--- title: Burning Smell From Your Car or Transmission | A-1 url: https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/burning-smell/ business: A-1 Transmission (A-1 Transmission Inc) address: 670 East Grove Street, Reno, NV 89502 phone: (775) 829-1333 hours: Monday to Friday 7:30 am to 5:30 pm, closed Saturday and Sunday type: Transmission shop and auto repair shop in Reno, Nevada, since 1968; walk-ins welcome during business hours, appointments suggested --- - [Home](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/) - [Transmission symptoms](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/) - Burning smell # Burning smell A burning smell from a car can come from overheated transmission fluid, fluid leaking onto hot exhaust parts, or a slipping clutch in a manual. If the smell comes with slipping, smoke or a warning light, pull over, shut it off and plan a tow rather than driving on. [Call (775) 829-1333](tel:+17758291333) [Get directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=A-1+Transmission+Inc,+670+East+Grove+Street,+Reno,+NV+89502&destination_place_id=ChIJZfhkfH4_mYARqc7eV_uhOws)[What is it doing?](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/#checker) 1968 In business since [4.6 ★ 112 Google reviews](https://maps.google.com/maps?cid=809418658926218921) ATRA Member shop M-F 7:30 am to 5:30 pm Do not drive it, plan a tow Stop somewhere safe, switch off and let it cool. A hot transmission wears its friction material and seals quickly, so driving on a burnt smell can turn a smaller repair into an overhaul. Arrange a tow with your roadside plan or a towing company and call the shop first. Driving now can turn a smaller repair into a bigger one. Call (775) 829-1333 to talk it through, and arrange a tow with your roadside plan or a towing company. ## Common causes - Overheated transmission fluid Fluid that runs too hot breaks down and smells sharp and burnt. It usually follows towing, long climbs or a transmission already working too hard. - Fluid leaking onto the exhaust A seep from a pan, line or seal that lands on a hot exhaust pipe burns off and smokes, even when the transmission itself is fine. - Burnt clutch material inside an automatic When clutch packs slip they cook their own friction lining, and the fluid takes on that smell. It often comes with slipping or a dark, dirty fluid. - A slipping clutch in a manual A clutch disc that slips under load smells acrid and is easy to notice after a hill start or a heavy load. Smells are hard to describe, but a burnt one gets attention for good reason. Heat is the main enemy of an automatic, and burnt fluid is one of its clearest distress signals. People search for burning smells most in winter, around 5,400 a month nationwide from November through January, and least in summer, at about 1,900. ## At a glance - A sharp burnt odor with other symptoms is a stop signal - Context matters: towing, a steep climb or stop-and-go traffic - Fluid dripping on the exhaust smells burnt without being overheated - Not every burning smell comes from the transmission ## What to do in the first few minutes - Pull over where it is safe and turn the engine off. - Look for smoke from the hood or from underneath, and for fluid on the ground. - Give it time to cool before you touch anything, and do not open a hot radiator or cooler. - If it smells burnt and acts strange, do not restart it for a drive; arrange a tow and call the shop. - If it was a one-time smell with normal shifting, note exactly what you were doing and call the shop before the next trip. ## Where the smell comes from **Quick guide only; a smell alone cannot name the part.** | Smell | Most likely | Next step | | --- | --- | --- | | Sharp, burnt oil | Hot transmission fluid or fluid on exhaust | Stop, check for a leak, call the shop | | Acrid, like burnt paper | Clutch friction material | Stop; check the pedal or the shifting | | Hot rubber | A slipping belt or a rubbing hose | Look under the hood once it cools | | Hot metal or electrical | A brake or wiring fault | Do not keep driving; get it looked at | ## The towing and hill angle Many burnt smells come after a hard pull: a trailer on a long grade, a loaded truck in summer heat, or a stretch of crawling traffic. Reno's normal July high is 93.9 F (NOAA), and the fluid runs hotter than the air. The [towing, summer heat and your transmission](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/towing-heat-and-your-transmission/) guide explains why. ## Getting it to the shop If it will not move, or you do not trust it to, use your roadside plan or a towing company to get it to the shop, and call first. The guide on [getting a car that won't move to the shop](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/getting-a-car-that-wont-move-to-the-shop/) lists what to have ready. ## What the mechanic looks for The first look covers the fluid: its level, whether it is dark, whether it smells scorched, and whether there is metal or friction material in it. Then comes a look for leaks near the exhaust. The answer decides whether this is a leak to seal, a fluid service, or internal wear that needs a deeper look. ### Sources - [Automatic transmission fluid, Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_transmission_fluid) - [Automatic transmission, Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_transmission) - [NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991 to 2020, Reno-Tahoe International Airport](https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/land-based-station/us-climate-normals) Keep reading ## Related pages [Transmission overheating Transmission overheating means the fluid has run hotter than the transmission was built to handle, most often from towing, long climbs.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/overheating/)[Transmission fluid leak (red or brown fluid) A transmission fluid leak shows up as red, pink or brown oily fluid on the ground, usually near the front or middle of the vehicle.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/fluid-leak/)[Clutch slipping, grabbing or hard to press A clutch is slipping when the engine speeds up but the vehicle barely does, and grabbing when it bites suddenly or shakes as you let the pedal out.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/clutch-slipping-or-grabbing/)[Transmission fluid color: what it tells you Transmission fluid color tells you roughly how old the fluid is and whether the transmission has been running hot: bright red or green is normal.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/transmission-fluid-color/) Services ## Work that fixes this [Transmission diagnosis Transmission diagnosis is the step where a mechanic finds out what is actually wrong before choosing a repair.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/services/transmission-diagnosis/)[Transmission repair Transmission repair means finding what is wrong inside or around the transmission and fixing that part.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/services/transmission-repair/)[Transmission rebuilds and overhauls A-1 Transmission rebuilds and overhauls automatic and standard transmissions in Reno, for cars, trucks, RVs and 4x4s.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/services/transmission-rebuild/) Symptoms ## Other symptoms - [Check engine light and transmission codes (P0700-P07xx)](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/check-engine-light-transmission-codes/) - [Won't go into gear](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/wont-go-into-gear/) - [Transmission overheating](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/overheating/) - [Shudder or vibration (torque converter)](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/shudder/) - [Limp mode / stuck in one gear](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/limp-mode/) - [4WD noise or 4WD not engaging (transfer case)](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/4wd-noise-or-not-engaging/) - [Clutch slipping, grabbing or hard to press](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/clutch-slipping-or-grabbing/) - [Transmission slipping](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/transmission-slipping/) - [Hard, harsh or late shifting](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/harsh-or-late-shifting/) - [Delay when shifting into Drive or Reverse](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/delayed-engagement/) - [Whining, grinding or clunking](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/noise-whining-grinding/) - [Transmission fluid leak (red or brown fluid)](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/fluid-leak/) - [Transmission symptoms](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/) Answers ## Burning smell questions Still have a question? Call [(775) 829-1333](tel:+17758291333) during shop hours. More answers are on the [questions page](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/faq/). ### Can I drive with a burning smell from my transmission? Not far. A burnt smell with other symptoms is a reason to stop, let it cool and arrange a tow. Heat damage builds fast. ### What does burnt transmission fluid smell like? Sharp and acrid, different from the smell of normal fluid. Dark fluid with a scorched smell often means it ran hot. ### Is a burning smell always the transmission? No. Brakes, belts, an oil leak on the exhaust and wiring can all smell burnt. That is why a mechanic should look. ## Not shifting right? 670 East Grove Street, Reno, NV 89502 Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 5:30 pm [What to tell us when you call](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/call/) [(775) 829-1333](tel:+17758291333)