My Bissell 1697w motor is sparking and smells like something is burning. Do I need a new motor?

SOURCE: Bissell 1697w Powersteamer

I have a similar model and occasionally have problems with water/detergent flow. I find it is generally due to an airlock in the piping caused by forgetting to turn the deregent water control off before removing the detergent container. Follow the manual instructions. Turn the knob to off. Fill both containers. locate them carefully. Make sure filters in the water tank and in the flow meter are clear. Start machine with handle laid flat and knob turned to maximum flow.

SOURCE: Bissell 1697w

First take off the belt cover on the side,
then turn it over, on the belt end of the brush roll, there is a red piece to hold in the brush roll, take out that screw and pull it off, the you can remove the end cap and cogged belt, Put the pump belt up thru the opening and around the bigger part of the pump pulley, grab the belt from the top side and put it around the motor shaft. Re-install the cogged belt, brush roll, cap and red lock.

SOURCE: Bissell 1697W power steamer

The instruction manual for Bissell 1697 can be downloaded from:
http://www.bissell.com/Products/p/powersteamer+pr/product.aspx

SOURCE: bissell lift off, brush won't move smell burning rubber belt fine

OK - so your brush roller is jammed. And yes, the belt is melting! Unplug the machine, remove the belt (you will need another new one anyway) then see if you can turn the roller by hand. If it turns freely without you doing anything else, then you may have put the new belt in incorrectly. However, you will probably find you can't turn it, or it's hard work (it should rotate freely). Remove the roller and check the bearings - there may well be something tangled up at one end of the roller. If you can get the roller rotating freely, all should be well.
Good luck

SOURCE: Bissell smells like it is burning

I'd take it back ...