[amar.madhavan]

I own a 2018 model VRS which is completely stock. No modications/remapping.

I have also felt the burning smell in cabin at times during heavy accelerations / rpms. I noticed these in Sports mode - specifically S1, S2 during heavy accelerations resulting in higher RPMs. Off late, I have not experienced these, as i dont push the car hard - thanks to traffic and roads here .

Like you mentioned this is inside the cabin (i always drive with AC) and there is no smell outside specifically in the engine bay.

One of my friends have a stage 3 modified VRS (2017 model) and both of us did not notice this smell while we drove his car really hard/harder.

I'm not surprised to hear that this happens only in some VRS and not all .

We suspected two reasons 1) Minor burn out in DSG Gearbox during these higher RPMs in sport mode - not during regular sport mode drives or 2) Burnout smell from tyre rubber due to wheel spins. I believe its to do with former than latter.

I also dont think its do to with Coolant leakage. I had a major coolant leakage. But i didn get this smell during this time.

[sharc_biker]

Originally Posted by ctjithinkrishna

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Has anyone faced or heard about this issue? Could it be related to the fact that only the ECU has been remapped? Or could it be a simple AC residue issue?

I own a stock vrs 245. This happens in my car as well after a lot of enthusiastic driving in sports mode.

I have heard this happen with other vrs owners as well. It’s to do with the firewall and high engine temperatures.

[svsantosh]

Originally Posted by ctjithinkrishna

I was getting the smell in both modes.

My guess is the firewall material (outer) or even the inner liner behind the dash (most probable) or hood/bonnet liner. Once the smell repeats itself, you have to put on your Canine smelling hat and sorry to say this - go sniffing around.

Carry a covid-era thermometer and measure pre & post temps on these 3 flammable materials. If the basic/funny/weird suspects are ruled out, then you may go on to suspect the fluids/oil/exhaust systems.

Remember - Metal doesnt smell when cold, hardly smell after WOT - oil/fabric/polyure/gases can smell burnt when mildly hot.

[dr.ashoka]

Hi, I had a similar problem in my 2011 BMW 320d. A burning smell suddenly cropped up during my return drive from Bangalore to Chennai. I felt it was coming from the engine compartment but I couldn't find anything wrong and later I realised that it was associated with my AC blower. My AC blower was working on and off and hence initially I tried changing the rectifier but that didn't sort out the issue. Then I removed the glove box and traced the wiring to the AC blower and there was the fault. The wires going from the the fuse box to the blower had burnt and the smell was from there. I fixed the wires by soldering small additional bits of wires and my issue has been sorted out. I am guessing your problem may be similar as you had said the blower motor was squeaking before it was changed and during that time the wires could have overheated and melted the insulation and hence the burning smell. Good luck with your diagnosis.

[mack.mehul]

Get the air vent in the AC compartment checked. Maybe the vent cover is loose and that is why the burning smell. It happened to me in one of my car, so it might help to get it checked.