What is this smell!!??

[Dezie]

So Im driving an N/A 91 Daytona and its a manual.
It has 85k orginal miles... driven by a college proff in my town... now by me!

Ok so heres the issue, sometimes (not always) when I get out of the car after driving from the front of the car I smell something Ive never smelt before.
Its kinda got this burning plastic smell...but not quite dead on but thats the closest smell I can compare it to.

Now I am re-teaching myself how to drive the stick... I havent had one sice my fiero when I was 18. I am stalling it a bit but I notice the smell even after Ive driven it correctly and havent been sitting on the clutch too long nor dumping it or doing stuff I shouldnt be doing.

So what is this smell? I sure hope I didnt spend the money on the car just to burn out the clutch on the 3rd day I had it.

Any help guys would be super awsome.

[turbomini]

could be the clutch! does it smell like burnt cat piss lol and if it smells like a hair salon that could be the cat is plugged

[Dezie]

Not like cat piss...more like the one time i set the carpit on fire!

If it is the clutch, what would a shop charge to replace the clutch?

[turbokid]

For a clutch kit, resurface flywheel and tranny uninstall and reinstall we do it all for about 700 bucks. 400 labor and usually 300 parts with a resurface

[NAJ]

Sure it is not an oil leak running onto the manifold?
Also take a good look at the wiring harness to be sure it is properly secured and not laying on the manifold especially near the O2 sensor.

[4Daytonas]

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbokid For a clutch kit, resurface flywheel and tranny uninstall and reinstall we do it all for about 700 bucks. 400 labor and usually 300 parts with a resurface

WOW!

[puppet]

No kidding .. wow.

This "plastic" smell come with smoke? Have you looked under the car for anything that might of got caught around the exhaust ... like a garbage bag or??

Clutch smells like overheated brake pads .. not plastic. I'd poke my head under the intake mani and have a look at the starter cables and such. Gets pretty hot down here and sometimes those wires have had enough.

[ILIKESHELBYS]

You might check if one or more of the front brake calipers is dragging. Its easy to check for this, just drive the car about a bit, stop, get out and place the palm of your hand NEAR (NOT ON) both of the front wheels...near the center cap on the wheel. With your palm about an inch or two from the center of the wheel, if a caliper is dragging, it will be almost too hot to the touch. When they get really hot, they blow smoke when you are sitting still. The typical cure is replacing the caliper AND the rubber flex hose. To determine if it is the flex hose only, if it is hanging/gragging, get it hot and dragging, then losten the flex hose at the body, not at the caliper. If the caliper releases the problem is not the hose or caliper. If it does not release, then loosten the flex hose at the caliper, if it releases, it needs a flex hose. If it does not release, it needs at least a caliper...I'd also put a hose on it. If you take the hose off, you should be able to blow through it easily. Be warned though, brake fluid taste really bad.

[Goose]

That "plastic" smell is most likely hot wiring insulation either from something too close to the exhaust or excessive current that may be caused by a loose connection. Definitely take a close look at your harnesses.