hi all i have a 2013 GS model diesel auto and when start up in the morning or afterwork to drive home that if i have the cabin fan on there is a strong smell which i can only describe as either a hot electrical smell or hot brake smell !!
it doesn't matter if temp control is set to its coldest, warm or hottest.

it is very strong to start with and then fades away but that might be due to the airflow from driving away.

I must say it a little concerning

Have you checked for debris blocking the air intake under the bonnet. Is there a build up of dead leaves/rubbish in filter path or in the water drains either side of the engine compartment.

This could allow water into the Heater/Air Con and maybe in electrics. FL2 XS SD4 Auto 2010 2012-2017 (21k - 91k miles) (MY2011)
FL2 Metropolis SD4 Auto 2014 2017- (16k - 77k+ miles) (MY2015)
Metro in its 11th Year of (Extended) LR Warranty / Full LR Service History
(Expensive, but Trouble/Worry free - hopefully?)

Last edited by IanMetro on 24th May 2024 7:25 am. Edited 1 time in total

Porky wrote:

hi all i have a 2013 GS model diesel auto and when start up in the morning or afterwork to drive home that if i have the cabin fan on there is a strong smell which i can only describe as either a hot electrical smell or hot brake smell !!
it doesn't matter if temp control is set to its coldest, warm or hottest.

it is very strong to start with and then fades away but that might be due to the airflow from driving away.

I must say it a little concerning

Could be leaking heater matrix which gives off a acidic smell check coolant level see if it has gone down, a very minor leak will give off a smell. 2013 FL2 XS.
Defender 90 300 TDi.
Defender 90 300 TDi CSW.
1964 MGB Roadster.
1944 Willys MB "Jeep" with bullet holes. (gone)
17 hand Irish Drought Thoroughbred (mostly lame)
Nagging Old Boiler.

Nodge68 wrote:

Porky wrote:

hi all i have a 2013 GS model diesel auto and when start up in the morning or afterwork to drive home that if i have the cabin fan on there is a strong smell which i can only describe as either a hot electrical smell or hot brake smell !!
it doesn't matter if temp control is set to its coldest, warm or hottest.

it is very strong to start with and then fades away but that might be due to the airflow from driving away.

I must say it a little concerning

When was the pollen filter last changed?

There is also a drain for excess water from the AirCon unit, not sure of the effects of it blocking. FL2 XS SD4 Auto 2010 2012-2017 (21k - 91k miles) (MY2011)
FL2 Metropolis SD4 Auto 2014 2017- (16k - 77k+ miles) (MY2015)
Metro in its 11th Year of (Extended) LR Warranty / Full LR Service History
(Expensive, but Trouble/Worry free - hopefully?)

does your model have the coefficient auxiliary heater thing?

they were disabled on some models as they were all faulty...it gives of an electric burning smell as it is basically a big electric element heater that works before the engine is up to temp to 'try' to heat the cabin..

I don't want to worry you but I had a very similar thing which ended up needing a new DPF and new Cat.

Symptoms were the same hot smell, then that would go away if we took her on a run only to reappear a few days later.

That then turned into smoke coming out of the side vents having been out for a run and pulling up to a roundabout or traffic lights which we thought might be the DPF doing a regen and it always went away once we started moving.

Then, after a two hour run smoke started filling the cabin when stationary. Took it straight round to the garage next morning which is less than a 10 min run and it didn't do it. Left it there all day and they said they'd changed the pollen filter and left her running and couldn't see anything.

So I hopped in, duly reassured but 200 yards down the road the car was billowing smoke so quick turnaround and the garage guys could finally see it, but at tickover it stopped happening.

Cut to the end, the flexipipe that joins the cat and the DPF had corroded, and the DPF was toast.

Hopefully that's not your problem. I'm not aware of anyone having the same issues. There are a hundred reasons for electrical smells.

If you're doing short distances its maybe time for a longer run. If it does turn out to be the same thing PM me and I'll share where I got the spares without paying through the nose. The cat was the hard part, there are half a dozen options for FL2 but only one for the Euro5/SD4.

No feedback from Porky - so we'll never know what the issue was. Jules