I dont know what it is, I pop the hood in my car and I smell something similar to burning plastic coming from around the alternator. It also smokes a little bit from the alternator area and Ive been getting some smoke from under the uic pipe right next to the battery. anyone have an idea?

 

Bad ground?

Serp Belt wearing away?

 

I had the same thing and next day my alternator was toasted. (very pale white smoke)

 

I dont think its a bad ground.. what did you do to fix your issue keath?

 

??

 

have you taken a look under the car? pretty hard to see things from the top of the engine bay. usually the exhaust (primarily downpipe and forward) is responsible for burning things. sometimes its hard to distinguish between different burning smells. A while ago my front axles started leaking grease and ended up throwing it all over the underside of the car. I wouldnt have known if i didnt smell burning. underneath the car, the downpipe has grease on it, along with the alternator being COVERED in grease. my driver's side wasnt leaking too bad, but if it did it would throw grease right beneath the uicp. Get under there and check it out...

 

Make sure it isn't a plastic bag that touched the exhaust. That will keep you smelling like plastic until you chip it off.

 

My alternator crapper the bed on me today, I now know the issue..