Taking care of your car on a regular basis is the best thing you can do. Although classic routine service is designed to keep your Ford Flex running smoothly over time, some unforeseen breakdowns can add heavily to your annual car budget. In this article we’re going to look at 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 case you notice a burnt plastic smell caused by your Ford Flex . To help you check that it is nothing significant, first we will highlight the different things that can create a burnt plastic smell on your car, then, in a second step, how to locate the source of this burnt plastic smell on your Ford Flex? .
The different possible roots and risks of smell of burnt plastic on a Ford Flex
So we begin our guideline with the different possible roots of burnt plastic smell on a Ford Flex . Generally speaking, noticing a plastic or rubber smell is hardly ever a good indicator. Obviously, modern cars are full of it and it could be the sign of a important malfunction. 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. Obviously, 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 effectiveness and will not lubricate the auto parts and regulate the temperature as well, which will cause the oil to overheat and thus give off that burnt plastic smell on your Ford Flex. 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 completely on its axis. With the friction that this will cause 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 Ford Flex.
- Faulty hose wear: This circumstance happens especially on Ford Flex 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 think will cause the plastic auto 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 might melt. The risk of this issue is the breakage of the accessory belt.
- A body component: Less basic, especially present on Ford Flex’s that have suffered a small shock. Following a front or rear impact, wheel arches, bumpers or other plastic body auto 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 find out where the smell of burning plastic originates from on a Ford Flex?
And now, to finish our article, we’re going to try to help you locate the origin of the smell of burnt plastic on your Ford Flex . Now that you know the different possible roots of this smell, we’ll just have to do some checks to eliminate the tracks that don’t concern you and solve your problem quickly. If your Ford Flex 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 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 article to find out how to change the gearbox oil on a Ford Flex.
- Accessory Belt: Visually check that your accessory belt is not in poor state, it might also make a whistling sound if it is in poor state. 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 circumstance, replace them.
- Body auto parts: Last but not least, the last element that can cause the smell of plastic or burnt rubber on your Ford Flex, a body component, check all wheel arches, that no component rubs against
If you want more guides on the Ford Flex, go to our Ford Flex category.
