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Technical  Smells of burned plastic!

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Technical  Smells of burned plastic!

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pbm77

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I know that it's almost impossible to guess what it is, but as I can't seem to find the source myself, I thought I would give it a try here. Maybe some of you have experience the same.

So, my 05 Panda have started to give of a smell of burned plastic, after a short ride. Any idea to what it could be?

I can't see anything wrong when looking at the engine or the bottom of the car.
 
pbm77 said:
I know that it's almost impossible to guess what it is, but as I can't seem to find the source myself, I thought I would give it a try here. Maybe some of you have experience the same.

So, my 05 Panda have started to give of a smell of burned plastic, after a short ride. Any idea to what it could be?

I can't see anything wrong when looking at the engine or the bottom of the car.
Click to expand...

Hi. Try and see if its coming through the airvents..use fan speed..
then use the slider for recirc ..and then fresh air..

May just help pinpoint..
Charlie..Oxford
 
This is not a usual occurrence, so is indicative of a problem.
As Charlie says, you need to determine if the car is drawing the smell in, or creating the smell.
If the heater blower is getting tight, it can give a burning smell.

If you are drawing the smell in, then the burning plastic is still with the car. You'll need to look carefully underneath, to determine if you have collected a plastic bag around the exhaust, brakes or engine. Don't ignore it, the longer it stays the more work is involved in getting it off.
 
Also check that ALL the electrics work as they should.
If one item does not, then you have an electrical fault.
Otherwise, as above.
Whatever the cause, it is not something to be taken lightly or ignored.
If the smell goes away and does not return, then you can breathe freely again (scuse the pun!)
 
resistor pack for the fan speed control burning out. It will eventually reach a point where only speed 4 (full speed) works. Bugger of a thing to get to to fix - search this forum... [edit: see links below]

[later edit] See this older post here: https://www.fiatforum.com/panda/186580-heater-blower-only-working-setting-4-a.html That green resistor pack is hiding up in the driver's side footwell' above the clutch pedal's pivot point. You can see it through the plastic 'cage' of the heater's air ducts, but only when you set the controls to 'recirculate' (With the control in the 'fresh air' setting, that cage is covered over)

If it turns out that's where the fault is, this thread explains how to reach it.. https://www.fiatforum.com/panda/422395-access-resistor-pack-if-remove-fan.html
 
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Thanks for the help guys. Will try the things you have suggested in the next couple of days.

The smell is coming from outside the cabin. I can only smell it inside, when I'm holding still (like at a light), and it's worse outside the car, when I park it and steps out. But I'm having problems locating it, because of the wind outside. The smell will drift around the car according to where the wind is coming from.
 
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try parking in a sheltered carpark so no wind lift the bonnet and walk round the car to see if you can pinpoint the smell better
 
Last edited:
varesecrazy said:
Hi. Try and see if its coming through the airvents..use fan speed..
then use the slider for recirc ..and then fresh air..

May just help pinpoint..
Charlie..Oxford
Click to expand...

Tried this today, and there was no smell with recirculation on. And looking under the car, there was "something" on the front end of the exhaust. It was a little sticky and very very hard to get of. Had to grind it off, and got most of it off. Will see if the smell is gone tomorrow.
 
pbm77 said:
Tried this today, and there was no smell with recirculation on. And looking under the car, there was "something" on the front end of the exhaust. It was a little sticky and very very hard to get of. Had to grind it off, and got most of it off. Will see if the smell is gone tomorrow.
Click to expand...

hi, :)

I suspect that will be it..!!(y)
my other suggestion was to make sure the air filter box, hasn't been melting..
I see LOTS of cars with the aluminium " baking tray" heat shield missing:(

Charlie
 
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