Keeping an eye on your car on a regular basis is the best thing you can do. Although conventional maintenance is supposed to keep your Chevrolet Volt running smoothly over time, some unforeseen breakdowns can add heavily to your annual motor vehicle budget. In this article we’re going to focus on your sense of smell, and the clues it can give you about a possible breakdown, that’s why our team has made this content page to help you in case you detect a burnt plastic smell originating from your Chevrolet Volt . To help you check that it is nothing significant, 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 source of this burnt plastic smell on your Chevrolet Volt? .

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The different possible origins and risks of smell of burnt plastic on a Chevrolet Volt

So we commence our guideline with the different possible origins of burnt plastic smell on a Chevrolet Volt . Generally, noticing a plastic or rubber smell is hardly ever a good indicator. Indeed, recent vehicles are full of it and it could be the sign of a major breakdown. Down below we will review the different possible origins of burnt plastic smell:

  • Transmission oil: This is the most important possible origin of such an odor. Indeed, 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 damaged, it also has a second function as a temperature regulator. However, as time passes, the oil will lose its performance and will not lubricate the auto parts and regulate the temperature as well, which will bring about the oil to overheat and thus give off that burnt plastic smell on your Chevrolet Volt. 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 degrade and no longer rotate totally on its axis. With the friction that this will bring about 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 Chevrolet Volt.
  • Faulty hose wear: This case occurs specifically on Chevrolet Volt 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 believe will bring about the plastic auto parts to wear out more fairly quickly. Hoses are the first to be impacted 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 Volt’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 Volt?

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 Chevrolet Volt . 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 Chevrolet Volt smells hot, don’t hesitate to browse 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 seek advice from our content page to identify how to change the gearbox oil on a Chevrolet Volt.
  • Accessory Belt: Visually check that your accessory belt is not in poor condition, it may possibly also make 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 auto parts: Last but not least, the last element that can bring about the smell of plastic or burnt rubber on your Chevrolet Volt, a body part, check all wheel arches, that no part rubs against

    If you wish more guides on the Chevrolet Volt, go to our Chevrolet Volt category.