Hyundai Excel ('99) Burning Plastic Smell

Now that it is charged and you start the car normally, do you continue to smell the burnt plastic odor? Is it an older odor from the jump time if you smell it or is it a fresh smell?

"Now that it is charged and you start the car normally, do you continue to smell the burnt plastic odor?"

Yes. Approximately 5 to 10 minutes into a drive (been happening for the past 2 days).

"Is it an older odor from the jump time if you smell it or is it a fresh smell?"

This is definitely a fresh smell. It seems to be coming from underneth the car's bonet but when I open it (right after stopping the car) I can't pinpoint the smell and there doen't seem to be any smoke.

I don't have access to a diagram of what is under your bonet. I love that term. Your vehicle is not manufactured for US. But follow the positive battery cable and see if it goes straight to the starter or through a relay. Use your sniffer to follow that line and your hand to feel the cable and components. Is the cable itself warm or hot? How about the starter? How about the alternator/generator? What you are looking for should be on the charging system and though it has not failed, it is in the process of doing so.

Thanks for your help Bruce.

I traced the problem to a plastic bag that had got caught on the exhaust pipe. :oops:

Thanks,
Bill