Hello,
Everyonce in a while a smell of burning plastic comes through the heat vent into the car. Any ideals on what the reason for that may be?

thanks for any ideals

 

More than likely, this is an oil leak from any of a number of seals in the engine, including valve cover seals, cam tensioner seals. Small droplets of oil can leak onto the manifold and give off that burning smell.

Also, check to make sure the HVAC blower motor isn't burning out ...

search on audiworld.com for more info

 

yeah, smell's from leaky oil.

also check the oil cap sealer.

 

I get an odd smell too sometimes, but mine doesn't really have a burnt smell to it. Its more like bad cheese awkwardly. Could it be the cabin air filter?

 

Change the cabin filter, if the smell is still there, it's the cam seals leaking oil. This is and "undocumented option/feature" on our Audis, quite common. There are two or more threads on this same subject in this forum at this time.

 

I replaced the cabin air filter and it seems like i dont get the smell ne more. but it was a living hell trying to find the correct filter. I had to special order it from bosch from a autostore.

 

how do you replacethe cabin air filter i have mine sitting here but havent really search for a diy yet

 

i have a burned oil smell in the cabin sometimes with the heat. I know the cam seals need to be done and more than likly thats the reasoning

 

Joe, remove the rubber seal that runs from fender to fender. Then take the plastic cover off and you have access to the cabin filter next to the passenger fender.