I just bought a 2004 Monte Carlo LS, which I have owned one before and love the car, and I am smelling a burning coolant smell. What could it be and why am I smelling it. I do not see any links from the car. The car is running fine nothing seems wrong besides the smell. There is no smoke from the tail pipes. Can someone please help me out.

 

OK, are you smelling it inside the car or outside?
Have you checked your coolant level. If Lower than expected ,fill it up and go through your normal routine then check it again. If lower then you have a leak. If you smell it inside the car then check your carpet on the passenger side under the dash up by the fire wall. If the carpet is wet you have a leak in your heater core or compliment you under the dash.
If you smell it outside, and you are not loosing coolant from the reservoir, then it may just be spilled coolant, like after a thermostat replacement. It takes a while for spilled coolant time burn off.
If your reservoir is lower then check around your intake manifold. You may be leaking fluid from around the intake gaskets.
Hope this helps you out!

 

if the smell is coming from the passenger side of the motor, it could also be your coolant elbows, these crack and leak very commonly with these cars. They are located in by your alternator at the top passenger side in behind the belt. Just something else to help you trouble shoot the problem

 

thanks guys. I ended up checking all the hoses and there was a leak and it was burning off on the motor.