Keeping an eye on your car at all times is the best thing you can do. Although standard maintenance is supposed to keep your Citroen Ds5 running smoothly with time, some unexpected breakdowns can add heavily to your annual car budget. Today 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 written this article to help you in case you identify a burnt plastic smell caused by your Citroen Ds5 . To help you verify that it is nothing serious, first we will outline the different things that can create a burnt plastic smell on your car, then, in a second step, how to discover the source of this burnt plastic smell on your Citroen Ds5? .

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The different possible roots and risks of smell of burnt plastic on a Citroen Ds5

So we begin our content page with the different possible roots of burnt plastic smell on a Citroen Ds5 . Generally, 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 significant breakdown. 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 action 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 as well has a second action as a temperature regulator. However, in the long run, the oil will lose its effectiveness and will not lubricate the parts and regulate the temperature as well, which will trigger the oil to overheat and thus give off that burnt plastic smell on your Citroen Ds5. 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 degrade and no longer rotate completely 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 block of your Citroen Ds5.
  • Defective hose wear: This circumstance happens specifically on Citroen Ds5 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 think will trigger the plastic parts to wear out more quickly. Hoses are the first to be suffering from 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, specifically present on Citroen Ds5’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 as well pre-wear out your tyres.

How to identify where the smell of burning plastic comes from on a Citroen Ds5?

And now, to finish our article, we’re going to try to help you discover the origin of the smell of burnt plastic on your Citroen Ds5 . 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 Citroen Ds5 smells hot, don’t hesitate to read our article 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 hesitate to consult our article to identify how to change the gearbox oil on a Citroen Ds5.
  • 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 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 parts: Last but not least, the last element that can trigger the smell of plastic or burnt rubber on your Citroen Ds5, a body component, verify all wheel arches, that no component rubs against

    To get more tips on the Citroen Ds5, take a look at the Citroen Ds5 category.