There was the weird smell of a burning isolation/rubber when the heater was on. No fluid leaks, all fluids were level, no coolant residue on the engine oil dipstick, engine temp norm, radiator fans are working...that really freaked me out today. Any ideas what that might be?

 

I don't know either... but mine (2003) has done the same thing twice in the last 2 weeks. A smell like electrical insulation burning, it is not entirely reassuring!

It is weird... no correlation that I tell between the smell and how long car has been driven, or what fan speed, or outside temperature (we've had a cold winter here, but it has mostly been moderate the past 2 weeks). But there may be a correlation with having the smell after a hot restart - no more than 15 min. or so parked after it was thoroughly warmed up. Unfortunately this is not a pattern that I can repeat easily on most work days.

I hope it either cures itself... or fails for certain while the blasted thing is still under warranty.

 

I smelled something like that one time, but it was a 1-time occurrance. Seeing as I had the windows up and no idea what was going on outside, I assumed it was something from the outside.

 

I have that every now and again...for like a min and then its gone...weird

 

the smell was present in the engine compartment as well...it happened right after driving on the country road. Do you guys think it could be some grass got stuck in the air inlet and burning?

 

That would be funny...
Maybe clean your engine bay a little, check the intake/etc, and closely observe it over the next few days?

 

funny my ***, I thought the head gasket has blown, and checked the exhaust for signs of coolant and also looked @ oil dipstick. Actually, that happened 170 mi away from home, and I was worried that my car won't make it back. That funky smell went away on the way back.

 

I am sure its not a blown headgasket, check your coolant hoses see if any coolant had leaked out or check valve cover gasket too, maybe some oil has leaked out

 

all hoses were fine, and I thought the leakage was internal...anyhow that smell is gone for good and idk wtf it was