Got a (potentialy huge) problem!

[Saundo]

Was driving to see a client at work today when i noticed a strange smell coming from my air con, like plastic burning. Drove a little further to and realised it was my car that was making the smell! Poped the bonnet and yup very strong smell. Also car sounds more tappety then normal (although i may just be being paranoid). I checked the oil and level is fine. Checked the fan and it was working.

Got back to work and one of my colleagues had a look. This time the fan didnt come on. Just driven home from work 6miles and the fan isnt on again. Do we think that may be the problem?

 

[Josh@Renparts]

is it overheating? might be the resistor pack for the air con (common problem)

 

[.GAZ.]

mmmm let it run n c if it over heats then u will know

 

[Saundo]

I did 12 miles in it earlier and the temp was normal?

First of all i had a look under the car as when dring out of the car park at V the other day i drove over loads of plastic bags etc but cant see anything.

 

[Josh@Renparts]

is your fan working as normal on your a/c?

 

[DrR]

Never seen my radiator fan go on so don't worry about that.

 

[BSC 182]

The fan shud run all the time wid the air con on, leave it running and keep an eye on the temp and see if the fan comes on.

 

[fUbAr]

hold the car at 3k revs for a few minutes... that'll get the fan on.

 

[AlexS]

I did 12 miles in it earlier and the temp was normal?

First of all i had a look under the car as when dring out of the car park at V the other day i drove over loads of plastic bags etc but cant see anything.

You sure one isn't caught on something that gets hot (sorry im not very technical).

 

[AstoN]

The fan won't come on if you're driving cause its cool enough.

fubar has the right idea, although i cant imagine cooling fan to have any relation to the smell at all. Maybe the heater/blower motor is burning out? Leaky matrix? Hot antifreeze sometimes smells quite chemically and like hot rubber/plastic.

I have an old escort cab, so i sometimes get that smell lol.