Keeping an eye on your car on a regular basis is the best thing you can do. Nevertheless standard maintenance is supposed to keep your Toyota Sequoia running smoothly over time, some unexpected breakdowns can add heavily to your annual car budget. Today 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 written this content page to help you in the event you detect a burnt plastic smell originating from your Toyota Sequoia . To help you verify that it is nothing severe, first we will highlight the different things that can create a burnt plastic smell on your car, then, in a second step, how to discover the source of this burnt plastic smell on your Toyota Sequoia? .

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The different possible origins and risks of smell of burnt plastic on a Toyota Sequoia

So we start our content with the different possible origins of burnt plastic smell on a Toyota Sequoia . In general, noticing a plastic or rubber smell is hardly ever a good sign. Obviously, recent vehicles are full of it and it could be the sign of a important breakdown. Below we will review the different possible origins of burnt plastic smell:

  • Transmission oil: This is the main possible source of such an odor. Obviously, the objective 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 objective as a temperature regulator. However, with time, the oil will lose its performance 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 Toyota Sequoia. 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 specifically done of rubber, will decline and no longer rotate entirely 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 Toyota Sequoia.
  • Faulty hose wear: This circumstance arises especially on Toyota Sequoia 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 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 may possibly melt. The risk of this issue is the breakage of the accessory belt.
  • A body component: Less common, especially present on Toyota Sequoia’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 comes from on a Toyota Sequoia?

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 Toyota Sequoia . Now that you know the different possible origins of this smell, we’ll just have to do some checks to get rid of the tracks that don’t concern you and solve your problem quickly. If your Toyota Sequoia smells hot, don’t hesitate to browse our content page 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 hesitate to consult our content page to find out how to change the gearbox oil on a Toyota Sequoia.
  • 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 hesitate 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 circumstance, change them.
  • Body auto parts: Last but not least, the last element that can cause the smell of plastic or burnt rubber on your Toyota Sequoia, a body component, verify all wheel arches, that no component rubs against

    In the event that you have any further questions about the Toyota Sequoia, do not hesitate to consult our Toyota Sequoia category.