Keeping an eye on your car on a regular basis is the best thing you can do. Nevertheless standard routine service is supposed to keep your Tesla Model 3 running smoothly over time, some unpredicted breakdowns can add heavily to your annual motor vehicle budget. In this article we’re going to focus on your sense of smell, and the clues it can give you about a possible breakdown, that’s why our team has made this content page to help you in the event you notice a burnt plastic smell caused by your Tesla Model 3 . To help you check that it is nothing severe, first we will detail the different things that can generate a burnt plastic smell on your motor vehicle, then, in a second step, how to discover the source of this burnt plastic smell on your Tesla Model 3? .

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The different possible roots and risks of smell of burnt plastic on a Tesla Model 3

So we commence our content page with the different possible roots of burnt plastic smell on a Tesla Model 3 . In general, noticing a plastic or rubber smell is hardly ever a good indicator. Indeed, modern vehicles are full of it and it could be the sign of a important breakdown. 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 action 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 action as a temperature regulator. However, with time, the oil will lose its efficiency and will not lubricate the auto parts and control the temperature as well, which will cause the oil to overheat and thus give off that burnt plastic smell on your Tesla Model 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 mainly made of rubber, will degrade and no longer rotate totally 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 block of your Tesla Model 3.
  • Defective hose wear: This case happens specifically on Tesla Model 3 that are starting to get a few years old or that have stayed a long time without rolling. In fact, storing your car contrary to what you might believe will cause the plastic auto 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 problem is the breakage of the accessory belt.
  • A body component: Less basic, specifically present on Tesla Model 3’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 Tesla Model 3?

And now, to finish our content page, we’re going to try to help you discover the source of the smell of burnt plastic on your Tesla Model 3 . Now that you know the different possible roots of this smell, we’ll just have to do some checks to get rid of the tracks that don’t concern you and resolve your problem quickly. If your Tesla Model 3 smells hot, don’t hesitate to read our content page 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 discover debris inside, and it is darker, it’s time to change it. Do not hesitate to consult our content page to find out how to change the gearbox oil on a Tesla Model 3.
  • Accessory Belt: Visually check that your accessory belt is not in poor state, it might also produce 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 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 cause the smell of plastic or burnt rubber on your Tesla Model 3, a body part, check all wheel arches, that no part rubs against

    If you want more tutorials on the Tesla Model 3, go to our Tesla Model 3 category.