Keeping an eye on your car at all times is the best thing you can do. Although standard routine service is supposed to keep your Mercedes Classe V running smoothly over time, some unforeseen breakdowns can add heavily to your annual motor vehicle budget. In this article we’re going to talk about your sense of smell, and the clues it can give you about a possible malfunction, that’s why our team has made this content page to help you in the event you identify a burnt plastic smell originating from your Mercedes Classe V . To help you check that it is nothing serious, first we will highlight the different things that can generate a burnt plastic smell on your motor vehicle, then, in a second step, how to find the origin of this burnt plastic smell on your Mercedes Classe V? .
The different possible origins and risks of smell of burnt plastic on a Mercedes Classe V
So we begin our article with the different possible origins of burnt plastic smell on a Mercedes Classe V . Generally speaking, noticing a plastic or rubber smell is hardly ever a good sign. In fact, modern vehicles are full of it and it could be the sign of a significant malfunction. Down below we will talk about the different possible origins of burnt plastic smell:
- Transmission oil: This is the main possible origin of such an odor. In fact, the objective of gear or transmission oil is to lubricate the different components of your gearbox so that all the gears and pinions are not broken, it as well has a second objective as a temperature regulator. Nevertheless, in the long run, the oil will lose its efficiency and will not lubricate the parts and control the temperature as well, which will cause the oil to overheat and thus give off that burnt plastic smell on your Mercedes Classe V. You risk pre-wearing your gearbox if you don’t take care of it.
- The accessory belt: Although rarer, it is possible with wear and tear that your belt, which is principally done of rubber, will degrade and no longer rotate completely on its axis. With the friction that this will cause the plastic will heat up and burn out, this reaction will produce a strong smell of burnt plastic or rubber in the engine unit block of your Mercedes Classe V.
- Defective hose wear: This case occurs especially on Mercedes Classe V that are starting to get a few years old or that have stayed a long time without rolling. In reality, storing your vehicle unlike what you might believe will cause the plastic parts to wear out more quickly. Hoses are the first to be suffering from this phenomenon. The rubber will disintegrate little by little and with the rise in heat of the fluid that circulates in it, it may melt. The risk of this problem is the breakage of the accessory belt.
- A body component: Less common, especially present on Mercedes Classe V’s that have suffered a small shock. Following a front or rear impact, wheel arches, bumpers or other plastic body parts that may have been bent may rub against one of your wheels and give off that burnt plastic smell. This may as well pre-wear out your tyres.
How to identify where the smell of burning plastic originates from on a Mercedes Classe V?
And now, to finish our content page, we’re going to try to help you find the origin of the smell of burnt plastic on your Mercedes Classe V . Now that you know the different possible roots of this smell, we’ll just have to do some checks to get rid of the tracks that don’t concern you and solve your issue quickly. If your Mercedes Classe V smells hot, don’t hesitate to go through our content page on this topic.
- Transmission oil: Nothing could be less complicated, open your transmission oil cap (when cold) and check that your oil is reddish in colour and fluid enough. If you find out debris inside, and it is darker, it’s time to change it. Do not hesitate to consult our content page to identify how to change the gearbox oil on a Mercedes Classe V.
- Accessory Belt: Visually check that your accessory belt is not in poor condition, it may also produce a whistling sound if it is in poor condition. Do not hesitate to change it.
- Hoses: For hoses, you will need to visually check all your hoses to find out if any are frayed or melted. If this is the case, replace them.
- Body parts: Last but not least, the last element that can cause the smell of plastic or burnt rubber on your Mercedes Classe V, a body part, check all wheel arches, that no part rubs against
To get more tips on the Mercedes Classe V, take a look at the Mercedes Classe V category.
