Burning plastic smell inside cab
01-09-2015, 12:53 AM
#1
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Burning plastic smell inside cab
1991 F150 4x4 5.8L E4OD. Smelling plastic burning inside cab. Smell not noticeable when I left up the hood and sniff around engine compartment- just seems to be inside the cab. Smell could be occurring more frequently when headlights are on but not sure.
Last edited by mbu91f150; 01-09-2015 at 12:55 AM. Reason: typo
01-09-2015, 07:54 AM
#2
1994 F150 XLT 5.8L 2wd
Pull your column cover off and sniff around, might have to remove the cluster surround as well. My guess would be that you have a wire some where that is melting the insulation. You should also check your fuses and ensure they are the correct amperage for the slot, have a higher rated fuse will allow wires to pass more current than they can handle, causing them to get too hot and melt the insulation in turn causing even more problems.
01-09-2015, 08:50 PM
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removed column cover, checked fuses, checked for melted/suspicious wire and found nothing. No insulation that appears to have been burnt either. The hump in the floor between passenger/driver side does get hotter than other areas when driving. (Area below radio).
01-09-2015, 10:30 PM
#6
I did the led cluster lights in my truck a while back and one of them smoked. Had that burnt electrical smell. Not sure if you've done any work around the cluster, but that's a good place to look. Also, if you have dual tanks, the switch is a common electrical problem area. You might check that out if you have one.
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01-10-2015, 12:16 PM
#8
Check the wiring under the hood for the heater maybe.
But anyway, unless there's a wire on a manifold or something, a burning plastic smell will usually be a wire.
Like fltdriver said, it will be caused by amperage in excess of the wire's capacity going through the wire, making it get hot and causing the plastic insulation to melt.
With that in mind, your fingers are going to be your best initial tester.
For the insulation to get hot, the wire is hot - so do whatever you have to to make it stink, then start feeling wires, one of them will be hot to the touch.
Take note of what switches have to be on to get the pronounced smell and check those wires first.
Take special note of any wires or circuits that have something "added on" or spliced into the circuit.
But anyway, unless there's a wire on a manifold or something, a burning plastic smell will usually be a wire.
Like fltdriver said, it will be caused by amperage in excess of the wire's capacity going through the wire, making it get hot and causing the plastic insulation to melt.
With that in mind, your fingers are going to be your best initial tester.
For the insulation to get hot, the wire is hot - so do whatever you have to to make it stink, then start feeling wires, one of them will be hot to the touch.
Take note of what switches have to be on to get the pronounced smell and check those wires first.
Take special note of any wires or circuits that have something "added on" or spliced into the circuit.
01-10-2015, 01:53 PM
#9
1994 F150 XLT 5.8L 2wd
If it's stronger with the heater blowing you may have something stuck to the heater core, it still get hot with the blower off so it will still be burning it up. With the blower on it will move the fumes into the cab faster. Not uncommon for something to get sucked into the HVAC intake. I've seen heater cores with plastic grocery bags melted to them, those "helicopter" seeds from trees, and even one that some industrious squirrel had filled the intake with straw and made himself a nice little bachelor pad.