Electrical Smoke From Bonnet - Offside

[JJAdams]

Hey guys,

I started the GTS on Sunday after probably a month in the garage. It’s on a CTEK, so started just fine and roared to life, I let it idle for a minute and then I saw smoke coming from under the bonnet, pretty much from the vent under the offside wiper. I immediately killed the engine, found the fire extinguisher and gingerly (and slowly) opened the bonnet fearing the worst. There was no fire, and the smoke was now minimal, but had an unmistakable stench of burning plastic. I left it for an hour or so to cool down, and then removed the engine cover in that area to inspect it, and couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary. I considered whether it was a stupid idea, but eventually made the decision to try and start it again (!) and I was at the ready, but nothing out of the ordinary happened, everything started as normal. There was the smell of electrical smoke in the cabin, but I took it out for a drive and it behaved as usual, and I eventually gave it a bit of a blast and it was absolutely fine. I do have what appears to be an ABS issue, (lights on the dash) but that started last month. I’ll probably put that in a new thread as I’m really hoping it was caused by a low battery from a few short trips last month, but need to know how to reset it to see if it comes back. Aside from that, I haven’t noticed anything out of the ordinary at all.

Anyway, main questions are:
Anyone know what electrics are in this area?
What this could have been from?
Should I worry about it!?

Thanks in advance!

 

[happydaze]

Maybe, by some unfortunate error, some electrical equipment has been replaced by an item made by Lucas?

 

[philw696]

Looks like you have a build of debris in the scuttle area.could something have got onto the manifold ?
Are you valve cover gaskets good and it's not oil burning ?
ABS could be voltage related test the battery or it could be a wheel bearing get it scanned.
Good Luck.

 

[Ebenezer]

If your ABS light comes back on having turned the car on/off or disconnected the battery, then most likely
you'll need a new bearing. If it goes out and stays out, then it could be the low voltage in the battery. If it goes out for a while and then comes back, but goes when you turn the car on/off you'll have to bite the bullet some time as it will eventually fail all the time.
I've had 4 new bearings so far and I'm monitoring the last scenario at the moment!
Eb

 

[HenrysDad]

I had a similar smell that began just after starting and then went away. It was the gasket cover. Now sorted at minimal cost.

 

[JJAdams]

Looks like you have a build of debris in the scuttle area.could something have got onto the manifold ?
Are you valve cover gaskets good and it's not oil burning ?
ABS could be voltage related test the battery or it could be a wheel bearing get it scanned.
Good Luck.

Yes, there was debris there, which was my initial concern, however it was a very prominent electrical / plastic smell, which is what really worried me.

 

[JJAdams]

I had a similar smell that began just after starting and then went away. It was the gasket cover. Now sorted at minimal cost.

That’s interesting. How was it sorted? Do you happen to have a part number by chance?

 

[JJAdams]

If your ABS light comes back on having turned the car on/off or disconnected the battery, then most likely
you'll need a new bearing. If it goes out and stays out, then it could be the low voltage in the battery. If it goes out for a while and then comes back, but goes when you turn the car on/off you'll have to bite the bullet some time as it will eventually fail all the time.
I've had 4 new bearings so far and I'm monitoring the last scenario at the moment!
Eb

Thanks for this. Off topic I know, but will it harm the ECU to just disconnect the battery and reconnect it? I remember when I had the battery replaced in ‘21 they kept power to the car during the replacement to keep the ECU happy.

 

[lozcb]

Looks like you have a build of debris in the scuttle area.could something have got onto the manifold ?
Are you valve cover gaskets good and it's not oil burning ?
ABS could be voltage related test the battery or it could be a wheel bearing get it scanned.
Good Luck.

My thoughts exactly Phil , one way of drying out his kindling for the log fire , that will certainly add fuel to the fire so to speak , my first thoughts were a drip of brake fluid on the manifold

 

[Ebenezer]

Thanks for this. Off topic I know, but will it harm the ECU to just disconnect the battery and reconnect it? I remember when I had the battery replaced in ‘21 they kept power to the car during the replacement to keep the ECU happy.

It's shouldn't......, And in the past I have done this and lived to tell the tale. What people are generally nervous about is jump starting your car from another car, which allegedly could fry ecus with voltage spikes. However, I'm no expert. Doing it the way described, means that they don't have to worry about entering codes for the NIT, initialising the windows, HVAC etc any of which which may also be a source of issues.
Eb

 

[HenrysDad]

That’s interesting. How was it sorted? Do you happen to have a part number by chance?

Sorted by Autoshield. Sorry but no part number known

 

[Sam McGoo]

Looks like you have a build of debris in the scuttle area.could something have got onto the manifold ?
Are you valve cover gaskets good and it's not oil burning ?
ABS could be voltage related test the battery or it could be a wheel bearing get it scanned.
Good Luck.

My money is on valve cover gaskets too. Especially as you've driven since and all was ok.
Very common for it to leak at the back of the engine and drip down onto the Cats. Usually smell it if it been standing a while, also if you drive really hard as well.

 

[stikey]

yep did mine to valve cover gaskets

 

[JJAdams]

My money is on valve cover gaskets too. Especially as you've driven since and all was ok.
Very common for it to leak at the back of the engine and drip down onto the Cats. Usually smell it if it been standing a while, also if you drive really hard as well.

I’m still not sure. It was an unmistakable smell of electrical burning, not oil burning. Plus it still retained that smell right up in the top left of the engine bay, which is quite far from the manifold? Is there anything visible I can look for to rule out a gasket leak?

 

[WyattQP]

Is that the HVAC box in the corner? How's your heater/AC/fan working?

Had similar symptoms on my Ford when a mouse built a nest inside the HVAC box, right behind the blower motor fan. Stuff got sucked into that fan when I turned it on, and there was an alarming amount of smoke, as well as electrical burning smell, from the blower motor fan getting jammed. Could only see what had happened on my car when I removed the blower motor. Don't know enough about HVAC design on GT to know if this is even possible on your car, but thought I'd mention it.

 

[philw696]

I’m still not sure. It was an unmistakable smell of electrical burning, not oil burning. Plus it still retained that smell right up in the top left of the engine bay, which is quite far from the manifold? Is there anything visible I can look for to rule out a gasket leak?

The best tool I have for inspecting things like this is a Dentists Flexi head mirror.

 

[ChrisQP09]

valve cover gaskets! Had this on mine a few years back and went away once sorted.

 

[Goldsax]

started MY 2010 QPV last week.
I kept the bonnet open as it had been hibernating over the winter.
initially cranked the car with the fuel pump fuse removed to get the oil pressure up.
then started the car
there was a puff of white smoke that lasted about 15 secs.
not happened since.
I am sure it's a weeping gasket. definitely not a leaking gasket.

is gasket replacement a 'big' job?

 

[philw696]

started MY 2010 QPV last week.
I kept the bonnet open as it had been hibernating over the winter.
initially cranked the car with the fuel pump fuse removed to get the oil pressure up.
then started the car
there was a puff of white smoke that lasted about 15 secs.
not happened since.
I am sure it's a weeping gasket. definitely not a leaking gasket.

is gasket replacement a 'big' job?

Labour intensive but if you're handy with the spanners you'll be okay.
If in doubt get a specialist on the job.