Burning hair smell in cabin after long steep roads

[chang]

I get a funky smell after I accelerate hard . The cabin smells like i guess would be burning hair ,,, thought it was that the car is still new but now Im not sure. I also switched from 87 to 93 gas so as soon as this tanks done will switch back to 87 and see if it still happens

[DavesSpectra]

Have you checked for rodent nests around the full exhaust? One setting up housekeeping may cause a problem when the Cat gets hotter than normal.
Dave

[GregsKia]

Yes, accelerating hard will produce the smell. Again, unburnt fuel hitting the cat and heating it up.

[1saxman]

Originally Posted by GregsKia

Yes, accelerating hard will produce the smell. Again, unburnt fuel hitting the cat and heating it up.

This can cause a 'rotten egg' smell in the exhaust but the exhaust should not be detected inside the car as long as it is not backing up (exhaust can enter the cowl HVAC intake when backing). If it is not an exhaust smell but is the smell of some non-metal material near the catalytic converter, turbine or other exhaust system parts getting too hot and the fumes somehow entering the cabin, this would represent a serious problem that would most likely be subject to a safety recall or at least a TSB.

[GregsKia]

Usually it is the car in front of you that you are smelling....not necessarily your own. See if you get the smell with re-circ on. Also, from my experience with new Kias, they have a coating sprayed on the underside that takes a few thousand miles to burn off of all the exhaust components.

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by Mike_in_NEPA

There is a particular spot in NJ on RT 280, where it's a steep uphill grade for about a mile

I believe is the CLUTCH.

I experienced the same smell when a little bit of torque was required from the engine (hard parking in the snow for example). Changed the clutch KIT in the first 10.000 km. I have the 2.0 l gasoline engine.

I believe Kia has some issues with the CLUTCH for the new Sportage: either the clutch is not up to the job or there was a bad batch for the clutch itself.

[p_mori7]

To the OP, is your Sportage automatic or manual transmission ?

[ILLJIM69]

Originally Posted by p_mori7

To the OP, is your Sportage automatic or manual transmission ?

He has it listed as an AWD, so it is auto.

[cloud9utk]

Originally Posted by Samurai

I believe is the CLUTCH.

I experienced the same smell when a little bit of torque was required from the engine (hard parking in the snow for example). Changed the clutch KIT in the first 10.000 km. I have the 2.0 l gasoline engine.

I believe Kia has some issues with the CLUTCH for the new Sportage: either the clutch is not up to the job or there was a bad batch for the clutch itself.

Sorry guy, but i am calling shenanigans on all of this. Where do you live that you have the 2.0L TURBO gas engine that you can get it with a manual transmission? Also, dude has a US edition 2012 SX, that means it's an AUTOMATIC. So no clutch per say..

As to the OP's matter,

Are you still experiencing this issue? I am a bit late to the party, but when i first got my SX i recall having a burn hair/plastic kinda smell when driving at 80mph or higher. It almost smelled like really concentrated new car or something. I guessed at it being the brand-new exhaust system "breaking in" and that at certain speeds the air pressure under and inside the car was lower than around the car, trapping some of the exhaust vapors and drawing them into the car.

That being said, i don't recall the last time i noticed it, but it was not past 10k miles? I have almost 21k now and i can say the issue is gone.

During that time, i also replaced my cabin air filter. i usually do it around the oil change and tire rotation time. Not that it's needed, but i find that moldy odors can settle in if the filter gets old.

[gregtan]

My Sportage aged 1.5 years and clocking 36,000 km still having this problem. Any permenant solution or I should live with it?