Hi! I drive a 2000 Ford Ranger XLT and I brought it with me to college, well I went home for about a month and when I drove my ranger for the first time since being back at college I noticed a burning smell. I checked under the hood and didn't see anything, but when I went back out for a 2 minute drive I smelt the burning again. It seems to be coming from the front passenger side, and I did notice some coolant leaking from one of the hoses that connect to the motor. Is this what I could be smelling? Where should I look, what should I be looking for?
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Coolant can have a distinct "burning" odor if dopped on something hot, but there'll be a "sweetness" to it, too. If the coolant is leaking on something like the exhaust manifold, that could be it. If it smells like plastic melting, it could be a wiring issue.
I don't notice a sweet smell to it, but it doesn't seem to smell like plastic either. I only noticed the smell after my pickup sat for about a month without being driven since I went back home.
Sometimes cats will put out a burning smell too, if a car hasn't been driven in a while....keep an eye on that coolant level, too.
