The Leonoid Meteor Shower was beautiful. I had driven out to a dark spot in the desert and spent the night on the bed in the back of my Syncro. When I started to leave I thought I smelled smoke. OHMYGODNO, my engine is on fire! I jumped out, fire extinguisher in hand, and ran to the back. No smoke, no fire. Hmmm, maybe it is some creosote or something hung up on the exhaust. I continue down the road. Sniff, sniff I know I smell smoke. Maybe it is comming from the heater. Yea, that must me it. The smell was not overpowering but quite unpleasant. This went on through several iterations. I stopped two more times trying to sniff out the source. I finally figured out that the smell was comming from behind the panel on the rear hatch and I assumed that it was the wiper motor. After removing the panel visual inspection confirmed it. The motor had burned up and the smell was the smell of burnt motor. Now I need some advice about: 1. Rebuild or replace the motor? Anybody got one? 2. How do I get the horrible smell out of my van? 3. What should I do about the plastic retaining pins that broke off while removing the panel? 4. Can I add some insulation to the space behind the panel? What kind? |
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