I have a car question

[bluestateguy]

Lately I've been detecting a burning plastic odor coming from the car when I drive around. I know what burning plastic smells like. The car is not overheating, at least according to the gauges, and there is no smoke coming from anywhere in the car either.

As a precaution, I took the car down to the shop to have them examine the cooling system (radiator, radiator hoses, etc.). They found nothing, and the diagnostic itself cost me $35.00.

The car is running fine and there seem to be no warning signs. Anyone have any other ideas? Or is this nothing to worry about.

[PartyPooper]

1. Is it a Corvair?

Maybe Ralph Nader is trying to tell you something.

;-)

[LibertyorDeath]

3. LOL

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

2. It would help to know the make, year and general condition

of the car.
Could be a lot of things.
That might narrow it down a bit.

[bluestateguy]

6. It is a Chevrolet Cavalier (1998)

It has only 43,000 miles too.

My father, an ex-mechanic, tells me it's nothing to worry about if I've had it checked out. His Mazda Miata does the same thing.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

8. Okay, that helps. Does it smell from when it is first started

or does the car have to warm up?

That would tell you if it is a wire (resistance) or electrical (short) heat or coming from engine/transmission/braking heat.

Does it still smell in the rain?

That would eliminate transmission and most braking heat, as they would be cooled off by the splashes.

Does it still smell after the engine is turned off? How long?
That would tell how close to the main heat sources it is. The longer it smells, the closer to the exhaust manifold, muffler, catalytic converter or engine block.

Other than that, have you checked the belts, and I think that should have a plastic cooling fan... look at it too.

Let me know if I can help more.

[ReadTomPaine]

4. Do you have a seat heater? Aftermarket, high end stereo?

These could be the culprits.

RTP

[slackmaster]

5. What kind of car is it?

And most important of all, what color?

:dunce:

[chascaz]

7. Hole in muffler?

Some friends of mine got a hole in the top of their muffler, and it was heating up their floorboard, and the "plastic" under the carpet started melting and stinking like burnt plastic.

ACCOUNTABILITY TODAY!
SUSTAINABILITY TOMORROW!

[disgruntled_goat]

9. burning transmission fluids

is my guess.

if true, a transmission flush might be all you need.

good luck.

[KT2000]

10. Had that problem once

It turned out that a plastic bag got under my car while it was parked. The plastic melted onto the catalytic converter when I drove away with it under the car (unbeknownst to me). The smell was sickening. It eventually burned off but that is not good stuff to breathe. It really should have been scraped off.