Acrid plastic burning smell.

[Sipha]

Started my 172 earlier on and immediately it sounded like it had a slight whine coming from under the bonnet. As I drove home I became increasingly aware of a god awful smell emanating from the bonnet area. Parked up at home and had a look under the hood and it seems to be coming from the Altenator/Aux belt area, and it's PROPER acrid. Oil level seems fine as does the coolant etc etc. What I can see of the Aux belt it looks fine, and the engine runs smoothly.

What is the general consesus ? Sound like the Altenator or should I be looking elsewhere ?

Thanks all

 

[Fletcher]

Sounds familiar...

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/show...-smell-coming-from-engine-bay-car-won-t-start.

 

[sn00p]

Yep. Alternator.

I had the same fault appear almost exactly a year ago. Ended after being stuck in traffic jam for hours and then queuing to go through the rotherhithe tunnel, dashboard started lighting up like a christmas tree so I thought "f**k going through the tunnel" and drove past the entrance, got another hundred or so metres up the road and the car died. Thank f**k I didn't go through the tunnel!

The AA man got the car started and charged the battery a bit, but I ended up driving home (only about 10 miles) in low gears to try and keep some charge in the battery.

Replaced the alternator and all was good.

Edit:

it'd get properly hot too, you'd put the fans on in the car on a low temp and really hot air would come out.

 

[Sipha]

Thanks guys, does sound the same yes, I'll get it looked at. Any ideads on price for Altenator and fitting ?

 

[Dan519]

sounds very much like alternator. Got a used one of my car as i've converted to cup setup

catch you on MSN later

 

[Sipha]

sounds very much like alternator. Got a used one of my car as i've converted to cup setup

catch you on MSN later

Thanks Danny, Speak later mate.

 

[Sipha]

Just to follow this up, it was indeed the Alternator, the voltage regulators or some such. Also when I got it off, the windings looked black. and the whole thing stank like a house fire.

All fixed now tho

 

[Fletcher]

^^^I thought so

 

[twingors]

Exactly the same issue I got today bloody stinks!!

So it will pack in on me eventually?

 

[MicKPM]

Yep, fo'shizzle so don't put it off.

Get it changed before it has chance to push out more than +14volts and does some real damage to your electronics!

Mick

 

[twingors]

Need to drive it today 30 miles to get it sorted. Hope it doesn't pack in on me.

A love warranty though!! Lol