Leak and worn wire casing under front passenger side

[JMKKJ]

Hi all,

Have been through quite a few issues over the past year or two, and here is yet another one. This began after recent service, but may not be related. There appears to be worn wire wrap and something dripping onto the pipe causing burning smell and smoke. Please see photo, and let me know if I can provide any more information.

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[jharrisliberty]

Is it a sweet smell? Which side of the vehicle is this on? What color is the smoke, blue or white? Any other info you can think to add would be great.

 

[JMKKJ]

This is on the passenger side rear of the front axle, sort of right under the front passenger side door. The smoke was slightly faint, so I am not sure whether I could say white or blue. Leaning more towards white. The smell is acrid like burning rubber or plastic. This issue only occurs while driving, no or only tiny wet spots on the ground when parked overnight. The three exposed wires appear to have had the protective black wrapping melted away near whatever linkage this is.

 

[jharrisliberty]

The wiring is to one of the O2 sensors and the wrap on it tends to fall off over time due to dry rot. As long as there are no exposed wires you should be fine. You might want to check and see if you can trace the liquid up. It could be a small oil leak from the valve cover gaskets dripping onto your exhaust which is what the O2 sensor is mounted in.

 

[JMKKJ]

The wiring is to one of the O2 sensors and the wrap on it tends to fall off over time due to dry rot. As long as there are no exposed wires you should be fine. You might want to check and see if you can trace the liquid up. It could be a small oil leak from the valve cover gaskets dripping onto your exhaust which is what the O2 sensor is mounted in.

Thanks a lot! I bet you are right about the valve cover gasket as we are overdue on replacing them. Tip of the cap, sir or madam.

 

[jharrisliberty]

Your'e very welcome!

 

[JasonJ]

Had this exact, and I mean EXACT thing going on last summer. Corner of the passenger side valve cover gasket is leaking oil down and onto the O2 and exhaust pipe. In my case, it actually caused a MIL with a fault for the downstream O2. Cleaned that all off super good after replacing the VC gaskets and the MIL went away, no more smoke, no more smell, no more loss of oil.

 

[dude1116]

x3 on the passenger valve cover gasket. Since you have different cat/O2 placement, yours drip on your sensor. Mine drips on the piping before the cat.