Why Does Car Have Burn Smell???
 

I just looked at a 93 R1 RX7 and test drove it. The car drove great
and felt like it had good power. It has 77000 on the orig. motor and
turbos. He took me for a drive and when we stopped to let me drive I
smelled a very strong burning smell and it lasted until we got down the
road and it seemed to come back whenever we would come to a stop.
After the car was turned off the odor was still there and lasted
awhile. We popped the hood and you could smell it vaguely while it
was at idle. The only other thing that I noticed was that the 5th gear
synchro is bad. Is this car worth $14000. Thanks and sorry so long

The burning smell is probably a result of a slight oil leak from one of the turbos. Ask how much oil it goes through between oil changes. Normally they need about a quart, two if there's a slight oil leak. Any more than that and the leak is probably too big. Fifth gear synchro problem is common, but I wouldn't expect it on a car they're selling for 14k.

Is it the stock motor and stock turbos? I'd say talk him down some, the motor will most likely need to be rebuilt before too long if it hasn't been yet, and with the tranny prob and possible oil leak you've got some bargaining points.

It is original motor and trans... the turbo leak sounds like it is probably it. He said the oil light flickers once in a while and sometimes he gets a little smoke from the turbos, but he acted like that was normal?!?! I don't know. Is that at all normal?? I was thinking that maybe 12 was more reasonable for a price and I want to take it to a dealer and have it looked at, but they are all on strike here and I don't have the first clue as to what to look for. I have never owned a car with a rotary. What do you think? Thanks

MY CAR HAD THE SAME THING. 5TH GEAR SYNCRO NEEDS REPLACED, SLIGHT OIL LEAK FORM THE TURBOS. THE CRUSH WASHERS ON THE OIL LINES GOING TO THE TURBO WERE BAD. GOOD NEWS IS THEY ARE CHEAP PARTS, BAD NEWS, LOTS OF LABOR. I DID MINE MY SELF AND SAVED SOME $$$.$$
I PAID $12,500 FOR MINE WITH 49,000 ON THE ODO. HOPE YOU GET AN RX-7, IF NOT THIS ONE, GET ANOTHER ONE. YOU WILL NEVER REGRET IT.

That may have been it... how would I be able to tell as I know absolutely nothing about these cars. Thanks

Have the car checked out by a rotary specialist, not at the dealer. Dealers know very little about these cars.

You can also do some of the checking yourself. Look thru rx7turboturbo.com/robrobinette to see a list of things to check.

The leak sounds like quite a bit. If the oil level warning light comes on all the time, it's definitely eating oil like crazy. If it's 1-2 quart every 3k mi, it's okay. Mine actually doesn't leak at all but I drive it pretty mildly. The oil is sprayed into the combustion housing to cool the engine.