Technical Faint smokey Smell of burning plastic or wires?

[Fiat500forLIFE]

2015 fiat 500l lounge. There's an occasional smell of burning plastic or Wires that happens. It's not often and fairly faint but Can't track down where it's coming from. Doesn't always happen especially on short trips. Seems like MAYBE it happens after accelerating strongly and then coming to a stop but not sure. Doesn't CCorrepond to heated seats or anything really. All fluids good and no Signs of anything leaking and then burning, plus it smells more like a Wire or something? Any ideas?

 

[bugsymike]

2015 fiat 500l lounge. There's an occasional smell of burning plastic or Wires that happens. It's not often and fairly faint but Can't track down where it's coming from. Doesn't always happen especially on short trips. Seems like MAYBE it happens after accelerating strongly and then coming to a stop but not sure. Doesn't CCorrepond to heated seats or anything really. All fluids good and no Signs of anything leaking and then burning, plus it smells more like a Wire or something? Any ideas?

Inside the car or outside, windows down or up, heater on recirculating or not, after heavy braking, do any of the wheels feel hotter than the rest, if it is a manual car is the clutch slipping?
Does it happen with no lights, heater fan, radio, aircon etc. on?
Many places smell can come from, years ago we even had one that on sticking on a garage ramp we found a trapped plastic bag melted onto the exhaust.

 

[AnthonyH]

it happens after accelerating strongly and then coming to a stop but not sure.

Your brake pads are wearing thin. (probably/possibly)

 

[Fiat500forLIFE]

Your brake pads are wearing thin. (probably/possibly)

Inside the car or outside, windows down or up, heater on recirculating or not, after heavy braking, do any of the wheels feel hotter than the rest, if it is a manual car is the clutch slipping?
Does it happen with no lights, heater fan, radio, aircon etc. on?
Many places smell can come from, years ago we even had one that on sticking on a garage ramp we found a trapped plastic bag melted onto the exhaust.

Appears to come from inside, possibly through the air vents but not sure. I believe it happens with windows up or down but you wouldn't be able to tell if the windows were down since it's very Faint. You would have to be at a stop and with 0 knot winds. Does not require heavy braking and brakes are in good shape. The wheels feel equal. It's An automatic. Yes happens with no lights, no heater, no radio, no aircon. I don't see any plastic bag anywhere

 

[bugsymike]

Appears to come from inside, possibly through the air vents but not sure. I believe it happens with windows up or down but you wouldn't be able to tell if the windows were down since it's very Faint. You would have to be at a stop and with 0 knot winds. Does not require heavy braking and brakes are in good shape. The wheels feel equal. It's An automatic. Yes happens with no lights, no heater, no radio, no aircon. I don't see any plastic bag anywhere

Can you see if it still happens with vents closed and heating set on "recirculating" not using outside air as sometimes the vents will draw in smells from engine or even from other cars.
Does it happen even after a long run with engine fully warmed up, some catalysts smell strongly when engine just started and driving slowly.

 

[AnthonyH]

The clutch can produce a burning smell when it's almost at end of life. If that's the case it'll start slipping soon.

 

[bugsymike]

The clutch can produce a burning smell when it's almost at end of life. If that's the case it'll start slipping soon.

True , but OP mentions it's an automatic.

 

[AnthonyH]

True , but OP mentions it's an automatic.

Can an automatic slip?

Does not require heavy braking and brakes are in good shape.

Who checked the brakes? And how did they check them?

 

[bugsymike]

Can an automatic slip?



Who checked the brakes? And how did they check them?

Yes, but depending on design it is more contained.
I am not a fan of modern automatics so tend to not have much to do with them.

 

[AnthonyH]

Yes, but depending on design it is more contained.
I am not a fan of modern automatics so tend to not have much to do with them.

I'm giving the dualogic a wide berth. Manual transmission on an old vehicle is enough bother, nevermind auto or semi