Camry HybridDiscussion area for the Toyota Camry Hybrid. Topics of discussion range from fuel economy, safety, modifications, performance all involving Americas favorite family car, the Toyota Camry.
I searched with every keyword I could think of and it turned up nothing.
I was in Palm Springs this past week, and took a ride up to the Tramway that goes up to Mt. San Jacinto State Park. The road to the Tram center is fairly steep and with 4 adults my TCH was "working" to go up the windy 304 mile access road...which is about a 20-30 mph max.
When we parked at the top we noticed a strong smell coming from under the car that smelled like burning brakes. I was definitely not on the brakes going up the hill so I'm assuming it was related to the drivetrain.
Anyone else experienced this or know if the eCVT "transmission" would make this type of smell if it overheated?
__________________
*********** Colby
2007 Toyota TCH - 35% Ceramic tint, 18" Lexus G-Spider wheels and UltraRacing sway bar, with H&R springs on the workbench.
If your trans overheats, you'll get a warning light, and corresponding diagnostic codes. No warnings means no codes, and you're almost certainly OK.
Exactly how old is your car? If it's fairly new, it may simply be the last of the factory smeared-on cosmoline burning off of the protected parts. Burning cosmo has a horrible odor that freaks out a fair number of new car owners as it burns. And if you were going uphill I strongly doubt that your brakes were a problem. Downhill would be another matter. On long, long down-hill runs, use the "B" setting on your shifter; that's what it's there for. The ECU won't let your battery overcharge. Once it's "full," you'll lack the normal "generator braking" that masquerades as engine braking in the HSD cars (all Toyota/Lex hyrbrids). Lacking any normal "engine braking," your friction brakes will be heavily overloaded, compared to those of a "normal" Camry relatively quickly. The "B" setting on your shifter overcomes this problem by forcing "extra" engine braking that the system will not normally provide.
__________________
2009 Camry Hybrid, Black.
2007 Avalon XLS, Cassis Pearl (that Burgundy color).
2004 Prius Package 9, Black.
Ooops, sorry, now I see you have an 07 model. Burning cosmo is an unlikely source of the smell. Anything else out of the ordinary on this trip?
Negative. Ran like a champ the entire trip, with the exception of smelling like burning brakes or clutch disc after the slow (20mph) ride up the grade. I run hills, albeit not quite that steep, frequently at highway speeds, without issue.
I read on another hybrid forum that folks were experiencing a burning smell, and they identified it as a foam strip (that is affixed with double-sided tape between the radiator and upper cross brace) that had come loose and burned on the pre-cat. I checked and mine is still firmly in place.
As I said before, I didn't use the brakes until I arrived at the parking lot at the top of the hill. The grade was enough to slow the car for the turns, so I'm confident that it was the "transmission" or a related drivetrain component.
To be honest, I'm a little concerned about this things ability to manage another long haul up a hill...I can imagine several scenarios (i.e., following slow vehicles, poor weather) where I would be in the same situation. and it is unacceptable to have to pull over and let the thing cool down for 20-30 minutes so it doesn't burn it up.
I have not been a fan of the lawnmower clutch (eCVT) since buying it...accelerating/passing on a hill or at speeds greater than 55mph is an exercise in valvetrain testing, as the engine revs to redline and holds til you've completed your move...feels like a "traditional" transmission with slipping clutches. All that redlining can't be good in the long term.
__________________
*********** Colby
2007 Toyota TCH - 35% Ceramic tint, 18" Lexus G-Spider wheels and UltraRacing sway bar, with H&R springs on the workbench.
maybe it was the electric motor just heating up from the extra strain?
I suppose that is possible, but it did not smell like a typical electrical burn...it was very similar to when you follow a big rig down a steep grade and their brakes overheat.
__________________
*********** Colby
2007 Toyota TCH - 35% Ceramic tint, 18" Lexus G-Spider wheels and UltraRacing sway bar, with H&R springs on the workbench.
... my TCH was "working" to go up the windy 304 mile access road...which is about a 20-30 mph max...
304 miles at 30mph = 10hrs+ driving time! You sure were detirmined to see what was there, but isn't that a long way uphill???
I'll guess that you meant ~30 miles for the trip, and I would say that the TCH should have no problems doing that unless there was something broken. The burning metal smell could also be from a bearing or somewhere where you have a metal on metal gearing that didn't get enough lubrication. Take it to your dealer and have it checked out.
Quote:
...accelerating/passing on a hill or at speeds greater than 55mph is an exercise in valvetrain testing, as the engine revs to redline and holds til you've completed your move...
I believe the engine revs to its optimal RPM for hp/torque and then uses the CVT to give you the speed. IIRC the RPM for that is in the 4500-5000 range, not redline. So don't worry about your valvetrain, it is probably under much less stress with the CVT than it would be with a typical auto trany.
lol...yeah, that would be a long hill! No, I guess the hyphen is too close to the zero...it was 3-4 miles, not 30 miles.
As to a "burning metal smell", it was actually a burning brake or clutch pressure plate lining smell, which I'm very familiar with...not saying that another material could not smell like that but, again, that is the smell that was present.
The 30k service is coming up soon so I'll have them check everything closely...if nothing else, at least I will know that all "lube levels" are up to spec and nothing is outwardly out of adjustment/tolerance.
__________________
*********** Colby
2007 Toyota TCH - 35% Ceramic tint, 18" Lexus G-Spider wheels and UltraRacing sway bar, with H&R springs on the workbench.
At 3-4 miles, that is the same as a lot of runs up a mountain on the interstates, though probably a bit steeper. I still don't see this being a challenge for the TCH. When you go to the dealer, check the parking brake shoes, maybe the cable got pulled and they smoked???
At 3-4 miles, that is the same as a lot of runs up a mountain on the interstates, though probably a bit steeper. I still don't see this being a challenge for the TCH. When you go to the dealer, check the parking brake shoes, maybe the cable got pulled and they smoked???
That's a thought. No indication light inside, but never know. Appreciate the brainstorming...
__________________
*********** Colby
2007 Toyota TCH - 35% Ceramic tint, 18" Lexus G-Spider wheels and UltraRacing sway bar, with H&R springs on the workbench.
The AutoGuide.com network consists of the largest network of enthusiast-owned enthusiast-operated automotive communities.
AutoGuide.com provides the latest car reviews, auto show coverage, new car prices, and automotive news. The AutoGuide network operates more than 100 automotive forums where our users consult peers for shopping information and advice, and share opinions as a community.
ToyotaNation.com is an independent Toyota/Lexus enthusiast website. ToyotaNation.com is not sponsored by or in any way affiliated with Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. The Toyota, Lexus and Scion names and logos are trademarks owned by Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc.
Transmission overheating?
Linear Mode
