Hey all, been a while since I've come across a problem that seems unique at least from my searches. Yesterday I got home from some light offroading and noticed a burning electrical smell from the back right of the rig. It was during the day and I couldn't see smoke but tonight after driving down the highway, upon parking I could see smoke coming from the plastic trim in front of the rear wheel. Doesn't smell like rubber, plastic, coolant, oil, clutch, fuel, etc. Smells like burning electrics. What might be in that location? Its very clear its not coming from the brakes/wheel hub area. Also I know my tread wear pattern is terrible, but it is unrelated. That problem is corrected and I have new tires to put on. Something is hot and burning behind the plastic trim.

2005 LR3 4.4l v8

 

Do you have HVAC controls in the 2nd row?

 

dude your tire is bald! also kinda looked like fender liner was rubbed through in one spot.

 

Your tire size is too large or you are in a desperate need of alignment, as gmtech said... your tire is bald! So my guess is a much needed alignment OR you have some seriously sloppy bushings. Either way the math says you rubbed through your wheel well liner and either put a tiny hole into that coolant pipe or rubbed/heated things up enough to cause some melting. The rear HVAC coolant lines run right there. 32" is max tire size with good bushings/alignment. Any bigger and you can have rubbing issues when tucked in and then need some strut spacers but one also may have to move the coolants pipes and, like I did, heat up the wheel well liner plastic to sorta mold it better into the well and away from the tire. I run 32" and only had to do a couple tiny spots.

 

Thanks for your input! I was able to get a better look from underneath today and it all came pretty clear.

Yes, I have 2nd row heating, and yes there is some rubbing going on.

The oversized tires rubbed away the plastic covering and the foam around the heater lines and the plastic was getting melted by them as well as packed in organic matter being steamed off.

I will have to relocate the heater lines and take care of the metal fin since I run 255/70/R18

The tires are half bald 😅 the outer side has nearly full tread. I had a terrible alignment due to a tie rod issue and was pulling a trailer in the heat for about a month and it ruined the front tires. Swapped them with the backs and in another month all 4 looked the same. Fixed the tie rod and I have new tires to put on which I'll get a proper alignment at that time lmao

Thanks for the concerns!

 

I run 275/65/18 which is only .8 less in width but the same size at pretty much 32". You should not be rubbing that much, so def look at getting an alignment.

 

Be extra careful with the rear wheel liners. There's a key section of the wiring harness just above the liner (I can't remember the side its on), and if you wreck the wires, its an $$$ repair. I had this happen to me, but luckily it only nicked 1 wire which put the vehicle into limp mode.