Burning rubber smell

BexBeast

Has anyone come across a burning rubber smell when warming up their Bronco? I"ve checked underneath for any signs of harnesses melting or exhaust touching something.

I've had a burning plastic smell on a roadtrip. Gauges,fluid and everything under the hood and truck continuously seemed great but it was unnerving.

BexBeast

Has anyone come across a burning rubber smell when warming up their Bronco? I"ve checked underneath for any signs of harnesses melting or exhaust touching something.

I have had the same thing, and since I work very close to my home never noticed it until I hit the Expressway doing 75 and came to the end after about 22 miles and was stoped by a Stop Light, that's when I noticed the plastic/rubber smell and it was pretty strong almost like my Bronco was on fire.
I wasn't to worried about it though, because I read something here on one of the Threads where they were saying it was normal for the first time heating everything up to max running temperatures.
I came home the same way and when I got home did not notice the smell to be as nearly as strong.
It all makes perfect sence that when a new vehicle is built, everything that they put on it has not hit any high temperatures, because MAP moves them in such short distances, they never get a chance to hear up, same for when they ship them (no long distance driving) and again never gets to it's max temp.
The only thing happening is the oils and debris burning off for the first time.......
However if you feel uncomfortable about the smell, by all means take it in to your local Service center at the Dealership.
Your Safety is more important than reading something that someone is throwing out there, but this is what I believe and have read, and like I said that burning smell went away almost completely in the last two trips....

This has periodically been a topic of conversation over the last two years. I believe it is a common occurrence, but it has been so long since the discussions I can’t remember. From what I recall it was nothing major. If you use the search function and enter the topic it will pull up all related threads.

I am coming up on a year of ownership so max temps have been obtained many times. No newness left to burn off. I will check out all related threads. If need be I will take it to the dealership. Thanks.

BexBeast

I am coming up on a year of ownership so max temps have been obtained many times. No newness left to burn off. I will check out all related threads. If need be I will take it to the dealership. Thanks.

I would say this applies to new vehicles 500 -1000 miles or so.
I would play it safe and get it to the dealership. you might have picked up something I once had a piece of tire fly up and get lodged near my Cat. that stunk.

BexBeast

I am coming up on a year of ownership so max temps have been obtained many times. No newness left to burn off. I will check out all related threads. If need be I will take it to the dealership. Thanks.

Yeah, that's not good. I have not noticed any rubber burning smells, I have 5000 miles on mine have gone to Utah and back, balls out enjoying the turbo and sport mode .... Paid a price at the pump though Lol. I remember reading something about a coolant hose being too close to a belt and making contact. So check your hoses. Let us know what you or the "stealership" find.

When I started smelling burning oil/plastic it was normally after a long haul and right after I got out of my truck, I took it in for my 3rd oil change at 13,500 miles and mentioned it but to no diagnosis. I rotated my tires (all 5) again at 16,000 miles and found oil all over the interior of my rim on the drivers side rear. Found the smell, leaking rear seal burning oil! In the shop for 3 weeks over the Holidays and got it back January 2nd, had to get Ford Customer Experience involved to help the dealer find the parts or I would still be waiting to get my truck back. Ford had to replace the half shaft assembly, there seams to be some issues around 16k to 17k miles so keep an eye and nostril open.

OJS NV

When I started smelling burning oil/plastic it was normally after a long haul and right after I got out of my truck, I took it in for my 3rd oil change at 13,500 miles and mentioned it but to no diagnosis. I rotated my tires (all 5) again at 16,000 miles and found oil all over the interior of my rim on the drivers side rear. Found the smell, leaking rear seal burning oil! In the shop for 3 weeks over the Holidays and got it back January 2nd, had to get Ford Customer Experience involved to help the dealer find the parts or I would still be waiting to get my truck back. Ford had to replace the half shaft assembly, there seams to be some issues around 16k to 17k miles so keep an eye and nostril open.

Copy that. Thanks for the info, I will definitely be on the look out. 👍

OJS NV

When I started smelling burning oil/plastic it was normally after a long haul and right after I got out of my truck, I took it in for my 3rd oil change at 13,500 miles and mentioned it but to no diagnosis. I rotated my tires (all 5) again at 16,000 miles and found oil all over the interior of my rim on the drivers side rear. Found the smell, leaking rear seal burning oil! In the shop for 3 weeks over the Holidays and got it back January 2nd, had to get Ford Customer Experience involved to help the dealer find the parts or I would still be waiting to get my truck back. Ford had to replace the half shaft assembly, there seams to be some issues around 16k to 17k miles so keep an eye and nostril open.

Oh wow that's crazy. I will be doing a bumper to bumper inspection this coming weekend. Thanks for this!

@BexBeast
Also,

I believe last summer, someone posted about a rubber coolant line running down the front of the motor that can come into contact with one of the pulleys.
I checked mine out when I got my rig and it was about 3/4” away from the pully.
Which I assume at highway speed wind speed (could) push it up against the pully.
I zip tied mine away so it couldn’t touch the pully.
I don’t know if this is your issue.
But it never hurts to check.