Driving down the road in my 94 V6 XLE, and a horrible acrid smell (like burning rubber plus coolant and brake fluid) started to come through the vents. Opened up the hood with the engine still running and did not smell it in the engine compartment. Smell seems to be coming from the passenger wheel well area. Engine was not overheating, and no visible fluid loss. All fluids were within acceptable levels.

Also, as I was nursing the car to the nearest stop, the dash lights dimmed when I hit the brakes. Could this be a short in the brake area? Totally stumped.

Thanks in advance

 

Also, no smoke emitting from under hood or tailpipe. No signal at all of any malfunction except the horrible smell and the lights flickering.

 

you have internal short somewhere in the electrical system resulting in burning plastic, insulation, etc. might as well be coming from the pass side tire well AREA. pass side dashboard etc.
I wouldn't be driving it.

 

After getting the car to a safe place at a friend's house, I stayed there for several hours. Upon leaving, the smell had dissipated significantly and the electrical system was functioning perfectly. The smell has slowly dissipated over the last week and no further malfunctions have happened. I examined the area as well as I could with a jack and a flashlight, both from the engine compartment and from inside the wheel well, and found nothing awry.

I guess I should just be grateful it went away, but if I know anything about cars, they don't fix themselves.

 

one of the little green goblins residing in your wiring must have had bad case of flatulence. hey, it's gone. amen.