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So this morning, I started my car as usual. The start seemed to be a second too late (for some reason) and a second later smoke started coming out of my hood into the cabin and into the air. I turned the car off, ran for the fire extinguisher and popped the hood. Seemed like there was no fire but the smoke filled the air like crazy, it still smells everywhere. There was LOTS of smoke, it was greyish white. The smell was similar to burnt rubber but more harsh. I have NO clue what this is, if someone does, could you please help. Also I checked the coolant levels and they were fine. I also checked the oil level and it was just at LOW but not lower than it (I have an oil leak). I am getting the car towed tomorrow to our mechanics, anything I should know beforehand?

Thanks guys

Where is it wet under the hood? Did the oil cooler let go? Spend more time looking as you can probably fix it yourself.

I didn't have time to look at anything in the morning as I had to get to school so I just made sure it was okay and went off. There's obviously not wet spots now, nothing on the ground.

sounds almost like electrical fire

Oh! I did that! it was the ground from the transmission near the starter, up to the frame rail! It burnt to a crisp and smelled super bad, and smoked.

so can I fix it myself? how do I check if this is what happened to be sure? thanks

Well check for obvious bad things. Usually fluids on the ground.

But the only thing that is hot enough to make fire on startup is electronics.

scrub your battery terminals with a wire brush and snug them on again, and check your grounds for crispy-ness, and thing of replacing them anyway. Its good for your electrical system anyway. Its easy to make your own too. Lots of info about it. Usually called the "big 3".

okay well there is nothing on the ground and all the fluids are fine so it's probably something electrical. and by the way i started the car in the morning so that would be its first start in 14 hours so everything was cold so youre probably right.

by the way, where would the grounds be?

Sounds like a belt tension idler seized. Happened to me when I reassembled one wrong. (left out the spacer)

jmdearras wrote:Sounds like a belt tension idler seized. Happened to me when I reassembled one wrong. (left out the spacer)

that was my first thought too. had it happen to myself aswell.

Okay so I found out what happened. Something in the power steering pulley seized which stopped the belt and the belt pretty much disintegrated. Never knew a belt could make that much smoke lol.

just get a smaller belt and bypass your power steering..who needs it

nah I like it. the pulley and belt were only a hundred so it wasn't a big fix. got 'er running already

wow. I wouldn't have paid more than $30 for a pully and a belt. Scrap yards FTW.