Hi I have a 91 accord 2.2L 4door LX, i began to smell something electrical burrning while the car was being driven. The smell comes through the vents when at a stop. At first I thought it was a plastic bag caught on my exaust pipe, but no such luck. Almost a year went by and every once in a while the smell would come back. Then the battery light came on. I got the alternator tested (bad) and replaced. Now the car has that smell even worse. A smell of something electrical may mean a short but I can't find where smell is coming from and I cant find any fueses that are blown. How do find where a short is? When I come to a stop it idles very low but never goes out. The smell is defiantly under the hood. Could a short burn out an alternator? Or ... Lost

 

I guess a short CAN burn up the alternator, but the fuses should blow first. That's what fuses are supposed to do.

Since there are no blown fuses, I'm thinking something is getting up against the exhaust pipe. Wiring harness?

 

this is probly or most deffinatly not it, but if u have stock ground cable, u will need a new one. they do this super crappy fray thing where they bolt to the tranny. super bad. i got a terminal that bolts to, well the terminal, it has a stud with a wing nut, easy to remove wires that way, my ground has two female ends, and i soldered copper female end on to the positive wires. easy removal and installation. i used to have a electric smell when i stepped on it, now its gone. not sure what did it, but i have repaired quit a few things on my 92 ex. it may not totally sole this issue, but it will b a big step in the right direction

 

I can't thank you enough for the replies and pics!, I will check the exaust and replace the grounding wire as per B.G.'s instructions, in the morning. Again thanks and I will keep you posted.

 

Well, these are all ideas for you to check. For all we know, YOUR ground cable is pristine & not frayed at all. And I was guessing at some plastic bits getting up against the exhaust pipe.

I'd say it's worth a close look before you run out to buy parts.

 

Agreed bro, check em, and let us know.

 

our sense of smell is very credible, but not very precise.

this smell has been more than a year and seems getting worse, but no electrical problems.
I'd forget the electrical as the prime suspect for 1st look.

Hhmmm - could there be oil leak dripping onto exhaust pipe?

 

Yes, the oil filter plugs in right above exhaust.

The filter screws into oil cooler. the bolt the filter screws into is a 30 mm bolt, need locktite when putting back in.



Theres a oil pressure sensor right above cooler and filter that will look like cooler leaking.

O ring for cooler is 5 and change from dealer, blue locktite is 10. Pressure sensor 7 or 8. Plus tefflon tape for pressure sensor. theres a special socket for the pressure sensor, I think a 27 mm will work though.

Just did this on,my car. Had oil on to exhaust for a long time. Came in heater vents.

but get under car, look at filer and cooler, put your fingers right on top of cooler, the pressure sensor is less than an inch on top of cooler. See if any of that stuff is leakin bro.