‘I'm So Sorry For Wasting Y’all’s Time:' Woman Notices a 'Burning’ Smell in Her New Car. The Mechanic Says Something Unexpected

"I did the walk of shame out of there."

Woman notices a ‘burning’ smell in her new car. Then the dealership tech tells her something unexpected

Photo by: risortizz & Tim Krauss

Steve Ecker

By: Steve Ecker

Jul 23, 2025 at 1:00pm ET

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A woman recently shared an experience she had at a mechanic shop that started with her feeling embarrassed and ended with her car in the shop for over a week.

A few months after getting a new car, Marissa Ortiz (@risortizz) noticed a burning smell in her car. Initially, she thought it was a blown-out tire because it smelled like burning rubber.

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Her car was under warranty, so she figured she might as well bring it in for servicing.

After dropping off and explaining the situation, the mechanics take a look. Ortiz says she soon received a call saying her car was ready for pick up without any explanation of what was wrong with it.

She thought this was somewhat strange. That feeling turned to embarrassment when she saw the paperwork.

In the report, there was only one issue reported with her car: One of her tires was overinflated. The mechanic simply deflated the tire, a process that takes a couple of minutes at most and nearly any driver can do at a gas station.

“I did the walk of shame out of there. I’m so sorry for wasting y’all’s time and that’s so embarrassing," Ortiz says in the TikTok.

Embarrassment Gives Way to Panic

Ortiz left the auto shop embarrassed for wasting the mechanic’s time on a simple issue. As she was driving away, she noticed another problem.

Not only did she smell something burning, but this time she saw it too.

There was smoke coming out from under the hood of the car.

She immediately called the mechanics back.

“I just picked up my car,” she recalls saying. “Eduardo deflated my tire a little bit, but now I have smoke coming up from under the hood.”

Ortiz says her car spent nine days in the shop this time.

Turns out it was more than just an overinflated tire. The cars needed a new oil drain tube, a new turbocharger gasket, and oil.

“My car was burning oil. It had nothing to do with the tire. They made me feel so stupid,” Ortiz concludes.

What Happens When Your Tires Are Overinflated?

Ortiz’s tire wasn’t overinflated. But this can be a dangerous issue.

According to Firestone, having overinflated tires can also be damaging to your car in addition to being dangerous to drive with.

Overinflated tires are more prone to blowouts, which can cause your vehicle to lose control, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports.

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A tire blowout will immediately cause your car to begin to slow down as well as pull to the left or right. When a tire blows out, it negatively affects braking distance, endangering yourself and others on the road.

When tires are overinflated, the tire’s contact patch with the road is reduced. This decreases traction with the road and can potentially alter vehicle safety features and braking capabilities. For instance, the anti-lock braking system is designed to work when tires are filled to the vehicle manufacturer's recommendations.

Overinflated tires also experience wear and tear at an accelerated rate. Excessive air pressure can cause them to wear unevenly. The more air in the tire, the stiffer and inflexible the tire becomes. Stiff tires become more susceptible to damage from potholes, curbs, or debris.

With overinflated tires, you’ll feel every bump and dip in the road.

How Do You Fix Overinflated Tires?

Maintaining the correct tire pressure is crucial for vehicle safety, fuel efficiency, and overall performance, AAA reports.

If you discover your tires are overinflated, luckily, it’s an easy fix. All you need is a tire pressure gauge, access to an air compressor, and your vehicle's air pressure specifications.

To measure the tire pressure, take the tire pressure gauge and place it firmly over the valve stem. Press down evenly to get an accurate reading. Compare this reading with the recommended PSI (located inside driver’s door).

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If the tire is overinflated, you can easily release some air by pressing the center of the valve stem. Once the pressure is correct, replace the valve cap tightly to prevent any air from escaping.

Motor1 has contacted Ortiz via Instagram direct message. This story will be updated if she replies.