Landywimborne
New Member
Hi all. New here, so apologies if I am posting in the wrong place. But I have a very strange issue that I can not figure out and can’t find any similar forum discussions.
Issue has been going on since November of last year and nothing has fixed it.
When getting in the car after it hasn’t been used for a few hours or a day or so, there is a very strange smell. Hard to describe but it’s kind of like a chemical, plasticky smell. It’s a 2017 car so it’s not like it’s the general burning plastic smell I got with a new car for the first 1000 miles or so.
The smell is MUCH stronger after it has been raining outside.
I don’t think it’s damp or mould as I would expect that to be more of a musty smell. I have had the DPF replaced. The Ad blue (for non related issues) tank replaced and that hasn’t resolved it. It’s been like this since November 2023 and is much worse in the colder months. The smell clears after 5 minutes or so of driving. I don’t think it’s heater core related as the heating and AC is working as expected, I thought it could be Ad blue as I have had issues. But that doesn’t really have a smell (unless it does when it’s older or been through the tank?). I also don’t think it’s coolant as I would expect that to be sweeter smelling and not as strong. Plus no wet patches that I can see on the ground and not seeing any major drop in coolant levels.
Any thoughts would be appreacted. It’s obviously also hard to get someone to diagnose it unless I leave my car at a mechanics and hope it’s raining over night. And I don’t massively fancy going around and repeatedly asking my mechanics to come and smell inside my car.
The smell is there sometimes when it hasn’t been raining. Just not as strong. No distinctive characteristics such as diesel, oil, washer fluid etc.
2017 Discovery 5 with (you guessed it) the 2L injenium engine.
Thank you for any thoughts, tips or advice.
Issue has been going on since November of last year and nothing has fixed it.
When getting in the car after it hasn’t been used for a few hours or a day or so, there is a very strange smell. Hard to describe but it’s kind of like a chemical, plasticky smell. It’s a 2017 car so it’s not like it’s the general burning plastic smell I got with a new car for the first 1000 miles or so.
The smell is MUCH stronger after it has been raining outside.
I don’t think it’s damp or mould as I would expect that to be more of a musty smell. I have had the DPF replaced. The Ad blue (for non related issues) tank replaced and that hasn’t resolved it. It’s been like this since November 2023 and is much worse in the colder months. The smell clears after 5 minutes or so of driving. I don’t think it’s heater core related as the heating and AC is working as expected, I thought it could be Ad blue as I have had issues. But that doesn’t really have a smell (unless it does when it’s older or been through the tank?). I also don’t think it’s coolant as I would expect that to be sweeter smelling and not as strong. Plus no wet patches that I can see on the ground and not seeing any major drop in coolant levels.
Any thoughts would be appreacted. It’s obviously also hard to get someone to diagnose it unless I leave my car at a mechanics and hope it’s raining over night. And I don’t massively fancy going around and repeatedly asking my mechanics to come and smell inside my car.
The smell is there sometimes when it hasn’t been raining. Just not as strong. No distinctive characteristics such as diesel, oil, washer fluid etc.
2017 Discovery 5 with (you guessed it) the 2L injenium engine.
Thank you for any thoughts, tips or advice.
or it's not too bad enough for a cold. Engine normally oily or sweet boiled kettle. Air conditioner can stink musty first due residue of condensation in the air ducts. Loose cable chaffing against heat or overheating give plastic smell. If you say more noticeable during rain check wipers motor, heater, exposed water spray access to engine bay to electrical. Is the fuse box damp. Hope this helps.
it is within the cabin. I’ve just closed my vents and will see if that changes anything. I think it’s due to rain here a bit tonight so hopefully I can see if that is related. Someone did mention the possibility of water getting to the fuse box and that is sounding like a possibility as well. Especially with the plasticy smell and there is a fuse box under the bonnet just in front of the steering wheel which could explain why it’s so strong and would make sense with rain making it worse. Thanks for the advise. I’ll let you know if I suss anything out
but boning the exhaust 
