You replace the car’s serpentine belt and take the car for a drive. All seems fine until you pick up the burnt rubber smell from under the engine compartment.
If this is your experience and you’re looking for guidance on what to do next then this post is for you. It explores the reasons why you may have a burning rubber smell after replacing a car alternator belt and suggests fixes that can help you stop it.
Can a Serpentine Belt give off the Burning Rubber Smell?
Yes, it is possible that the burnt rubber smell is from the belt. That being said, there are other faults that can also lead to the smell.
It is therefore necessary to confirm that it is indeed coming from the alternator belt area as a first step to get to the underlying fault efficiently.
What Causes the Burning Smell?
If there is a burning smell from under the hood, inspect the serpentine pulley and belt drive system to confirm that it is indeed the source and if so, proceed to:
#1. Check for locked or seized pulleys. Are any of the pulleys unusually hot? Perhaps there is a pulley that is not rotating freely and needs to be replaced?
2. Confirm the alternator belt is set correctly. Check the alternator belt tension is correct as per the car manufacturer’s recommendations.
If it’s too tight, you may have a case of black dust and the burnt rubber smell from the belt from the increased friction.
Also, make sure the belt is fitted correctly and not rubbing against any surfaces as this too can lead to a burning smell.
#3. Have you fitted the correct type of belt? Confirm that you’ve fitted the correct type of belt. This includes checking that the grooves on the new belt match the original belt, another possible source of increased friction.
What to do? Will it go away on its own?
A burning smell from the engine compartment is not normal and should be investigated as it can potentially result in costly repairs and possibly a fire.
What Else can Cause a Burning Smell?
If the alternator belt looks intact and the pulleys too, broaden the search to look for other possible causes of the burnt smell. For example, when the battery wire insulation melts from a short circuit.
Final Thoughts
if there is a burning smell from under the hood after replacing the serpentine belt, there are several things you can check for, from confirming that it is indeed the recommended belt type, checking its tension, making sure that it is not rubbing against any surfaces and that there are no seized pulleys.
Always consult a qualified car mechanic.
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