Keeping an eye on your car at all times is the best thing you can do. Nevertheless conventional routine service is supposed to keep your Citroen C3 Aircross running smoothly with time, some unexpected breakdowns can add heavily to your annual motor vehicle budget. Today we’re going to focus on your sense of smell, and the clues it can give you about a possible malfunction, that’s why our team has created this article to help you in the event you notice a burnt plastic smell originating from your Citroen C3 Aircross . 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 motor vehicle, then, in a second step, how to locate the source of this burnt plastic smell on your Citroen C3 Aircross? .

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The different possible roots and risks of smell of burnt plastic on a Citroen C3 Aircross

So we commence our article content with the different possible roots of burnt plastic smell on a Citroen C3 Aircross . Generally, noticing a plastic or rubber smell is never a good sign. In truth, modern vehicles are full of it and it could be the sign of a important malfunction. Down 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 truth, 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 damaged, it as well has a second objective as a temperature regulator. However, as time passes, the oil will lose its efficiency and will not lubricate the parts and control the temperature as well, which will bring about the oil to overheat and thus give off that burnt plastic smell on your Citroen C3 Aircross. You risk pre-wearing your gearbox if you don’t take care of it.
  • The accessory belt: Nevertheless rarer, it is possible with wear and tear that your belt, which is principally done of rubber, will deteriorate and no longer rotate entirely on its axis. With the friction that this will bring about 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 Citroen C3 Aircross.
  • Defective hose wear: This case happens specifically on Citroen C3 Aircross that are starting to get a few years old or that have stayed a long time without rolling. In fact, storing your vehicle unlike what you might believe will bring about the plastic parts to wear out more 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 might melt. The risk of this issue is the breakage of the accessory belt.
  • A body component: Less basic, specifically present on Citroen C3 Aircross’s that have suffered a small shock. Following a front or rear impact, wheel arches, bumpers or other plastic body parts that might have been bent might 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 Citroen C3 Aircross?

And now, to finish our article, we’re going to try to help you locate the source of the smell of burnt plastic on your Citroen C3 Aircross . 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 solve your issue quickly. If your Citroen C3 Aircross smells hot, don’t hesitate to read our article 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 change it. Do not hesitate to consult our article to identify how to change the gearbox oil on a Citroen C3 Aircross.
  • Accessory Belt: Visually check that your accessory belt is not in poor state, it might also produce a whistling sound if it is in poor state. Do not hesitate to change 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 bring about the smell of plastic or burnt rubber on your Citroen C3 Aircross, a body part, verify all wheel arches, that no part rubs against

    Whenever you have any additional questions about the Citroen C3 Aircross, do not hesitate to consult our Citroen C3 Aircross category.