Strange melting plastic smell

[Ozmira]

I have noticed a strange melting plastic smell coming from the heater vents after the heater has been on for a while. Any advice as to what it could be. I've checked under the hood and can't see anything melting or I can't smell anything either, so I'm at a loss as to what it could be.

[Ubernoober]

Have you replaced your headlamps bulbs at all?

Had mine changed recently - up to 100/80 by a not-to-be-named-here TVR garage and got the same smell. Only checked when one bulb went very dull and found both headlamp connectors had melted with the extra current drawn by the bigger wattage bulbs - hence the burning smell.

Lamps now back to 60/55s and no burning smell

[REM2112]

Look underneath - any plastic bags etc glued on by the heat?

[daz the plumber]

think you self lucky , at least your heater works !

[V8 Animal]

daz the plumber said:

think you self lucky , at least your heater works !

Summit else daz

[steve-V8s]

Have you topped up the oil recently and left the filler cap resting on the exhaust manifold ?

[f@-pots]

Hey ubernoober you must've gone to the same reputable TVR garage I went to, lots of melted plastic!! Come to think of it ,of the six jobs they did not one was done correctly and has cost me a new nearside tyre .
If you fit a pair of Halfrauds super duper Xenon top of the range jobbies they are only 50-65 watt so run a lot cooler and are bright as f**k..............

Nick................

[Barreti]

Have a really good luck/feel around the exhaust manifolds - especially the near side. Could be the engine mounts are shot and the engine is rocking more than it should, allowing the manifolds to touch the heatshield, rubbing a hole in it and burning the fibreglass.

[spend]

Ozmira said:

I have noticed a strange melting plastic smell coming from the heater vents after the heater has been on for a while.

I hate to say that I think the previous answers have been off target. If it's only when the heater blower motor is running then you have identified that as your problem. There is a resistor pack on the side of the motor that controls speed which may be the problem. It could also be the old twigs jamming the motor, but that would more than likely be instantaneous smell. If it is the resistor pack you may find that the heater works ok on full speed but not on 1 or 2?

It is the worst thing on the car to access :-(

[Ozmira]

looks like my weekend work is cut out for me. thanks for all the different advice as to what the problem is. i'll let you know what it is when i find it. at least i now have some places to start looking.

[daz the plumber]

have you been taking any women for a ride !!! may be she stuck a french letter down the heater vent , check under the seats for her nickers !!!!!!!!!

[wheels1]

Do you have aircon? some times this makes a smell if it's not been used for a while.

[Ozmira]

daz the plumber said:

have you been taking any women for a ride !!! may be she stuck a french letter down the heater vent , check under the seats for her nickers !!!!!!!!!

air con i do have, i will try giving it a blast, as for the french nickers i 'm going to keep that secret to my self

[Ozmira]

The strange smell from my heater vents have gone, & so it appears have my headlights. They still work but are like two very very dim tealights. I've just driven back from the petrol station & it was the scariest drive of my life. Looks like no night driving till it's sorted.

[spend]

Dipped or Main Beam or both?

Visit to Mr fusebox and discover all his surprises might be advisable

[Peter66]

You might have an earth problem with the lights. Things get very hot when this happens. Check with a multimeter. Disconnect earth terminal from the battery and measure the resistance between earth on your lamps and the chassis.

Good luck,

Peter

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

When I had this it was a loose connection to a big fuse (in a separate plastic holder) in the passenger footwell. The fuse connectors had heated up enough to melt away the plastic cover on the fuse (hence the smell).

[f@-pots]

That sounds identical to mine, I think the dim tea lights are probably your sidelights. Check for dreaded melting plastic bulb holders. If the 100/80 watt ones are fitted they overheat, blow , and take the holders with them, as I said before , try fitting lower wattage xenon bulbs(no mods needed) you get more light and less hassle !! It might be worth noting that mine blew one side first which caused tea light on that side and the other side to get really bright(TVR WIRING? )Then shortly after the other side jumped ship. Both showed evidence of overheating ie melted plastic.

Best of luck, Nick.................

[quattrophenia]

steve-V8s said:

Have you topped up the oil recently and left the filler cap resting on the exhaust manifold ?

Sounds stupid that suggestion, but yes guilty as charged! I topped up the type-r and left the filler cap off. The misses used it the next day and after sitting in traffic for 5 minutes noticed a strong smell and fumes beginning to appear

[pkitchen]

Not stupid at all been there done that.....