McCulla

I just picked up my 05 997 from the transported and drove it home (about 10 miles from the drop off location). When I got out of the car (in the garage) there was a very noticable burning rubber smell. I had watched the gauges closely on the drive home and had top level oil pressure, low-mid gauge water temp and top of the lower 1/3 oil temp. The car has 25K miles. No leaks are evident underneath. Needless to say I'm worried about belts,etc. Any ideas? Thanks!

Edgy01

I would immediately suspect the single serpentine belt. To check take a feel with your finger on the come along rollers that you can easily access near the oil filler pipe. If you feel that the come alongs are not flat and smooth across the entire width of the pulley, I would suspect that the tensioner is too tight. They are not adjustable. You may experience premature serpentine belt failure on the road. Carry a spare belt, a standard screwdriver, and a 24mm combination wrench. With just those 2 tools you can install a new belt easily enough. Without it, you are subject to the whim of 1800 PORSCHE. In the second photo the YELLOW marked pulleys are come-alongs. They seem to exhibit wear beneath the belt track, and not along the edges (as the pulleys are wider than the width of the belt). That suggests to me that the belt is too tight. It is quite routine now for Porsche to replace not just the belt, but the idler pulleys as well in a belt service.

LlBr

Is this your first Porsche? The rear engine stinks up most garages for the lives of the cars. Hopefully yours is just normal smell that you're not used to. Fingers crossed.

RED HORSE

I've been visiting this and other Porsche boards since 1999 when I bought my first "modern" Porsche. The smell of burning rubber is a common complaint, and while it may be the serpentine belt I believe it is more likely just a characteristic of our cars. Some say it is rubber off the tires burning off the mufflers, some say it is the coating off the engine, and I don't think anyone really knows.

McCulla

Thanks to all of you so far. Actually, this is my 9th Porsche, so I'm used to some measure of "odor", but this is the first 10 miles on a 997. My last one was a 993. I'm heading out to the garage to check the belt.

UNC911

Mine has smelled like this since I got it. I have been told the tires are the culprit. No problems other than the smell. Good Luck 00 hope it is nothing else.

McCulla

Come along pulleys are baby cheek smooth...I'll drive it some more distance tomrrow and check further. Thanks again to everyone.

rdstemler

If you let out the clutch and press down on the gas real hard you can get that burned rubber smell! Anti-skid keeps it from happenning when you brake real hard.
This is not considered operator error. It is considered fun!

russo

Never experienced the smell of rubber in none of my 911's.

VC74

I thought it was rubber, brakes or maybe clutch, the dealer is telling me its the coating on the engine. My 09 carrera has only 1200kms and its still doing it. I tried taking off with no throttle feathering at all and it seems like the smell is less there! however all my cars have been manual and I ve but over 150 000 kms on them... and never have i worn a clutch! I think the carrera dosent like feathering, its a shame! it sounds so sweet. ill countinue experiencing my driving style till i get to the bottom of this smell.

tpenta

I noticed this too as a new 911 driver. One thought I had was that when you exit the car your face comes close to the rear tire and brakes. There's where the smells comes from. I noticed that same smell in the ones I test-drove at the dealer as well.

I was thinking it's some combination of brakes and tire smell but I could be wrong.

-T

McCulla

I'm feeling better all the time since a number of you have noticed this as well, but if it perists, I'll let the dealer check it and post any findings. Thanks.

spiderv6

It's a new car?

Search on cosmoline. Quite normal.

McCulla

No, it's an 05, about 25K miles.

At Law

I posted this question a few months back.

It appears this smell is normal and is part of the Porsche 911 patina.

It's better than the smell of overheating antifreeze and scored pistons
on an F-car. Not an insult to Ferrari's , I do love them and their maintenance.

Enjoy the aroma....