Hey guys, I have had my 355 for a year and it has been flawless! I keep calling it the "Toyota" since it has had absolutely no problems. In the last few days I have driven it a little here and there and I have diagnosed a rubber burning smell to acceleration. Somewhat hard acceleration, obviously not tires burning rubber. It doesn't happen all the time. I have my theories and will take the undertray pans off this week and take a look at a couple of things. Wondering what the theories are. And of course, I am planning on driving it to Canada for the F1 races in 2 weeks and now this has to happen. Curious what the ones in the know have to say.......................
No one responded to my post, but thought I would let everyone know incase this happens to someone else. I pulled the bottom pans off and just started looking at the belts at the front of the engine. Finally, way at the top at the waterpump I found that the serpentine belt had jumped a groove on the w/p pulley and was rubbing on the power steering pulley. The 2 pulleys are 2 different sizes so one was spinning quicker than the other, hence the burning rubber smell! I just released the tension on the tensioner bearing moved the belt back to center it and all is good and I am ready for my trip to Canada with a clear mind! Hope this is able to help someone else if necessary. David
I would put on a new belt if I was you. Since it was getting burned, you can be sure that it isn't as strong as it was. The last thing you need is for the water pump belt to break on your trip to the race. Better changing it now before it's too late.
No noises, just the smell, and only once and a while. Just knew it wasn't right and had to find it. I will look into getting a new belt asap. It only happened a couple of times and the belt looked fine, but as was said, better be safe than sorry.
My wife felt that smell last year. I did not feel a thing and thought she was wrong. 5 mins later the compressor belt "exploded" and 30 secs later the alternator belt went the same way. The reason was the breakdown of the compressor. //B//
