Burnt smell when starting heater

[RamseyLewis]

Hello,
When i turn ON the heater (with or without a/c) it smell like burnt electronical thing. I have the car since march and already used the heater a few time, but since 2 weeks i noticed this smell. It doesn't last very long (a few minutes) and It's not every time. I read something in another thread, someone said it was normal when the heater was not used for a long period of time. Do you already had this bad smell ?

Thanks

 

[N2STY]

It's just the dust that's settled on the heater element quite normal on startup of heater

 

[RamseyLewis]

It's just the dust that's settled on the heater element quite normal on startup of heater

Thanks ! I'm relieved. Do you know where the heater is located ? I my last car it was under the glove box. Maybe to clean it a little bit because It's really annoying.

 

[Alb]

The best way to clean it is to use it for a while at max temperature.

 

[Lovemyev]

Can you recall what an electric fire, with dust that has settled on the heater elements smells like ?.
Similar smell - right .
The resister heater on the ZS EV has a lot in common.
As you rightfully pointed out, you had your car in March 2022 ( as did we ) and therefore the heater has received very little use, now it has turned colder it is now getting some work to do, hence the strange smell.
Ours was the same, when we first started using it.
It was the same when we first had our Gen 1 ZS EV in 2019.
@Alb is spot on, the more you use the heater, then smell will gradually get less and less each time.
Using the App to pre heat the car is a brilliant feature over the previous Gen1 model.

 

[RamseyLewis]

The heater need some kind of break-in ? I will turn it on at max heat. Thank you guys

 

[Lovemyev]

The heater need some kind of break-in ? I will turn it on at max heat. Thank you guys

When you do this, watch how it affects your predicted range .
"Hey ........... Where is my range going" - I hear you cry .
Heaters on MAX like to munch down hard on your range.

 

[RamseyLewis]

When you do this, watch how it affects your predicted range .
"Hey ........... Where is my range going" - I hear you cry .
Heaters on MAX like to munch down hard on your range.

Ahah no worry ! I'll stay in the garage while allowing the heater to breathe fully for a moment .

 

[RamseyLewis]

Hello. The bad smell is gone . Took me a week of intensive use of the heater.