Whiplash Willy
New member
1e, why do you think your 2015 doesn't do it?
Burning rubber smell right rear fender well.
- Thread starter TOY2G
- Start date
1e, why do you think your 2015 doesn't do it?
1engineer
Moderator
I don't know. The smell was a "hot" rubber instead of "burning rubber" smell. There is no smoke, no fire so it must be hot instead of burn. Has anyone tried to determine if it's all models? SR5, TE and LE (sorry TRD Pro guys you get lumped in with the TE boys)?
2014 Warthog
New member
I've smelled this exactly once. I'd completely forgotten about it till this thread came up 
Drivers rear wheel area. Thought maybe I'd over used the brakes or something but it wasn't a typical brake pad smell (But they use such crazy different things n them these days who knows any more).
This thread did remind me of come Stin Skatzor lyrics...
There's a burning smeeeell
Coming from the wheeeeels
They're taking me to heeeell
Follow me to heeeeell
So you know.. if it keeps up with your rig, might want to get your affairs in order...
Drivers rear wheel area. Thought maybe I'd over used the brakes or something but it wasn't a typical brake pad smell (But they use such crazy different things n them these days who knows any more).This thread did remind me of come Stin Skatzor lyrics...
There's a burning smeeeell
Coming from the wheeeeels
They're taking me to heeeell
Follow me to heeeeell
So you know.. if it keeps up with your rig, might want to get your affairs in order...
V8PoWer
Member
I thought we solve the mystery behind this unpleasant odor.
Its the "exhaust."
Try roll down the rear trunk/hatch window down and step on the gas like you're drag racing with a neighbors chihauhua. You will smell the initial burn and what everyone experiencing is as it cools down.
Its the "exhaust."
Try roll down the rear trunk/hatch window down and step on the gas like you're drag racing with a neighbors chihauhua. You will smell the initial burn and what everyone experiencing is as it cools down.
flyinhawaiian01
New member
I got that smell in my '11 4r. Normally I don't smell it at all, but with a non-related issue with the lazy throttle, I've been driving it a lot harder than I normally do. Its been slightly wet here, and after taking off hard a couple of times from stop signs, I noticed the smell is MUCH more pronounced in my garage when I pull in.
I can't prove it, but I suspect it is the anti-slip mechanism doing whatever it does with the brakes. The smell has been much more pronounced in the rear passenger's fenderwell and no place else. I know the exhaust is in that same area, but sniffin' around the pipe does not have any sign of the "burnt rubber" smell at all. Its all inside the fenderwell on the rear passenger's side!
So, could it possibly be the 4 wheel anti-slip thingamabob applying pressure to the brakes? I dunno, but when I drive it next, I'll punch it hard just before I get back to my house (I live outside of the city, lots of 2-lane country roads and 4 way stop signs). I'll then try the next day to baby it and see if there's a difference in smell...
I can't prove it, but I suspect it is the anti-slip mechanism doing whatever it does with the brakes. The smell has been much more pronounced in the rear passenger's fenderwell and no place else. I know the exhaust is in that same area, but sniffin' around the pipe does not have any sign of the "burnt rubber" smell at all. Its all inside the fenderwell on the rear passenger's side!
So, could it possibly be the 4 wheel anti-slip thingamabob applying pressure to the brakes? I dunno, but when I drive it next, I'll punch it hard just before I get back to my house (I live outside of the city, lots of 2-lane country roads and 4 way stop signs). I'll then try the next day to baby it and see if there's a difference in smell...
Eagle62
Member
I have a '14 TE and can detect the smell in the RR wheelwell after I've been pushing it harder than usual. FWIW, I used to have the same thing with my '05 Xterra under similar circumstances, so, it may not be confined only to the T4R. Never bothered me then, doesn't bother me now.
Whiplash Willy
New member
I thought it might be a stuck caliper or something brake related. I did some testing, since I can reproduce the smell at will (Somewhat of a skill of mine
and checked my wheel, disc, and caliper temps, and they all turned out to be normal.I think the extremely hot muffler is the catalyst for the smell, the only question in my mind, is what exactly is the hot exhaust burning to produce the smell.
badhabits
New member
I thought it might be a stuck caliper or something brake related. I did some testing, since I can reproduce the smell at will (Somewhat of a skill of mine
I think the extremely hot muffler is the catalyst for the smell, the only question in my mind, is what exactly is the hot exhaust burning to produce the smell.
Do tell us kind sir how are you able to produce the odor at will, this could aid in the the answer to the problem with more people able to search for the answer.
ainkiller:
Whiplash Willy
New member
Do tell us kind sir how are you able to produce the odor at will, this could aid in the the answer to the problem with more people able to search for the answer.
It can be produced by driving up a small hill, which puts a moderate load on the engine, and then stopping at the top of the hill. Once at the top, park and turn off the vehicle, then walk over to the rear pass side. You will smell the burning smell and hear the exhaust ticking like crazy.
An easy place to reproduce this is a parking garage. Drive up one or two floors, then quickly park, and check the rear pass side.
I drop my kids off, and pick them up, at daycare every day. The house is in a suburban neighborhood, and at the top of a small hill. I notice the smell twice a day as I get out to drop them off, or pick them up.
The hill doesn't need to be really steep or long, but the key is to park immediately and check before it gets the chance to cool down.
Normal, everyday driving on flat roads doesn't trigger the burn. Even driving on a flat freeway for an extended period of time doesn't cause the burn...
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TapOut64
New member
I have a 2014 Limited model and joined this forum specifically to research this issue. I have had this smell intermittently since I bought my 4Runner brand new in Feb. of 2014 and I just turned 40,000 yesterday. I had suspected something related to the exhaust and will chalk it up to that.
RickC5
New member
I'm glad to know that this burnt rubber smell a) is a common issue, and b) that it seems to NOT be a problem that needs fixing.
I've only noticed it a couple of times on our '14 TE, and tried to see if anything was amiss, but never discovered the source of the smell. I'll stop worrying about it now.
I've only noticed it a couple of times on our '14 TE, and tried to see if anything was amiss, but never discovered the source of the smell. I'll stop worrying about it now.
4R Play
New member
Revival Time.
I never had "the smell" until I came out driving in the mountains of Colorado. I find that whenever I'm doing any prolonged steep climbs, I get a burning smell from the rear of the truck. Haven't noticed it to be just the right side. Never had it before now. It doesn't smell like rubber though, but more like the burning-off smell that happened the first few days after driving the truck new off the lot. Only it's not going away, and it comes whenever pushing up hills.
Had me thinking it had something to do with the diff? But it comes whether I'm in 4 or 2WD. No temp lights come on.
I'll be happy if nothing breaks and I make it home without repairs. :lookout:
I never had "the smell" until I came out driving in the mountains of Colorado. I find that whenever I'm doing any prolonged steep climbs, I get a burning smell from the rear of the truck. Haven't noticed it to be just the right side. Never had it before now. It doesn't smell like rubber though, but more like the burning-off smell that happened the first few days after driving the truck new off the lot. Only it's not going away, and it comes whenever pushing up hills.
Had me thinking it had something to do with the diff? But it comes whether I'm in 4 or 2WD. No temp lights come on.
I'll be happy if nothing breaks and I make it home without repairs. :lookout:
Vultradamus
New member
I have an idea as to what it might be. I get it a lot on my 2015 Limited, and I'm assuming its from the Emergency Brake being applied right after hard driving.
ST1FLER
Banned
:suspicious:
flyinhawaiian01
New member
Ummm, no... Sorry.....
I never use my parking brake in my garage---NEVER!
Still get the smell. Its just from hard driving. 3 pages of this thread all point to that one common factor...
I don't very often get the smell in my 2015 TE, but I just recently hooked up my 18' Travel Trailer (4,300 lbs.) and took it for a brief test ride. When I stopped, the smell of hot rubber was strong, and coming from both rear wheel wells.
A visual inspection revealed nothing.
I support the evidence suggesting the problem is a result of hard driving, or loading the engine and transmission.
Don't like it, but don't think it does any harm.
It would be helpful if those with after-market exhaust systems would chime in and tell us if they still get that rich "4 Runner smell".
A visual inspection revealed nothing.
I support the evidence suggesting the problem is a result of hard driving, or loading the engine and transmission.
Don't like it, but don't think it does any harm.
It would be helpful if those with after-market exhaust systems would chime in and tell us if they still get that rich "4 Runner smell".
