Keeping an eye on your car on daily basis is the best thing you can do. Although classic maintenance is designed to keep your Mercedes Cla running smoothly over 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 detect a burnt plastic smell coming from your Mercedes Cla . To help you verify that it is nothing severe, 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 cause of this burnt plastic smell on your Mercedes Cla? .
The different possible origins and risks of smell of burnt plastic on a Mercedes Cla
So we commence our guideline with the different possible origins of burnt plastic smell on a Mercedes Cla . Generally, noticing a plastic or rubber smell is hardly ever a good sign. In truth, recent cars are full of it and it could be the sign of a major malfunction. 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 truth, 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, over time, the oil will lose its performance and will not lubricate the auto 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 Mercedes Cla. 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 mainly done of rubber, will decline 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 Mercedes Cla.
- Faulty hose wear: This case occurs especially on Mercedes Cla that are starting to get a few years old or that have stayed a long time without rolling. In reality, storing your vehicle unlike what you might presume will bring about the plastic auto parts to wear out more quickly. Hoses are the first to be affected 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 problem is the breakage of the accessory belt.
- A body component: Less common, especially present on Mercedes Cla’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 as well pre-wear out your tyres.
How to find out where the smell of burning plastic originates from on a Mercedes Cla?
And now, to finish our article, we’re going to try to help you find the origin of the smell of burnt plastic on your Mercedes Cla . 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 fix your issue quickly. If your Mercedes Cla smells hot, don’t think twice 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 think twice to consult our article to find out how to change the gearbox oil on a Mercedes Cla.
- 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 think twice 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 case, change them.
- Body auto parts: Last but not least, the last element that can bring about the smell of plastic or burnt rubber on your Mercedes Cla, a body part, verify all wheel arches, that no part rubs against
To get more tips on the Mercedes Cla, take a look at the Mercedes Cla category.
