Electrical smell after starting?

DONNY245

MEMBER
2011 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
104,000 MILES

This morning, I went out to start my car, it started, but immediately started to shake like it was losing power and shut off. I tried to start it again and it attempted to turn over but wouldn’t actually start. I also noticed what smelled like an electrical smell.

My first thought was the battery, but my battery was just charged a couple weeks ago, and I don’t think it’s a battery issue.

I got home this afternoon and decided to try to start it again, it took a few seconds to turn over, but it did start. Like this, it started to feel like it was going to lose power and shut off again, but this time it didn’t shut off and eventually started to run normal. I was able to put it in reverse and back it out of the garage, where it again felt like it was going to shut off but didn’t. After letting it run for a few minutes, I pulled it back in the garage and it shut off.

A minute or two later I retreated it again and it started perfectly and seemed to run fine, but again we noticed an electrical smell. Any ideas what my problem could be?

1 Reply

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,645 POSTS

Hi,

If you smell something electrical, you may not want to keep it in the garage until the problem is resolved.

As far as the issue, it could be anything related to powertrain management. Where does the smell seem the strongest? For example, do you notice it more inside the vehicle, under the hood, or from under the vehicle?

Let me know as much as you can. Also, check the wiring under the hood to see if there is anything obvious causing a short. Additionally, with the hood open and the vehicle a safe way from the house/garage, start the engine to see if you notice any smoke or odor from under the hood.

If the smell is stronger inside the vehicle, take a look up under the dash for evidence of a problem.

Let me know.

Joe