burning rubber smell - not good - 87 911 Carrera

[wpgelb]

I let my wife borrow my car last week (first mistake). My car is an 87 911 Carrera 3.2 coupe. Wife did not drive it too far, but she admits that she left the parking brake on for at least one segment of the trip. For the next few days, I could smell burning rubber any time I drove the car, even short distances with minimal braking. It is now a week later and I still get a waft of burning rubber when I drive my car. I'm assuming this is related to the parking brake issue because I never noticed it prior. Anybody have thoughts on why I would still be smelling it a week later? Thanks in advance.

[pete3799]

Doubt it is the brakes you're smelling......a shorted wire perhaps. All electrical components working? Lights, fans, etc.?

[twistoffat]

Unless she fried your clutch by driving with the handbrake on.

[wpgelb]

as far as i can tell, all lights, fans, electrical systems work. it is possible that she fried the clutch by driving with the parking brake on?

[twistoffat]

Yep, You can test it by starting off in second gear with moderate revs. If the clutch is okay it should stall the engine. If its not okay it will slip and youŽll get the burning rubber smell

[CCM911]

I would be very surprised if she fried your clutch by leaving on the emergency brake.

[scarceller]

Have you been using the heat system in the cabin? If so are both LHS and RHS footwell blowers working?

[shrtshck]

Immediately after a taking a drive, get out and put your hand on the center of each of the wheel rims, if a brake is hanging up that rim will be hotter than the others.
Having said that the wheel would have to get awful freakin hot to create a burning rubber smell. More likely an electrical issue and since some of the circuits are non fused you'd best get it sorted before long.

[porsche930dude]

Do you also smell burning brakes or just the rubber smell? because leaving the e brake on would certainly leave a lingering smell. I would say thats certainly where the smell came from. Buning clucth makes the same smell as the brakes so thats certainly a possibility. But It would be more because of poor driving than leaving the brake on

[JJ 911SC]

As long you are not smelling "Burning Toast" you should be OK

As for the car symptom, not related to the Emergency Brake for sure if it was a small distance.

[MBAtarga]

I had a similar issue with what I thought was an electrical problem as the odor was appearing under the dash and I "traced" it to near the fuse panel by smell. I further narrowed it down to the driver front caliper. It was sticking, hence the small was not electrical but rather VERY hot brake pads.