Keeping an eye on your car at all times is the best thing you can do. Although standard routine service is designed to keep your Chevrolet Equinox running smoothly with time, some unforeseen breakdowns can add heavily to your annual motor vehicle budget. Today 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 created this content page to help you in case you identify a burnt plastic smell caused by your Chevrolet Equinox . To help you verify that it is nothing severe, first we will detail the different things that can generate a burnt plastic smell on your motor vehicle, then, in a second step, how to discover the origin of this burnt plastic smell on your Chevrolet Equinox? .

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The different possible roots and risks of smell of burnt plastic on a Chevrolet Equinox

So we start our article with the different possible roots of burnt plastic smell on a Chevrolet Equinox . Generally speaking, noticing a plastic or rubber smell is never a good indicator. In fact, recent vehicles are full of it and it could be the sign of a important malfunction. Down below we will talk about the different possible origins of burnt plastic smell:

  • Transmission oil: This is the most important possible origin of such an odor. In fact, the function of gear or transmission oil is to lubricate the different elements of your gearbox so that all the gears and pinions are not broken, it also has a second function as a temperature regulator. However, in the long run, the oil will lose its efficiency and will not lubricate the auto parts and control the temperature as well, which will trigger the oil to overheat and thus give off that burnt plastic smell on your Chevrolet Equinox. 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 done 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 create a strong smell of burnt plastic or rubber in the engine unit block of your Chevrolet Equinox.
  • Defective hose wear: This circumstance arises especially on Chevrolet Equinox that are starting to get a few years old or that have stayed a long time without rolling. In fact, storing your car unlike what you might presume will trigger the plastic auto parts to wear out more quickly. Hoses are the first to be affected 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 possibly melt. The risk of this issue is the breakage of the accessory belt.
  • A body component: Less general, especially present on Chevrolet Equinox’s that have suffered a small shock. Following a front or rear impact, wheel arches, bumpers or other plastic body auto parts that may possibly have been bent may possibly rub against one of your wheels and give off that burnt plastic smell. This may also pre-wear out your tyres.

How to identify where the smell of burning plastic originates from on a Chevrolet Equinox?

And now, to finish our content page, we’re going to try to help you discover the origin of the smell of burnt plastic on your Chevrolet Equinox . 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 resolve your issue quickly. If your Chevrolet Equinox smells hot, don’t hesitate to go through our content page on this topic.

  • Transmission oil: Nothing could be simpler, 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 hesitate to seek advice from our content page to identify how to change the gearbox oil on a Chevrolet Equinox.
  • Accessory Belt: Visually check that your accessory belt is not in poor state, it may possibly also make a whistling sound if it is in poor state. Do not hesitate 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 Chevrolet Equinox, a body component, verify all wheel arches, that no component rubs against

    In the event that you have any further questions about the Chevrolet Equinox, do not hesitate to consult our Chevrolet Equinox category.