AC cooling coils.