My car periodically smells very hot like something is burning a bit like the smell of paint if you use a paint stripper. There is no pattern to when it happens and it only smells for around a minute or so.

Have checked under the bonnet and no signs of anything untoward. Anyone any ideas?

Do have a 1.3jtd by chance ?

think he's got a 1.2?

we have this problem too, comes throught the vents when ever not on the coolest setting along with smoke. It's been like this since new but has got a bot better and no longer any smoke.
Can't see an obvious cause but it needs go back to the dealer because not cleared after 1200miles.

Damn that throw's the DPF theory out the window then.

In which case get to the dealer!

Possibly the heater motor ???

I remember mark two punto's having a similar prob, however this was not from new.

or it could be surplus insulation/ transit protection burning off..


* if in any doubt consult the dealer last thing we want is a burnt out 500 *

Andy Monty said:

or it could be surplus insulation/ transit protection burning off..


* if in any doubt consult the dealer last thing we want is a burnt out 500 *

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Unless you fancy a change of spec, another long wait, and a £200 premium, lol.

I get the same on my 1.2, only when I turn the heating on for the first 30seconds or so, I think it's the paint on the heater matrix as it gets warm.

Nothing to really worry about, my (Classic) Mini Cooper S did the same.

get it to a dealer because we have a case at the minute where after a 40 minute drive the brake grip and causes the smell and may become a problem but dunno? its worth a dealer checking it out to be sure! it may be nothing tho but better to be safe than sorry

i had a smell when i first got her but now everything seems fine (never had smoke thank god)

the smell only seemed to come when i put the heat on it smelt like a heater when its not been on for a while and its burning off the dust

Ive had a few occasions where its smelled particularly. I havent paid too much attention to it as its a new car and there are loads of paint and protective coating to burn away. I understand that the diesel shouldnt be parked on long grass as there is a chance that when the PDF is burning off it gets hot and can set fire to things !

When the PDF is recylcing do we get a light in the dash ?

Jake_in_notts said:

When the PDF is recylcing do we get a light in the dash ?

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Nope just discreetly does it own its own.

the dpf system is IMO a rubbish system! if ya dont do long journeys then it will display change oil pretty quick which unfortunately you have to do, oil and filter. if u do long journeys its ya best friend!

v12ock said:

the dpf system is IMO a rubbish system! if ya dont do long journeys then it will display change oil pretty quick which unfortunately you have to do, oil and filter. if u do long journeys its ya best friend!

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Bugger I only do short journeys I'll see when the oil and filter ask to be changed !

BTW why should the dpf affect the oil change frequency? Or is it just because of the short journeys knacker the oil quicker?

Jake_in_notts said:

BTW why should the dpf affect the oil change frequency? Or is it just because of the short journeys knacker the oil quicker?

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just answered your own question

T14086 said:

just answered your own question

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yea i was gunna say it has nothing to do with the dpf the oil contamination is worked out by engine load and runing conditions under witch it is subject to

also if it ernt for the dpf you couldn't get away with paying 35 quid for your road tax now could you so for that reason i think its ingenious and you don't drown us petrol heads in your diesel smoke at the lights

we have had a few with a like hot not so much burning smell but kind of mist like smoke has come out of a few of them

it's the coating on the heater matrix burning off same thing happened on some pandas a few years back when they were new same matrix you see

every car i pdi now i leave it running till nice and warm well after the fan cuts in and leave the heater on full heat with not much fan meaning it all gets nicely toasted off i have only had a few become uncomfortable inside with smell and mist but after doing this they are fine

give it a try people full heat fan set to 1 and leave the car with windows open for about 10 minutes after a nice drive to get it warm

They used to say dont park any car with a Cat on long grass, in case it caught fire... but Ive yet to see any large fields used as car parks for events/shows go up in smoke!

nuovapanda said:

They used to say dont park any car with a Cat on long grass, in case it caught fire... but Ive yet to see any large fields used as car parks for events/shows go up in smoke!

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o it did happen mainly with french cars from what i hear peugeot 206 the new one didn't have enough protection heat shield under there cars and there quite low aswell

most cars have it on the manifold now anyway

Jake_in_notts said:

Bugger I only do short journeys I'll see when the oil and filter ask to be changed !

BTW why should the dpf affect the oil change frequency? Or is it just because of the short journeys knacker the oil quicker?

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the oil gets recycled basically my understanding of it. lucky u dont live on isle of wight! they are having loads a probs no long roads lol