Keeping an eye on your car on a regular basis is the best thing you can do. Although conventional maintenance is supposed to keep your Volkswagen ID.3 running smoothly over time, some unexpected breakdowns can add heavily to your annual car budget. In this article 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 case you detect a burnt plastic smell caused by your Volkswagen ID.3 . To help you verify that it is nothing severe, first we will outline the different things that can produce a burnt plastic smell on your car, then, in a second step, how to find the source of this burnt plastic smell on your Volkswagen ID.3? .

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The different possible origins and risks of smell of burnt plastic on a Volkswagen ID.3

So we commence our article content with the different possible origins of burnt plastic smell on a Volkswagen ID.3 . Generally speaking, noticing a plastic or rubber smell is never a good signal. In fact, modern cars are full of it and it could be the sign of a critical malfunction. Down below we will review the different possible origins of burnt plastic smell:

  • Transmission oil: This is the most important possible source of such an odor. In fact, 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 also has a second objective as a temperature regulator. However, as time passes, the oil will lose its efficiency and will not lubricate the auto parts and regulate the temperature as well, which will trigger the oil to overheat and thus give off that burnt plastic smell on your Volkswagen ID.3. 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 made of rubber, will deteriorate and no longer rotate completely on its axis. With the friction that this will trigger 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 Volkswagen ID.3.
  • Defective hose wear: This case occurs specifically on Volkswagen ID.3 that are starting to get a few years old or that have stayed a long time without rolling. In reality, storing your vehicle contrary to what you might believe will trigger 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 melt. The risk of this problem is the breakage of the accessory belt.
  • A body component: Less general, specifically present on Volkswagen ID.3’s that have suffered a small shock. Following a front or rear impact, wheel arches, bumpers or other plastic body auto parts that may have been bent may 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 Volkswagen ID.3?

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 Volkswagen ID.3 . 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 resolve your problem quickly. If your Volkswagen ID.3 smells hot, don’t hesitate to go through our content on this topic.

  • Transmission oil: Nothing could be less complicated, 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 replace it. Do not hesitate to seek advice from our content to find out how to change the gearbox oil on a Volkswagen ID.3.
  • Accessory Belt: Visually check that your accessory belt is not in poor condition, it may 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 find out if any are frayed or melted. If this is the case, replace them.
  • Body auto parts: Last but not least, the last element that can trigger the smell of plastic or burnt rubber on your Volkswagen ID.3, a body component, verify all wheel arches, that no component rubs against

    To discover more tips on the Volkswagen ID.3, take a look at the Volkswagen ID.3 category.