Keeping an eye on your car on a regular basis is the best thing you can do. Although standard routine service is supposed to keep your Acura TLX running smoothly over time, some unpredicted breakdowns can add heavily to your annual car budget. Today we’re going to look at your sense of smell, and the clues it can give you about a possible breakdown, that’s why our team has created this content page to help you in the event that you detect a burnt plastic smell coming from your Acura TLX . To help you verify that it is nothing severe, first we will highlight the different things that can produce a burnt plastic smell on your car, then, in a second step, how to discover the source of this burnt plastic smell on your Acura TLX? .
The different possible sources and risks of smell of burnt plastic on a Acura TLX
So we start our article content with the different possible sources of burnt plastic smell on a Acura TLX . Generally, noticing a plastic or rubber smell is never a good signal. In actual fact, recent vehicles are full of it and it could be the sign of a major breakdown. Below we will review the different possible origins of burnt plastic smell:
- Transmission oil: This is the main possible source of such an odor. In actual fact, the function 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 function as a temperature regulator. Nevertheless, as time passes, the oil will lose its effectiveness and will not lubricate the auto parts and regulate the temperature as well, which will trigger the oil to overheat and thus give off that burnt plastic smell on your Acura TLX. 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 specifically made of rubber, will deteriorate and no longer rotate totally on its axis. With the friction that this will trigger the plastic will heat up and burn out, this reaction will generate a strong smell of burnt plastic or rubber in the engine unit block of your Acura TLX.
- Defective hose wear: This circumstance occurs especially on Acura TLX that are starting to get a few years old or that have stayed a long time without rolling. In fact, storing your vehicle contrary to what you might think will trigger the plastic auto parts to wear out more quickly. Hoses are the first to be troubled by 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 issue is the breakage of the accessory belt.
- A body component: Less basic, especially present on Acura TLX’s that have suffered a small shock. Following a front or rear impact, wheel arches, bumpers or other plastic body auto 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 find out where the smell of burning plastic originates from on a Acura TLX?
And now, to finish our content page, we’re going to try to help you discover the source of the smell of burnt plastic on your Acura TLX . Now that you know the different possible origins of this smell, we’ll just have to do some checks to eliminate the tracks that don’t concern you and fix your issue quickly. If your Acura TLX smells hot, don’t think twice to read our content page on this topic.
- Transmission oil: Nothing could be easier, open your transmission oil cap (when cold) and verify that your oil is reddish in colour and fluid enough. If you discover debris inside, and it is darker, it’s time to replace it. Do not think twice to consult our content page to find out how to change the gearbox oil on a Acura TLX.
- Accessory Belt: Visually check that your accessory belt is not in poor condition, it may also make a whistling sound if it is in poor condition. Do not think twice to replace it.
- Hoses: For hoses, you will need to visually verify all your hoses to discover if any are frayed or melted. If this is the circumstance, replace them.
- Body auto parts: Last but not least, the last element that can trigger the smell of plastic or burnt rubber on your Acura TLX, a body component, verify all wheel arches, that no component rubs against
In the event that you have any further questions about the Acura TLX, do not hesitate to consult our Acura TLX category.
