Why does my dryer still smell like burning even after I replaced the belt?

When a residential clothes dryer continues to emit a burning smell even after you have successfully installed a brand-new drive belt, it means the underlying root cause was never the belt itself. Common alternative sources of burning odors include thick lint accumulation caked directly around the electric heating element coils, a failing drive motor with shorted electrical windings, a binding idler pulley generating friction heat, or a severely clogged exterior exhaust vent duct trapping extreme heat. You can troubleshoot burning odors safely by unplugging the unit and inspecting the heating housing. You can verify that your corrective action is successful when thoroughly cleaning all lint out of the heating box, clearing the exhaust duct, and testing the motor eliminates the burning smell permanently.