Keeping an eye on your car at all times is the best thing you can do. Although conventional maintenance is supposed to keep your Mercedes Gla running smoothly over time, some unpredicted breakdowns can add heavily to your annual motor vehicle budget. Today we’re going to talk about your sense of smell, and the clues it can give you about a possible malfunction, that’s why our team has written this content to help you in the event you detect a burnt plastic smell caused by your Mercedes Gla . To help you check that it is nothing serious, 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 find the origin of this burnt plastic smell on your Mercedes Gla? .
The different possible sources and risks of smell of burnt plastic on a Mercedes Gla
So we start our content with the different possible sources of burnt plastic smell on a Mercedes Gla . Generally speaking, noticing a plastic or rubber smell is never a good sign. Obviously, 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 main possible source of such an odor. Obviously, the function 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 also has a second function as a temperature regulator. However, as time passes, the oil will lose its performance and will not lubricate the auto parts and regulate the temperature as well, which will bring about the oil to overheat and thus give off that burnt plastic smell on your Mercedes Gla. 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 done of rubber, will deteriorate and no longer rotate totally on its axis. With the friction that this will bring about the plastic will heat up and burn out, this reaction will produce a strong smell of burnt plastic or rubber in the engine block of your Mercedes Gla.
- Faulty hose wear: This circumstance happens specifically on Mercedes Gla that are starting to get a few years old or that have stayed a long time without rolling. In reality, storing your car unlike what you might presume will bring about the plastic auto 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 common, specifically present on Mercedes Gla’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 also pre-wear out your tyres.
How to find out where the smell of burning plastic originates from on a Mercedes Gla?
And now, to finish our content, we’re going to try to help you find the source of the smell of burnt plastic on your Mercedes Gla . 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 issue quickly. If your Mercedes Gla smells hot, don’t think twice to browse our content 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 replace it. Do not think twice to consult our content to find out how to change the gearbox oil on a Mercedes Gla.
- Accessory Belt: Visually check that your accessory belt is not in poor condition, it might also produce a whistling sound if it is in poor condition. Do not think twice to replace 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 auto parts: Last but not least, the last element that can bring about the smell of plastic or burnt rubber on your Mercedes Gla, a body part, check all wheel arches, that no part rubs against
To get more tips on the Mercedes Gla, take a look at the Mercedes Gla category.
