So as anybody who has been affected by the recent snow storm knows, the weather has been really bad/cold lately. I just bought my RA in August and I am very careful with it. I have noticed recently that when running the air (initially I noticed with heat and now it seems to be both) I smell this hot plastic smell. It gets worse when I'm driving in snow or rain, especially the snow. Is this because of stuff from the road going somewhere and causing something to burn?

The heater also doesn't blow hot air when I'm idling, is that a normal RA thing? Keep in mind I have a huge intercooler and aftermarket Radiator from the original owner. Could the combination of those be doing anything since I'm on the stock tune?

Sorry I'm just trying to give as many details as possible.

Thanks!

 

not sure about the burnt plastic smell, but my heater takes a while to kick on when i'm just idling. usually takes me driving about a block or two for it to warm up and fully kick on.

 

My stock RA usually takes 3-5 minutes of driving from a cold start to warm up to maximum heat. If you bought a used modded RA, you may want to be proactive and check it out.

 

Alright cool, thanks for the info!

Yeah I'm kinda thinking I might run it to the dealer just in case

 

Within exactly one mile i have heat. One or two bars on the temp gauge

 

check your coolant level. plastic smell may be the blower motor.

 

Ok thanks, man! I got the oil changed like 2k miles ago and the dealer was suppose to check all the fluid levels and crap. If it is low I'm gonna be pissed

 

I have a faint plastic smell coming from my vents as well. Attributed that to mine just being a new car. When I pop the hood when the car has not been running for the night, i smell plastic from the engine bay. I'll check my fluid levels as well

 

Has anyone found a resolution to this issue yet?

 

I know when I had something spill onto the exhaust manifold heat shield (went through the hood scoop) that it cause a bad smell in the vents for a few days until I pulled off the heat shield and cleaned it all off.
You might want to see if something is resting on yours causing the smell.
With the valve cover being composite and our engines run warm normally there will always be a faint plastic smell I think.

 

This could be, I don't have an engine cover because the original owner got rid of it

 

So I checked the coolant level finally (I've been busy and spaced it until I smelled that smell again today) and my coolant level is low, it is about 1/8" below the "Low" mark. Any special coolant that I need to put in this thing or just some from Autozone or something?

 

Added some coolant today, I guess I'll see how it does tomorrow on the way to work

 

I hope it isn't a leak in the heater core... it would explain the smell. Is the windshield realllllyy fogged when you turn on the vents to the windshield?

 

No it defrosts pretty well actually. I haven't smelled it since I refilled the coolant. I drove it a little harder for a bit and still didn't smell anything so I think that might've been it. I'm pissed that the dealer clearly didn't check it though.