Burning smell when going downhill

[KHut]

Have had my Maverick for about 4 weeks now and all is good, except for one peculiar item. I went to the mountains of NC for the weekend and when I was coming home I noticed a burning smell. It was when I was traveling on Interstate 26 out of the mountains for about 2 miles downhill. The car was basically coasting down the long stretch, adding to its battery charge I presume, and this awful burning smell was filling the cabin. As soon as I got to the bottom of the hill where it leveled off the smell went away. I was wondering if it was the rejenerative braking, or something else. Anyone else had this issue pop up?

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[Chicora]

I live in those mountains so very interested. I wonder if this may be related to the catalytic converter issue when starting via the the phone app. Have you had the update for that yet?

 

[Flomounier1]

Normally, I would say its the new brakes but that usually goes away after 200 miles or so.

 

[KHut]

I don't think its the Remote start issue as I also noticed it on another hill I was going down in the mountains. I have about 1500 miles on the truck so I think the brakes would be broken in by now and I only notice it when coasting downhill.

 

[Deleted member 1483]

I had a burning plastic smell my first day driving it, it's gone away. I take plenty of hills (some even enough to engage the actual engine braking because the battery became full) and have noticed no issues since.

 

[KHut]

Perhaps that's it, the engine braking system. I will keep monitoring it to see if it goes away. I live in the Low Country of SC most of the time (no hills here at all), so my trip to the mountains of NC was its first drive in the hills.

 

[Chicora]

I had a burning plastic smell my first day driving it, it's gone away. I take plenty of hills (some even enough to engage the actual engine braking because the battery became full) and have noticed no issues since.

Not disagreeing with you but if the OP went down Saluda or Old Fort grade, then it was more than just a hill but miles long descent at a steep grade. I'm confident that the regenerative braking got quiet a workout and the battery was charging like crazy (the extent of my technical vocabulary, btw). As I understood the catalytic issue, it dealt with over charging.

Whatever the cause, I am very interested in learning more.

 

[ffoc01]

So, not saying this is definitely it, but we're there any other cars ahead of you? Is there a chance it was another car burning its brakes up? Also, depending on the grade, make sure to use L going down hills. Even with regenerative braking, it's possible to overheat the brakes on a long downhill stretch of Low isn't selected. Once the battery is at Max capacity, regenerative braking stops. At that point, it relies completely on the friction brakes unless Low is selected.

 

[Deleted member 1483]

The hybrid will use engine braking with its automatic downhill assist.

 

[KHut]

It was definitely my car as it happened to a minor degree on a smaller hill with no one around. The hill I'm speaking of is a long 2-3 mile grade on the interstate with runaway truck ramps and such. But I'm still baffled why mine would smell when it was coasting. I will find out and post more...

 

[Ford Motor Company]

Have had my Maverick for about 4 weeks now and all is good, except for one peculiar item. I went to the mountains of NC for the weekend and when I was coming home I noticed a burning smell. It was when I was traveling on Interstate 26 out of the mountains for about 2 miles downhill. The car was basically coasting down the long stretch, adding to its battery charge I presume, and this awful burning smell was filling the cabin. As soon as I got to the bottom of the hill where it leveled off the smell went away. I was wondering if it was the rejenerative braking, or something else. Anyone else had this issue pop up?

Hello! Are you still experiencing this burning smell issue? If so, go ahead and privately message us with your VIN and the name and location of your Ford dealer. Thank you!

 

[MaVVy]

Perhaps that's it, the engine braking system. I will keep monitoring it to see if it goes away. I live in the Low Country of SC most of the time (no hills here at all), so my trip to the mountains of NC was its first drive in the hills.

Low country here also! Goose creek/Ladson

 

[tonye586]

It was definitely my car as it happened to a minor degree on a smaller hill with no one around. The hill I'm speaking of is a long 2-3 mile grade on the interstate with runaway truck ramps and such. But I'm still baffled why mine would smell when it was coasting. I will find out and post more...

Any updates on the diagnosis for this? I was in the Smoky Mountains last week, coasting down steep grade and was getting a similar smell of what you described. I have a Hybrid @ 6200 miles.

 

[JimParker256]

Have had my Maverick for about 4 weeks now and all is good, except for one peculiar item. I went to the mountains of NC for the weekend and when I was coming home I noticed a burning smell. It was when I was traveling on Interstate 26 out of the mountains for about 2 miles downhill. The car was basically coasting down the long stretch, adding to its battery charge I presume, and this awful burning smell was filling the cabin. As soon as I got to the bottom of the hill where it leveled off the smell went away. I was wondering if it was the rejenerative braking, or something else. Anyone else had this issue pop up?

I think we're all "assuming" you have a Hybrid, since you mentioned regenerative braking (unique to the hybrid), but could you please update your profile to reflect Hybrid or Ecoboost? (And perhaps create a signature with more specifics about your truck?) That would help us to better help you...

 

[sapperforward]

Normally, I would say its the new brakes but that usually goes away after 200 miles or so.

Would you get that burnt brake smell when accelerating ? And opening her up a bit for the first time ( nothing crazy just climbing it into mid 70's merging onto a highway < 100miles on it -- not much of a choice or getting rear ended would be the outcome in this f-ed up state

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