1995 Mazda Protege burnt plastic or rubber smell

BOOGIE88

MEMBER
1995 MAZDA PROTEGE
148,000 MILES

When I was driving home from work today I noticed a burnt rubber or plastic smell in the inside of my car. When the heat is on or off, the smell is still there. I checked the hood for smoke or the odor, but I can only smell it inside the car. The fuses were checked and they are all fine. There is no debris that is on the car either that could have made the smell. What can cause this to happen?

Friday, October 18th, 2013 AT 4:36 PM

3 Replies

MADMIKE1735

MECHANIC
951 POSTS

There is no way to tell you what can cause this. Obviously something is burning, but I cant narrow it down to a certain component. Give us all the details. When did the smell occur? Does it happen all the time? When you first smell it, is it stronger under the dash, or above the dash? Any little details you have will help us.

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Friday, October 18th, 2013 AT 4:40 PM

BOOGIE88

MEMBER
2 POSTS

The smell just started today after I got off of work. I can smell the odor throughout my car, no matter where I smell. I can smell the odor when my heat is both on and off. I have the settings for my heat set at intake from the outside and on defrost mode when this happened. I haven't changed any of my daily routines when I drive my car, so this only started today and I have never smelt that odor before.

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Friday, October 18th, 2013 AT 4:44 PM

MADMIKE1735

MECHANIC
951 POSTS

I would bring this to a shop, its almost impossible to diag this without having the vehicle in front of me, and actually smelling it. I hope you can understand.

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Friday, October 18th, 2013 AT 4:46 PM