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Abarth - slight smoking from engine bay

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6.9K views 5 replies 5 participants last post by  foxmajik  
#1 ·
Hey guys, I just bought an Abarth about 2 weeks ago and now that I've gotten used to the clutch and the gears I figured I'd take it out for a drive without traction control (pavement was wet figured it could be a bit of fun) and see how well it could perform. I spun the tires twice launching from first, shifting at 6k rpm until 100kmph, tried launching in second once to see if it could and it did but couldn't spin the tires. I figured that was enough abuse for the tires for one day so I drove it home (about 5km @ highway speed). I drove home with traction control on and not super fast or with high revs. When I backed in and parked I noticed a bit of a smell so I figured it was just my tires but they weren't hot so I popped the hood. I noticed a trail of smoke coming up beside the coolant reservoir but I couldn't pinpoint where it came from because everything is so **** tight in there. I couldn't determine the smell, it could possibly be clutch but I wasn't sure. I checked my brakes and they were hot to the touch but I could hold my hand on them for a few seconds before I had to remove them, So my main concern is what is below the coolant reservoir that could be smoking, and what did I do that could cause it to smoke? Sure I drove it hard but I wasn't riding the clutch or even popping it when I launched it, but for now I don't plan to drive it hard again for a while.
 
#4 ·
Yes, I suspected this was it at first and would have dismissed it as this right off the bat if it wasn't for the slight burning mechanical smell the car had in the engine bay, which I noticed when I got out and triggered me to have a look.
Was it a new Abarth or used? If new, don't Abarths still require that you don't drive it hard for the first 300 or what ever miles?
It was new, well was supposed to be, the dealer never told me they were going to drive it all the way from the coast to where I was going to pick it up and never got back to me when I complained about the fact they put 1,100km on it not to mention there were signs of visible wear where you put the key (was scratched up from where the guy who drove it over missed the slot). But it now has 2,400km so it should be good.