Keeping an eye on your car all the time is the best thing you can do. Although standard maintenance is supposed to keep your Chevrolet HHR running smoothly over time, some unexpected 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 to help you in the event that you identify a burnt plastic smell coming from your Chevrolet HHR . To help you verify that it is nothing significant, first we will highlight the different things that can create a burnt plastic smell on your motor vehicle, then, in a second step, how to locate the source of this burnt plastic smell on your Chevrolet HHR? .
The different possible origins and risks of smell of burnt plastic on a Chevrolet HHR
So we commence our content page with the different possible origins of burnt plastic smell on a Chevrolet HHR . Generally speaking, noticing a plastic or rubber smell is never a good signal. In fact, modern cars are full of it and it could be the sign of a critical malfunction. Down below we will review the different possible origins of burnt plastic smell:
- Transmission oil: This is the most important possible source of such an odor. In fact, the action 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 also has a second action as a temperature regulator. However, as time passes, the oil will lose its performance and will not lubricate the parts and regulate the temperature as well, which will cause the oil to overheat and thus give off that burnt plastic smell on your Chevrolet HHR. 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 made of rubber, will deteriorate and no longer rotate entirely 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 block of your Chevrolet HHR.
- Faulty hose wear: This case arises specifically on Chevrolet HHR that are starting to get a few years old or that have stayed a long time without rolling. In reality, storing your vehicle contrary to what you might believe will cause the plastic parts to wear out more fairly 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 possibly melt. The risk of this issue is the breakage of the accessory belt.
- A body component: Less basic, specifically present on Chevrolet HHR’s that have suffered a small shock. Following a front or rear impact, wheel arches, bumpers or other plastic body 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 find out where the smell of burning plastic comes from on a Chevrolet HHR?
And now, to finish our content, we’re going to try to help you locate the source of the smell of burnt plastic on your Chevrolet HHR . Now that you know the different possible origins of this smell, we’ll just have to do some checks to get rid of the tracks that don’t concern you and fix your problem quickly. If your Chevrolet HHR smells hot, don’t hesitate to read our content 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 consult our content to find out how to change the gearbox oil on a Chevrolet HHR.
- Accessory Belt: Visually check that your accessory belt is not in poor condition, it may possibly also produce a whistling sound if it is in poor condition. 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 case, change them.
- Body parts: Last but not least, the last element that can cause the smell of plastic or burnt rubber on your Chevrolet HHR, a body part, verify all wheel arches, that no part rubs against
To get more tips on the Chevrolet HHR, take a look at the Chevrolet HHR category.
