Taking care of your car on a regular basis is the best thing you can do. Nevertheless classic maintenance is supposed to keep your Fiat Punto 2 running smoothly over time, some unpredicted breakdowns can add heavily to your annual car budget. In this article 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 detect a burnt plastic smell caused by your Fiat Punto 2 . To help you check that it is nothing significant, first we will outline the different things that can create a burnt plastic smell on your car, then, in a second step, how to find the source of this burnt plastic smell on your Fiat Punto 2? .

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The different possible sources and risks of smell of burnt plastic on a Fiat Punto 2

So we start our content page with the different possible sources of burnt plastic smell on a Fiat Punto 2 . Generally speaking, noticing a plastic or rubber smell is never a good indicator. In fact, modern cars are full of it and it could be the sign of a significant malfunction. Below we will talk about the different possible origins of burnt plastic smell:

  • Transmission oil: This is the most important possible source 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 as well has a second function as a temperature regulator. However, in the long run, the oil will lose its performance and will not lubricate the parts and control the temperature as well, which will trigger the oil to overheat and thus give off that burnt plastic smell on your Fiat Punto 2. 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 made of rubber, will decline and no longer rotate entirely on its axis. With the friction that this will trigger the plastic will heat up and burn out, this reaction will generate a strong smell of burnt plastic or rubber in the engine block of your Fiat Punto 2.
  • Faulty hose wear: This circumstance arises especially on Fiat Punto 2 that are starting to get a few years old or that have stayed a long time without rolling. In reality, storing your car contrary to what you might believe will trigger 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 may melt. The risk of this issue is the breakage of the accessory belt.
  • A body component: Less basic, especially present on Fiat Punto 2’s that have suffered a small shock. Following a front or rear impact, wheel arches, bumpers or other plastic body parts that may have been bent may rub against one of your wheels and give off that burnt plastic smell. This may as well pre-wear out your tyres.

How to find out where the smell of burning plastic comes from on a Fiat Punto 2?

And now, to finish our article, we’re going to try to help you find the source of the smell of burnt plastic on your Fiat Punto 2 . 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 Fiat Punto 2 smells hot, don’t think twice to read our article 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 discover debris inside, and it is darker, it’s time to change it. Do not think twice to consult our article to find out how to change the gearbox oil on a Fiat Punto 2.
  • Accessory Belt: Visually check that your accessory belt is not in poor state, it may also produce a whistling sound if it is in poor state. Do not think twice to change it.
  • Hoses: For hoses, you will need to visually check all your hoses to discover if any are frayed or melted. If this is the circumstance, change them.
  • Body parts: Last but not least, the last element that can trigger the smell of plastic or burnt rubber on your Fiat Punto 2, a body part, check all wheel arches, that no part rubs against

    If you need more tutorials on the Fiat Punto 2, go to our Fiat Punto 2 category.