In the cold season, a properly functioning heater in a car is not a matter of convenience, but a basic necessity. It heats the cabin, makes trips more comfortable, and helps to cope with fogged or icy windows. That is why the appearance of a burning smell from the air ducts cannot be ignored. Such a smell can be either a harmless temporary phenomenon or a sign of a serious technical problem that can lead to unpleasant consequences.
Main causes of burning smell
Dust and debris after a long period of inactivity
If an unpleasant smell occurs when the heater is first turned on after a long break in operation, the reason is most often trivial. During the downtime, dust and small debris accumulate inside the heating system, which begin to burn when heated. In this situation, you should not worry: as a rule, after a few minutes of the heater operation, the smell disappears by itself and does not return.
Coolant leak
When a sweetish, "syrupy" tint is mixed with the smell of burning, this may indicate an antifreeze leak. Coolant can get onto the heated elements of the engine or into the heater core, causing a characteristic odor. Such a malfunction requires mandatory intervention of a specialist, since the loss of antifreeze is fraught with engine overheating and costly repairs.
Leaking engine oil
A sharp and persistent smell of burnt oil usually indicates that engine oil has gotten onto very hot parts - for example, the exhaust manifold or elements of the heating system. Even minor leaks in this case cannot be considered harmless. If the problem is ignored, the risk of fire increases, and the consequences can be extremely serious.
Malfunctions in the electrical part
The smell of melting plastic or burnt insulation is one of the most alarming signals. It may indicate overheating of the wiring, malfunctions in the heater fan, or problems with the resistor. In such a situation, it is better to immediately stop operating the car, turn off the engine and not try to "drive a little more". The risk of fire in this case is quite real.
What to do if the heater smells of burning
To reduce the likelihood of unpleasant odors, it is useful to start the engine periodically even in the off-season - about once every one to two weeks. This helps to avoid stagnation of liquids, accumulation of moisture and premature wear of the heating system elements.
If the smell does not appear constantly, but only when starting, you can let the heater run for 5-10 minutes at moderate power. It is possible that the remnants of dust are burning out, and the problem will disappear by itself.
Special attention should be paid to the cabin filter. It is he who traps dust, dirt and debris coming from the outside. A clogged or long-unreplaced filter can not only worsen the ventilation, but also become a source of unpleasant odor.
If the smell of burning does not disappear, becomes stronger or is accompanied by other alarming signs, you should not postpone a visit to the service. A constant smell from the deflectors often indicates a malfunction that can eventually develop into a serious and costly repair. In such cases, timely diagnostics is much cheaper than fixing the consequences.
Read more materials on the topic:
- Second life of the engine: all about overhaul
- Icy rain: how to get out and not get into trouble
- Chronic undercharge of the battery: a hidden threat in winter
