Smoking Engine? Possibly Belts?

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I was driving with a friend the otehr day and suddenly smelled smoke. I asked him what he thought and he tried to convince me that it was just a fire in the city. I bought the story and thought nothing of it.
I know this was maybe not my best move.
Regardless, today while pullinh up to the house right as I stopped I noticed a plume of smoke coming from the passenger side of the hood. Luckily I was just stopping so I immediatly popper the hood to see what I could.
Please let me take this time to note, as some of you may have noticed. I'm not well versed with engines.
So I looked as the smoke was dissipating to see that it was mostly sitting in a cavity between the engine and the passenger tire.
Where I also saw a group of belts. This is why I suspect them. Though thats all I base this on.
All I can tell you guys is that the car is still driving fine (I just drove it home and plan to take my moms car until I can solve the problem) and that there seems to be no noises coming from the engine.
If it is just a worn belt, how difficult would it be to change?
Do you think I should just bite the bullet and have it looked at?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I require my car for school and work and cant be without it.
Thanks guys.
 
Have you checked your fluid levels?
Oil and transmission fluid in particular.
 
If a belt is burning, something that the belt turns is locked up and will need replacing. Just start it up and watch it - the damage is already done, and you don't have to go guessing if it's a belt or not. Could be a valve cover gasket is leaking quite badly. Did you just have an oil change? Maybe who ever did it got some oil on the manifold. There are a ton of things can can be smoking like that, and IMHO I do NOT think it's your belt. You would of heard something skreeching like there is no tomorrow. :)
 
hate to suggest it, but the 3.8's have the water pump there.. could be a water pump leaking or other coolant leak in that area...

also the obvious things such as oil leak from valve covers (somewhat common it seems)....
 
Like I said, I'm not great with engines. would I don best to simply take it in to the shop and see what they have to say?
 
I took it in yesterday and my mechanic suggested that it was just a leak dripping onto some hot metal and burning off. Eitherway I'll let you guys know.
 
Well that's semi-good news. If its just a valve cover that's real easy to fix!
 
yup.. my valve covers leaked and dripped onto the exhaust manifolds... fairly easy fix, not a lot of cost involved... and it took me (not a professional mechanic by any means) about 2 hrs to do both gaskets.
 
Yeah, so he didn't find anything wrong. But he tightened some bolts, topped off my power steering fluid and send me on my way.
How irritating.
 
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