Keeping an eye on your car all the time is the best thing you can do. Nevertheless conventional routine service is supposed to keep your saab 9 3 running smoothly over time, some unpredicted breakdowns can add heavily to your annual car budget. Today we’re going to speak 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 that you detect a burnt plastic smell coming from your saab 9 3 . To help you verify that it is nothing serious, first we will detail the different things that can generate a burnt plastic smell on your car, then, in a second step, how to discover the source of this burnt plastic smell on your saab 9 3? .

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The different possible roots and risks of smell of burnt plastic on a saab 9 3

So we commence our article with the different possible roots of burnt plastic smell on a saab 9 3 . Generally speaking, noticing a plastic or rubber smell is hardly ever a good signal. Indeed, modern cars are full of it and it could be the sign of a significant malfunction. Down 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. Indeed, 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 as well has a second function as a temperature regulator. Nevertheless, over time, the oil will lose its efficiency and will not lubricate the parts and regulate the temperature as well, which will cause the oil to overheat and thus give off that burnt plastic smell on your saab 9 3. 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 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 produce a strong smell of burnt plastic or rubber in the engine block of your saab 9 3.
  • Faulty hose wear: This circumstance arises especially on saab 9 3 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 cause the plastic parts to wear out more quickly. Hoses are the first to be troubled 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, especially present on saab 9 3’s that have suffered a small shock. Following a front or rear impact, wheel arches, bumpers or other plastic body 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 identify where the smell of burning plastic comes from on a saab 9 3?

And now, to finish our content, we’re going to try to help you discover the source of the smell of burnt plastic on your saab 9 3 . 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 problem quickly. If your saab 9 3 smells hot, don’t hesitate to browse our content on this topic.

  • Transmission oil: Nothing could be simpler, open your transmission oil cap (when cold) and verify 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 consult our content to identify how to change the gearbox oil on a saab 9 3.
  • 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 verify all your hoses to find out if any are frayed or melted. If this is the circumstance, replace them.
  • Body parts: Last but not least, the last element that can cause the smell of plastic or burnt rubber on your saab 9 3, a body part, verify all wheel arches, that no part rubs against

    To find more tips on the saab 9 3, take a look at the saab 9 3 category.