I have a 2006 base model 350z and i've had it since march. it has 6,600 miles on it and the past 2 days it has been smelling like a mix between burnt plastic and burnt rubber. more so burnt plastic. the smell is definitely coming from my engine, but i have no idea what the hell is wrong or how i could even find out what the problem is. if anybody has any idea or if anybody has any suggestions, let me know. the smell only starts when i turn on my car and drive it around for about 5-10 minutes. the smell goes away after a couple of hours of the car being off. any help or suggestions are appreciated!

 

Can almost guarantee you have picked up a plastic bag on the exhaust, this has happened to me twice now

 

yup, look under the car, it is probably a plastic bag.... it happened with my previous car too. good luck

 

either that or if its a MT, it might be that you burnt the clutch. But i doubt it at 6,600 miles unless you beat the crap out of it all the time

 

If you are concerned, put the Z on a lift and inspect the bottom.

 

I am going through the same thing now...plastic bag underneath Sometimes it seems to last forever!

 

sounds like the old plastic bag on the exhaust problem.




sidenote: I just realized that would be a really good non damaging prank to pull on somebody especially if they dont know cars.. Tape a plasitic bag to their exhaust, theyd have no idea.

 

Hey, I had an idea come to me out of nowhere. It could be a plastic bag.

 

I burned my clutch at 5,500 miles; and it wasn't due to driver misuse/abuse even though this was my first M/T...and first Z!! cylinder IF a plastic bag is not stuck to your exhaust then have your dealer check the clutch i.e. master cylinder & slave cylinder for damage My dealer replaced my clutch under warranty without a hassle and made it lot easier for me.

 

This thread needed a pic.

Yz

 

well im gonna go check my car and see if it is indeed the plastic bag that everyone has been talking about. but i just dont understand why the smell would be coming out of my engine....rather than just...having the smell be all over? if it was indeed the plastic bag.

 

were you driving the car any harder than usual, or the same?

 

AHAAHHAHAHAH. i take my car to a mechanic just to get it raised and see what the hell is going on. i look right under and on my exhaust was a nice big piece of thing melting....it actually looked like: oh god...i cant believe like 10 of you nailed it and said that it was a plastic bag. is this something freaking common!? cuz i think its UNBELIEVABLY random. but now im happy that it is NOTHING serious. thank you allll for the help.

 

The power of my350z has cured you.. that is all.. lol

 

our technical expertise is astounding

 

quite amazing are we!

It's happened to me three times so far I get to the point where I get paranoid when I see a plastic bag. It's pretty funny trying to avoid one of those things when it's windy

 

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA, i could imagine some swerving going on in order to avoid a pot hole or something? but nope...just a plastic bag that knows your next move

 

so what did it end up being the problem?