Strong Burning Smell?!

[eleveneleven]

After a wash & polish yeaterday I went to run a few errands I stopped off to put some air in my front tyres, got back into the car and could smell a very strong burning smell. Got out to have a look around and noticed smoke coming from the front grill. Opened the bonnet and smoke seems to be coming from drivers side of the engine (I can't quite pinpoint where exactly.)

Coolant level is currently sitting in the middle between full & low

Car seems to drive fine, the engine temp is stable and no warning lights or (fault codes when scanned) but there is a slight whining sound when I rev it.

Checked on it again today... I let it sit until it reached operating temp then took it for a short drive. 

Smoke from the engine has calmed down but the smell is still coming into the cabin and it's strong. It's coming through the air vents as when I turn the aircon off it stops 

Any ideas what it could be? 

Thanks 

 

[Malc1]

a cooked creature captured under the bonnet somewhere maybe ?

Malc

[scudney]

Sticking brakes maybe? 🤔 

[Beamish]

 

I would be inclined to suspect a failing alternator.

[eleveneleven]

20 minutes ago, Beamish said:

 

I would be inclined to suspect a failing alternator.

This was my initial thought but the electrics seem to be working fine. Water pump could be a suspect but the engine temp seems fine too. 

Had a look underneath the car and all seems fine there aswell

Would sticking brakes produce smoke? 

[J Henderson]

1 hour ago, Malc1 said:

a cooked creature captured under the bonnet somewhere maybe ?

Malc

Is that a spider lurking behind the surge tank? 🤔

Doubtful they'd be meaty enough to produce significant amounts of smoke though.

Lee, since you say the car appears to be driving normally, burning/hot brakes have a quite distinctive smell and would maybe be more obvious that something was amiss.

Alternator is a good shout. A quick visual clue is headlights getting significantly brighter when you rev the engine.

[Herbie]

One of the drive belts?

[Spock66]

2 hours ago, eleveneleven said:

Would sticking brakes produce smoke? 

Yes definitely.