RAM Classic 2019 major burnt rubber smell (3+ weeks at the dealer, no fix)

[ford40]

I had a friend the his clutch failed at 30k miles . Pulled the trans. out and found a mouse had built a nest in the pressure plate .
There is a opening on top of the bell housing .
just a thought

 

[493mike]

I have some Chinese rubber floor mats in my car and when they get warm I get the rubber stink.
Mike

 

[SimmZ]

Here is the continuation...

By last Friday (Jan 24th), it's been the 15 days without my truck (this time). So last week I received a few follow-up calls from my dealer ... at the beginning of the week they told me that they "thought" they had located the source of the strong smell of burnt rubber and that it seems to come from the transmission because it smells strong near the transmission breather and they are awaiting further instructions from FCA Canada. Thursday they call me while I was at work to ask me where I bought my winter tires (what?), so I answered that THEY sold them and installed them (damn!), no idea what the **** about this question. Finally, they call me back Friday PM to tell me that my truck is ready to pick up, because FCA asked them to flush the transmission oil (what they did) and then close the service ticket and if it’s still not fixed, to open a new ticket. So I picked up my truck last Friday around 4h45 PM just before the dealer close for the weekend.

Without any surprises (even if I wanted to believe it), after 20-25 minutes of driving Sunday morning to pick up some grocery... the truck still smell burnt rubber as hell, as strong as before or even worse! So I bring back the truck this morning (Monday) at 7:30 AM before going to work.

Around 2 hours later, they called me back to tell me to come back at noon to pick up my truck again because they put 4 new tires (already mounted of 4 new wheels) and they want me to do some tests again. They already thoroughly inspected the tires, so I can't believe that tires can smell burnt rubber unless it rubs on the frame or something, which is not a defect of the tires.

I just piked up my truck at the dealership during my lunch hour and I can't believe they made me lost 1 hours in and out to test my truck with new tires/rims as I just drove like 3 MILES and this ******* **** just smell it's set on fire (rubber fire!)

I've opened a ticket with my local legal aid services (free services for members) and I'll see what is my option to return the truck or get a replacement truck completely. I am on this issue since BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER 2019... so I own my truck for 6 months now and my initial report of this issue is 3 MONTHS AGO. Could you believe it?

So what they do so far :

- They found some kind of plastic label that are rubbing on the catalyst converter (noting to do finally)
- Replaced ALL rubber hoses (like 20x hoses) from the cooling system, so as the coolant fluid.
- Flushed transmission oil and put new oil in.
- Changed 4 tires + 4 rimes (temporary set)

Not a single change in the initial issue.

 

[SimmZ]

I have some Chinese rubber floor mats in my car and when they get warm I get the rubber stink.
Mike

Thank you but I have Weathertech floor liners and they are not made of rubber as well.

 

[chrisbh17]

What I dont understand is why they do all this crap and dont even seem to test if it worked.

That just wastes EVERYONE's time, not just the owner but the dealer too.

SMH.

 

[Octane]

Delete

 

[SimmZ]

What I dont understand is why they do all this crap and dont even seem to test if it worked.

That just wastes EVERYONE's time, not just the owner but the dealer too.

SMH.

Well, as for the first attempt when they replace the entire cooling system hoses, they did some road test with the truck and they immediately noticed that it doesn't fix issue at all. However the two others times, when they changed transmission fluid and then the tires/wheels, they just closed the case "as is" and give my truck back without a single road test I assume, since issue can't be reproduced without like 2-3 miles like I explained.

 

[Simpleman]

Wow that really sucks. if it was in my shop i would find the problem. Good luck to you

 

[Shiva]

Lol **** troll. I have some oceanfront property for sale in Iowa for you.

Send out the stats and I guess it takes a troll to know one g.f.
There are no stats showing the new 'sell 2 sets of tires'
scam helps anyone except the new industry that has sprung up.
I have no horse in this race.
Just the facts Jack.

 

[chri5k]

I wonder if they are barking up the wrong tree. Have they checked the fan resistor and fan motor? The fan resistor gets hot at low speed since it reduces the voltage to the fan by increasing resistance which makes heat and it is potted in a rubber like compound. The fan motor gets hot on high speed since all the current is now going to the fan motor.

If it were me I would duct tape / seal off the fresh air intake at the base of the windshield and the vents on the back of the cab. Basically isolate the cabin as much as possible. Drive it for 4 - 5 miles with HVAC off or HVAC fuses out or fan resistor / motor disconnected. Smell appears? If not, re-enable the HVAC system, set for recirculate and turn it on and Drive 4 - 5 miles. Smell appears? This way I could try to isolate if it coming from the engine bay or the HVAC system.

 

[averageguy]

Maybe Canada requires winter tires as in winter tread or studs like the o.p has for traction in the snow they get in that province. Here in the lower 48 I tend to agree that fairly plain treaded "winter" tires are a scam. I do feel a lot of people run worn out tires here in the rain and the winter that cause wrecks in states that don't have inspections.

 

[16RamHemi]

Send out the stats and I guess it takes a troll to know one g.f.
There are no stats showing the new 'sell 2 sets of tires'
scam helps anyone except the new industry that has sprung up.
I have no horse in this race.
Just the facts Jack.

Stats? Facts? What are you talking about? Have you ever driven on all seasons and winter tires in snow? If so and you feel the all seasons performed as well as the winter tires you are in the extreme minority. Winter tires out perform all seasons (especially the oe sra). It's not even close. I drive in 2wd with winter tires where it took 4wd with the sra's. I have never heard anyone say all seasons are just as good as winter tires in any tire thread I have ever read. Ever.

 

[SimmZ]

Guys... although I appreciate your feedback on my issue, this discussion about winter tires is completely off-topic with my problem since we have excluded any tire issue.

 

[raff18]

I wonder if they are barking up the wrong tree. Have they checked the fan resistor and fan motor? The fan resistor gets hot at low speed since it reduces the voltage to the fan by increasing resistance which makes heat and it is potted in a rubber like compound. The fan motor gets hot on high speed since all the current is now going to the fan motor.

If it were me I would duct tape / seal off the fresh air intake at the base of the windshield and the vents on the back of the cab. Basically isolate the cabin as much as possible. Drive it for 4 - 5 miles with HVAC off or HVAC fuses out or fan resistor / motor disconnected. Smell appears? If not, re-enable the HVAC system, set for recirculate and turn it on and Drive 4 - 5 miles. Smell appears? This way I could try to isolate if it coming from the engine bay or the HVAC system.

I have been a tech for over 20 years and this is where I would have started. There Is a drain tube for the hvac system that with the fan on u can feel some air coming out of it. Eg source of smell under hood. I would have them change the hole heater box out. It’s the first thing that came to my mind when I read your first post.

 

[SimmZ]

I have been a tech for over 20 years and this is where I would have started. There Is a drain tube for the hvac system that with the fan on u can feel some air coming out of it. Eg source of smell under hood. I would have them change the hole heater box out. It’s the first thing that came to my mind when I read your first post.

Good point, however I should clarify that the smell is not only present when the heater is running. It's also noticeable with all the HVAC off and windows open, as it's just a strong burnt rubber smell coming from the engine bay. The fact it's enter into the cab and become very annoying and questionable as for a potential toxic risk in cab's air, is just because the HVAC suck the air from the engine bay when not in motion by the bottom of the windshield.

When I park my truck into the garage at work (I don't have garage at home), the entire garage smell burnt rubber for a few minutes after I shutted down the truck and parked it.

Plus, they replaced the entire cooling system already, except for the radiator and the heater core, but all hoses has been replaced everywhere on the truck, for the heater, the engine cooler, the oil cooler, the transmission cooler, etc. The coolant as also been flushed and filled with fresh one (well, not much fresher than a 9000 KM truck... sigh). Since the heater core, so as the radiator and other cooling system parts are made of metal, I can't see them smelling burnt rubber, isn't it?

 

[wgreggking]

Random thoughts: During assy., rubber part dropped behind manifold shield or stuck in manifold., or possible inside exhaust Y pipe.

 

[chrisbh17]

Random thoughts: During assy., rubber part dropped behind manifold shield or stuck in manifold., or possible inside exhaust Y pipe.

Would there be smoke if it was burning enough to create that much smell?

 

[wgreggking]

Would there be smoke if it was burning enough to create that much smell?

Maybe not if just in the right spot, near something hot.

 

[Shiva]

Ok have you checked and ruled out a drive belt issue?
Take the main belt off and check for an idler pulley or anything else for being nearly seized. Might even just take a look at the belt for weird **** wear.

 

[raff18]

On a side note........ have u gotten the exhaust really hot.? Like I mean drive it hard and limit the gear so that it holds the revs at like 4K? Might all u need is to burn whatever it s off. Just before u do this don’t have anything u really care about in it. Just you incase it catches fire lol then problem solved