Strange Smell!

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Benjoli

New Member

Posts

8

• Feb 21, 2006

• #1

Hello All, some advice would be much appreciated here.

I own a Disco 2 TD5. For the past couple of days there has been a strange 'burning' smell coming from the car when I arrive at work. The journey from home to work is about 15 miles, so the car does have time to warm up properly. The smell is only evident on passenger side of the vehicle and lingers for about 5 minutes. Under the bonnet, the drivers side and rear of car is clear. No warning lights on the dash or anything else wrong with the performance of the car to suggest a problem elswhere.

To pre-empt a possible question: difficult to explain exactly what the smell reminds me of, other than the fact that it is pretty unpleasant. I don't want to lead the jury. The disco was fully serviced 2 weeks ago and was given an excellent bill of health. I have just under 2 months of warranty remaining.

Is this something that other S2 owners have experienced and is it minor, or is my car going to spontaneously combust on my way home?

Any suggestions?

 

mmaddock

New Member

Posts

681

Location

France

• Feb 21, 2006

• #2

Is it a really burning smell? couldn't be a nasty air/con smell from those horibble little bugs that like to live in your air/con system could it?

Matt

 

OutbackJack

New Member

Posts

304

Location

1000 klms into the WA Outback from Perth

• Feb 21, 2006

• #3

Mine does it occasionally...after a blast out into the desert (40+c).. I just assumed it was getting very hot. It was a bit disconcerting first time I smelled it..had the bonnet up and the extinguisher ready thinking there goes 30K down the drain.

Still is disconcerting but only seems to do it after a longish run, perhaps mmaddock is right in we are just cooking up a bug or two..pass the salt please

 

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Benjoli

New Member

Posts

8

• Feb 21, 2006

• #4

Thanks for the reply Matt.

If I was to describe the 'strange aroma' I would say it was a cross between the smell you get when the plastic on jump leads melts (not that this is a situation I encounter on a regular basis!) and electrics smouldering? Again, don't want to lead discussion in a particular direction because 'bugs in the air con unit' sounds a lot less expensive than 'electrical smouldering'.

If it is what you suggested, is this likely to keep happening? Also, why would it only be one one side of the car? (ref the latter I did turn the car around to factor in wind direction, but the smell was still on the passenger side.

 

OutbackJack

New Member

Posts

304

Location

1000 klms into the WA Outback from Perth

• Feb 21, 2006

• #5

I have to agree with your placement and description of the aroma...had me well worried..(still does a little)

 

mmaddock

New Member

Posts

681

Location

France

• Feb 21, 2006

• #6

I don't know much about the D2, from your description of the smell it doesn't sound like the air/con bugs, sorry!

I'd probably get it into a specilalist or dealer who can check it over properly.

Matt.

 

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Benjoli

New Member

Posts

8

• Feb 21, 2006

• #7

Thanks Chaps.

I will keep an eye on it and if the problem persists I will get it down to the specialist. The problem is in describing a smell that I have not smelt before.

 

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danny

New Member

Posts

54

• Feb 21, 2006

• #8

if it was just serviced did they spill some oil or use a cleaning agent anywhere?

the usual smells you get in a diso can also be attributed to the last visit to mc donalds or that farmy smell...you know the horsy one that you often get ...even though you may never have been near a farm or horses....why is that...it may work on the same hypothesis as diced carrots in sick.

seriously though look under the bonnet for something left by thst recent service

 

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Benjoli

New Member

Posts

8

• Feb 21, 2006

• #9

Danny.

Thought about that one already. The car was serviced 2 weeks ago and the smell only started yesterday. Could be be wrong, but I would assume that if it was something left over from the service, the smell would have come sooner. Thanks for the suggestion though.

I had approx 1 week of my Disco being new and smelling new before 'the blonde' and her sisters got their paws on it. It now smells like my old Defender did - horses, dogs and poo covered wellingtons. At least with the Defender you could hose out the back. I am just praying that it stays dent free before the season comes to a close (The new car novelty will have worn off a little by October so the odd scratch will not be that important)

 

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danny

New Member

Posts

54

• Feb 21, 2006

• #10

i only had mine 1 week when amazed at its offroad capabilities i headed for mud puddles and trees, promptly catching the rear fuel fill cover and side of the car on a passing log (don't ask). i can now instantly recognise my car amongst similar ones!

another good thing about the disco (other than strange smells) is that you cant loose it in a car park..hope you find the smell ...the blonde hasn't left her hair tongs switched on in the glove box has she ? its been known before !