Slight burning smell when accelerating?

[garry]

I have a 1983 Mondial QV (one of the 152 right hand drives ) in excellent condition and well serviced engine etc etc etc.

The last few days I noticed a burning smell, its not a burning oil smell, it happens when I accelerate hardish.......... if I only accelerate normally (like 0 - 60 in 15 seconds) I dont smell anything? It weird that it smelled burney when going uphill.... so thought it could be a wire or plastic part leaning onto the engine?

I did pop the front bonnet and did smell a very very light wiff of this smell :/ I looked at all the wires in front and in the engine area but cannot see anything untoward? Today it never smelt at all........hummmmm

Any ideas?

Gary.

ps: I was only 4 in 1970 lol and live in Maidstone, UK lol (cannot sus out the forum details bit...doh! )

[MalcQV]

Only thing I ever smelled like that in mine was when I wedged the cigarette lighter in the socket. I sometimes have to get in the passenger side as my garage is quite narrow, climbed over the centre console and wedged the lighter in.

It was about 1 hour later when I had realised, got this burning wood smell after 20 mins of doing it but did not realise what it was

As you know the dreaded fuse box is in the front and it is (I have had experience of it) fragile. There is plenty of info around about them.
I am guessing when you accelerate hard it may be pushing more air through the front hence the smell in the cabin getting stronger.

[garry]

Thanks

I think you have possibly solved it.....I also climb over to the passengers side until yesterday as my garage is tight and I inevitably sat on the centre consol and as usual curse incase I brake it ) I have not got a cigarette lighter but the fixture is there, I'll have a look at it tomorrow, the fuse box could also be the answer as It is flimsey and the plastic cover is held in place with a (Ferrari red) cornflakes (morrisons own ) cereal box so theres a possibility.

I did notice yesterday my girlfreind managed to flash the fog lights (front) at me while I was videoing the car and I was certain they didnt work! as I only had it at the ferrari garage a few weeks ago because the main flipup lights were always going down at night (not good!) when hitting a matchstick, the front fog lights had never worked since, then like I say my girlfreind flashed and they deffo came on :/

Ferraris eh! lol

Thx again, I update soon

[steve]

Can you determine if it is an electrical type smell where the insulation is hot or burning. The fuse box will be one of the 1st places I would look. I would look on both sides of the fuse block and make sure there are no hot spots. Also something else to consider is the clutch. Could it be starting to slip when you get on it. Maybe another area to consider. Keep working and let us know what you find out.

[MalcQV]

Originally Posted by garry

Thanks

I think you have possibly solved it.....I also climb over to the passengers side until yesterday as my garage is tight and I inevitably sat on the centre consol and as usual curse incase I brake it ) I have not got a cigarette lighter but the fixture is there, I'll have a look at it tomorrow, the fuse box could also be the answer as It is flimsey and the plastic cover is held in place with a (Ferrari red) cornflakes (morrisons own ) cereal box so theres a possibility.

That would be strange if it turns out to be the same problem. I no longer have the cigarette lighter in the socket. I also had to take the console out and replace some of the wiring to the socket it also caused the LHS window to cease working until I replaced the wiring.

Originally Posted by garry

I did notice yesterday my girlfriend managed to flash the fog lights (front) at me while I was videoing the car and I was certain they didn't work! as I only had it at the Ferrari garage a few weeks ago because the main flip up lights were always going down at night (not good!) when hitting a matchstick, the front fog lights had never worked since, then like I say my girlfriend flashed and they deffo came on :/

Ferraris eh! lol

Thx again, I update soon

Yep especially old Ferraris. I cannot use the "flash" option unless the headlights are up. I understand a few models flash the fog lights. Something I thought about doing but never have.

Hope you sort it out soon.