Well, could be just the simplest things...

I had this same situation with my car - tearing my hair out trying to find out what it was. Turned out that I had simply driven over a disposable plastic shopping bag which had 'attracted itself' to my forward exhaust pipe and melted on. Found it by just looking under the car.

I tried to scrape as much of it off as I could, but still it took several weeks (months?) to dissipate completely. Aggh.

Check out your undersides. The speedo error was probably just a coincidence (cross fingers)

 

I had the exact same thing happen with my solo exhaust right after putting it on (only it wrapped around where it y's off to two pipes). Took me about a week to find it, and the smell lasted for months! I had to put all 4 corners up on jackstands and get under it and search.

 

Well since you had the electoral issue I would guess not a big but anything is possible
And being a smell of plastic you should try to pop the hood and sniff around left right front back of engine to pin point the spot that smells the strongest

Also I'm not sure we're the speed cable or wiring runs at maybe someone can chime in and that would be a starting point
MAYBE if it was bad that heated up and melted or stated a small fire that threw off the speedometer

This cars are so weird when it comes to sensors

Also I did see a write up on them having fire problems but have only heard of two cars my self that caught fire
But if you can trace down those articles and they said the ecm started them that would give you a starting point

I am sorry this sucks to have a problem of burning plastic

I will look around for the article of the possible fire hazards and post a link

 

Were you running the A/C at the time of the drive?

Mine started to overheat and melt a connection to the BCM module until the passenger floorboard. Occurred while running the blower on high. I suspect this is what has caused some of the fires that have been reported.

 

Thanks everyone. Yes, this is indeed driving me crazy. The smell seems stronger on driver side nearest the cockpit. I didn't get underneath but I did give the engine area a good scan for anything that could have caused the smell but came up with nothing. Car doesn't have a/c. So I know I am in the clear there. I appreciate the quick feedback. I love this forum. Excellent resource. If anyone else has any more ideas I would love hear them. Electrical issues are way out of my league!

 

You aren't clear there with no A/C. The fan motor runs on a resistor. If the resistor starts to melt because it's gone bad, you will get a hot wire smell. Does your vent fan work on all settings? Furthermore, if your clutch is starting to go, they are organic and can give a hot wire smell. They are a different smell over normal clutches. My first guess from what you described would be your clutch, however, you stated that your speedo went to 220km/h....so my next guess would alternator. Third guess would be fan resistor.....not sure where it is located on the Solstice...usually it's up under the passenger side though. Have you ever done anything to your ECM? Tuned? Replaced? Because that's where your smell is....over by the ECM....right behind the driver's side front wheel. Not a good thing...cause that could be your ECM or wiring harness.... The best you can hope for if it's either is that your ECM is frying, it's cheaper and a lot easier to do! If you can reach it and you know what you're doing, make sure the connection to your ECM isn't loose. Might be that the connection is starting to come loose...

 

Hummer H3 Shares Fire-Risk Parts With Solstice and Sky

 

This is a common issue in ALL cars. It is a fire hazard on all cars if your fuse doesn't blow and not addressed immediately! I had a Mustang and had the heater fan resistor go out. I had the smell...and would have had a fire had I not shut it off. And trust me, it was a Bit%$ to replace!! You had to lay upside down on the passenger seat to replace it!! Furthermore, I don't think anyone here has ever complained of this issue!!

 

I never complained of the smell, but my fan started acting up after a spring evening drive that ended with me running the fan on high to keep my wife from freezing. When it quit working entirely is when I found the melted contact on the connector to the BCM.

 

Have you done any work on the car lately? I once left a screwdriver sitting on the exhaust manifold on my 300ZXTT. It took about 50 miles before I started smelling the burnt plastic, smoke started shortly thereafter. It took awhile to figure out what the problem was. (Fortunately, it was a Craftsman screwdriver, so they just handed me a new one.)

When the speedometer glitched, did your other gauges - fuel, tach, etc. - do anything weird? If not, I'd look at the speed sensor (back of the transmission I think?) and the nearby harness. If then harness has been melted, I could see it causing the smell and the speedometer issue.

 

Here is the update. Turns out I have a weep in my coolant assembly PART#19130198 When the engine gets hot the the weep opens up and causes the leak. That will account for the smell and me not being able to find anything in the cool engine. Local GM Service (Canada) is quoting part replacement and labor to cost estimated ($252.62 for Part and $300-$500 labor) So on the high end approx $800! Seems out to lunch but I checked another Service Department (Chevrolet) and they were also within this range. I'm thinking of locating the part elsewhere and finding a local generic service tech to look after the job.

Wondering if anyone here can recommend a cost efficient location to buy the part? Part 19130198. Assuming the clamps currently on the engine will be reused....I hope. They look fine to me.

Any recommendations for finding this part at a good price?

I appreciate everyone's input on the issue to date.

 

That sounds more like they are replacing the waterpump. I found that part for $100 online. A hose shouldn't take 4 hours to replace!!! Make sure it's not your WP that's leaking before you spend the money on this repair!!!

 

Thanks. Will do. I agree...4 hours to repair seems outrageous. Been surfing online for the part and you are correct...part is about $125 give or take.

 

You also have to remember that the $125 is the discount price, I am sure you would not pay that price for the part thru the dealer service Department the site I looked at had the regular list price for the lower hose at $171.44. You have to figure in the cost of coolant & clamps, plus are they going to replace any other hoses? Unless the other hoses are know to be less than 2 years old I would replace them all while the cooling system is drained.

I would verify exactly what parts the Quote they gave you included.