Keeping an eye on your car on a regular basis is the best thing you can do. Nevertheless conventional routine service is supposed to keep your Volvo XC90 running smoothly with 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 created this content page to help you in case you notice a burnt plastic smell caused by your Volvo XC90 . To help you check that it is nothing serious, first we will outline the different things that can create a burnt plastic smell on your car, then, in a second step, how to find the cause of this burnt plastic smell on your Volvo XC90? .
The different possible sources and risks of smell of burnt plastic on a Volvo XC90
So we commence our content with the different possible sources of burnt plastic smell on a Volvo XC90 . Generally, noticing a plastic or rubber smell is hardly ever a good signal. In fact, modern cars are full of it and it could be the sign of a important malfunction. Down below we will talk about the different possible origins of burnt plastic smell:
- Transmission oil: This is the main possible origin of such an odor. In fact, the objective of gear or transmission oil is to lubricate the different elements 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 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 Volvo XC90. 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 deteriorate and no longer rotate totally on its axis. With the friction that this will trigger the plastic will heat up and burn out, this reaction will generate a strong smell of burnt plastic or rubber in the engine block of your Volvo XC90.
- Faulty hose wear: This circumstance occurs specifically on Volvo XC90 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 presume will trigger the plastic auto parts to wear out more fairly quickly. Hoses are the first to be suffering from 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, specifically present on Volvo XC90’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 identify where the smell of burning plastic comes from on a Volvo XC90?
And now, to finish our content page, we’re going to try to help you find the origin of the smell of burnt plastic on your Volvo XC90 . 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 solve your issue quickly. If your Volvo XC90 smells hot, don’t hesitate to go through our content page 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 hesitate to consult our content page to identify how to change the gearbox oil on a Volvo XC90.
- 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 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 trigger the smell of plastic or burnt rubber on your Volvo XC90, a body part, check all wheel arches, that no part rubs against
If you need more guides on the Volvo XC90, go to our Volvo XC90 category.
