BURNED SMELL

Transmission fluid is recognizable by its distinct odor. Its smell can enter through the vehicle’s air vents and fill the cabin when burning. A burnt sugary smell usually appears whenever transmission fluid is dripping on the exhaust system. A slipping gear belt or overheating can also create the same unpleasant odor.

Troubleshooting procedure:
i. The easiest way to find the source of an unusual smell is by using your nose. Open the hood or jack the car
ii. Locate where the odor is coming from.
iii. Look out for smoke clouds, fumes, and black dried-out oil spots on hot components.
iv. Once you have located the source, verify the surroundings to see where the fluid is dripping from and fix the leak.
v. If you can’t find anything leaking, the smell may come from inside of the transmission. When it’s overheating, fumes may come out of the differential vent. Greasy deposits around the vent will let you know that something is not working correctly.
NB: Be aware that an overfilled transmission can leak through the vent and create the illusion of an overheating condition. If your transmission fluid level is too high
i. Remove the excess fluid using a syringe.
ii. Clean the exhaust system and tranny housing with a good degreaser
iii. Rinse and try again.