My 2001 Escape has rarely given me any trouble. It has just under 90,000 miles on it. I had the 100,000 mile tune up done early, (this is end of Dec, tuneup end of Sept 2010). All oil changes etc done on time. The last 2 long distance trips I have made, I have smelled a strong burning smell..and I think I smelled sulfer. There was no smoke, no guages came on, no problems with driving, no change in gas mileage. The smell was strongest when the front passenger side door was opened, you could just barely smell it from the other side and it did not come inside the cabin. I have watched for leaks on the driveway but there are none. I should also mention the car was in South Florida for the last 5 years, and we recently moved to a place where the temperatures have dropped below freezing. This started after it got so cold outside. I don't know if this has anything to do with it or not. It is sitting in the driveway because I am afraid to drive it, and don't have a clue as to what to have checked for repairs. Could someone please give me an idea where to start?
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from your description, it sounds like a cat converter. the motor may be running rich causing the rotten egg smell.
take it to a shop and have them check it for you to verify the smell and make sure they find the reason for the cat producing the smell.
Roy
i agree with Roy, catalytic converters are common, the burning rubber smell is from the cat getting much hotter than normal, i would have it checked before driving it too much.
The move from florida to a cold environment may have contribted to the cats demise, there are alot of different additives to fuel in the cold states during the winter, we call it the "winter blend" and sometimes can create an issue with fuel systems that have been primarily operated in a warm climate. Just my 2 cents worth
Would that be the only problem then? Would I need the muffler replaced too? How about the front and back sensors? I don't know much about converters, and I don't want to get to a shop and have them tell me they have to rebuild my engine or something. What should I ask them to test for? Thank you again
Thank you. Would that make the burning rubber smell?
i agree with Roy, catalytic converters are common, the burning rubber smell is from the cat getting much hotter than normal, i would have it checked before driving it too much. The move from florida to a cold environment may have contribted to the cats demise, there are alot of different additives to fuel in the cold states during the winter, we call it the "winter blend" and sometimes can create an issue with fuel systems that have been primarily operated in a warm climate. Just my 2 cents worth
Would that be the only problem then? Would I need the muffler replaced too? How about the front and back sensors? I don't know much about converters, and I don't want to get to a shop and have them tell me they have to rebuild my engine or something. What should I ask them to test for? Thank you again