Today missus drove our Focus and came back complaining that the car 'smells funny'.

The smell is indeed very strong and it is epicentre is around front passenger's wing.

I don't know how to describe the smell but it is like a burning brake pads or maybe a burning clutch.

The car drives and handles well, same as before. The gearchange is smooth and if I switch to neutral and let the car roll and a straight road, it does roll without noticeable slowing (I thought maybe pad is rubbing the disc).

A couple days ago I took the car to a race track (guilty as charged!) so it was under severe stress but on my way back home and on the next day I haven't noticed any strange smells (the car is CC so I would have noticed it if there was any).

Any idea what may cause this?

It could be the brakes sounsd most likely?

Checked the brakes - visually they all right, the pads all look in order.

Braking is perfectly fine too.

I am wondering whether I picked up some piece of rubber off the track (there were plenty around as you would imagine) and it somehow made its way into the engine bay and that's what is burning?

its possible, I would say lift the front end, take the undertray off and see if you can see anything?

Sorry for stupid question but how do I lift the undertray on Mk2 CC (I think it is an equivalent of MK2.5)?

The plastic undertray is only held on by a few screws - can't remember how many, maybe half a dozen?

After a drive, hold your hand near the wheels - that'll quickly identify a sticky brake, there will be a noticeable difference in radiated heat from the sticky one. Might also notice an excess build up of brake dust on the rim.

Sent from my SM-P600 using Ford OC mobile app

Hi

Was it an acrid smell,

My car does this when its over charging the battery

Jamie

No the smell wasn't acidic but rather like the one you get when you burn clutch.

Interestingly enough the smell is now gone. It was really bad for a couple of days and now it is just disappeared.

Maybe it was the rubber from the race track indeed.

I have the same problem on my Ford Focus 63 plate, 1litre eco boost, but from the drivers wing, really weird smell, of wet burning, overheating, recently had a new coolant bottle, but was doing it before