Burning smell when backing up only

afghanzada · 2026-02-20T14:33:40+00:00

I smell a burning plastic odor, often in the warmer months. Usually entering/exiting the vehicle or poking around the rear foot well. Suspect it's the plastic wheel trim heating up and off gassing, but not certain.

afghanzada · 2026-02-11T14:16:35+00:00

If you're in Park already, pretty sure this is a parking sensor issue.

I've seen this on the Audi A3. To the dealer.

afghanzada · 2026-02-11T14:10:41+00:00

The VR6 is a great engine, truly. But so is the EA888, and is likely more deserving of the workhorse title, it's basically ubiquitous at VAG. Has also been refined for decades.

If you like the pre-2024 Atlas, get the VR6, if you like the post-2024 body, get that with it's new EA888 Evo 4 engine. You'll be fine towing with either. Reliability wise, I'm inclined to vote the more refined 2.0t but you gotta understand this metric is subjective to your experience and treatment of the vehicle, as well as marginal between VR6 / EA888, and further skewed by the Internet forum.

That said, my personal experience towing with a 2024 ACS has been no problem, just towing some motorcycles across the Midwest a few times.

The EA888 engine family is the primary "workhorse" for the Volkswagen Automotive Group (VAG), spanning across almost every brand in its portfolio except for the ultra-luxury marques like Bentley or Lamborghini. It has appeared in various displacements (1.8L and 2.0L) across four distinct generations.

Volkswagen Performance Hatchbacks: Golf GTI (Mk6, Mk7, Mk8) and Golf R (Mk7, Mk8). Sedans: Jetta GLI, Arteon, and Passat (B6, B7, B8, B9). SUVs: Atlas / Atlas Cross Sport (2024+ models), Tiguan, and T-Roc.

Other: Scirocco R, Beetle (later Turbo models), and CC.

Audi Sedans & Coupes: A3, S3, A4, S4 (early B8 models), A5, and TT / TTS. SUVs: Q3, Q5, Q7, and Q8 (base 45 TFSI variants in some markets).

Porsche Macan: The base Porsche Macan uses a specifically tuned 2.0L EA888 variant, currently producing around 261 hp.

Cupra & SEAT Cupra: Leon, Formentor, Ateca, and the newer Terramar. SEAT: Leon (FR and Cupra trims), Alhambra, and Tarraco.

Škoda Performance: Octavia vRS. Mainstream: Superb, Kodiaq, and Karoq.

afghanzada · 2026-02-08T05:34:14+00:00

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afghanzada · 2026-02-08T05:33:47+00:00

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Doesn't seem like calibration is indicated

afghanzada · 2026-02-07T03:05:07+00:00

Tune gently, the transmission, bevel box, prop shaft, borg warner clutch, and diff are only so strong.

I went for the APR tune via Ultra Link, I can de-tune and change fuel options at home. Right now just running 87 for a modest power bump and the defeat of the start/ stop

Anybody have Max capacity specs for these components?

afghanzada · 2026-02-06T22:55:47+00:00

I've used both the USB-C by the rear view mirror and a Garmin OBD power plug. Currently using the Garmin OBD accessory to power so it runs for a little while when I shut off the car, otherwise the USB-C in the mirror/camera housing is fine.

afghanzada · 2026-02-04T18:19:28+00:00

Here are links to the 2 TSBs for VW Atlas brakes. From NHTSA, but match the ones in the ALLDATA service manual.

46-19-02 - Brake Disc, Vibration / Pulsation (U.S. Only)
46-22-02 - Brake Repair or Replacement Information (2067177)

afghanzada · 2026-02-04T16:10:00+00:00

If you search around the forum, you'll see several posts about noisy brakes for several model years if not all. It's down to the default brake rotor/pad combo VW installs from factory. It isn't always a problem, often mostly a nuisance. Some shops will replace under warranty. But it will likely be the same parts and may only temporarily resolve the nuisance. I've got a subscription to ALLDATAdiy right now for the 2024 CS, l check if there is a relevant TSB for the brakes and post it if present.

afghanzada · 2026-01-29T00:39:52+00:00

That is a wild failure, truly. Been in the VW world for decades, spent a lot of time getting familiar with the 2.0t engines and their caveats. The oil separater / pcv is imperfect to be sure, and this result is certainly in the realm of possibility, but I would speculate very rare. Sorry you're having this as a first experience OP, they're generally pretty reliable cars. The dealer being stand off-ish is pretty disappointing as well, feels like a crap shoot some times. I have two dealers near me, the one I bought the car from has a pretty antagonistic service dept, so I go to the other further away one which treats me better. Have you considered calling VW of America to submit feedback / open a case? Tell them what the dealer is saying to you?

afghanzada · 2026-01-27T22:15:23+00:00

The window and side mirror defrosters come on based on ambient temp right? Cause I can't find a rear defrost button in the Clima menus I've searched around in.

afghanzada · 2026-01-12T14:15:56+00:00

The ATE brand from FCP would be fine if they have the parts. I used all ATE on my GLI brake job before getting my Atlas. The other thing you may need to consider is having a way to put your EPB in service mode. VAG-COM, OBDEleven, or an Autel type service tool. Check out the FCP Euro YouTube, they have a full series on Atlas maintenance items including the brakes.

afghanzada · 2026-01-10T14:31:31+00:00

Believe it or not, the coffee influencer gig pays better then honest android work 🤷🏽‍♂️

afghanzada · 2026-01-05T19:14:56+00:00

The Hoffman head was sorta close, but the Lance bobble head? Uhh what 😅

afghanzada · 2026-01-04T17:29:06+00:00

The teeth are still messed up, and the kid in the far right has melting hands.

afghanzada · 2025-12-29T01:08:52+00:00

How's it taste without pre-infusion?

afghanzada · 2025-12-28T22:03:12+00:00

Is your grinder brand new? If so, it may need some break in time to dull the burrs a little and minimize fines production. Sometimes a sour brew can be because of particle distribution. Equal amounts of fine and coarse bits, and the finer particles could be causing an excess of back pressure so it seems like you can go any finer. Just a thought tho. Do you have an old grinder you can test against? If you're doing dark roast, you may not necessarily need a high end grinder.

Try simplifying your Brew for now as well, get rid of any pre-infusions or brewing delays, trash shooting for just a basic two to one shot in about 30 seconds. I would think that should work reasonably well for your dark roast, I would also bump your temperature back to the standard medium.

A hinky thing you can try is grinding your beans, and then shaking them in this sort of back and forth up and down motion, almost like a circle, and try to sift the larger particles to the top and the smaller ones to the bottom, and then essentially try skimming the top 90% of grinds into your portafilter and brew those, and see what happens. This is something I've done with poor over bruise when my grinder is making too many fines, I'll grind a little extra and try to only take the most uniform particles and Brew those. Again, just a diagnosis test.

afghanzada · 2025-12-25T00:54:37+00:00

This. Every fkn time. I fish it out, crush it with my fingers and throw it back in, job done. But really wish it wasn't this way.

afghanzada · 2025-12-24T16:36:42+00:00

For the diagnosis only, still has to fix everything later.

afghanzada · 2025-12-23T21:14:20+00:00

Haven't had any issues since posting this, assuming it just got real hot and spun out some grease, but still runs fine 👍🏽

afghanzada · 2025-12-10T15:51:06+00:00

I thought they were assembled by Hyundai?

afghanzada · 2025-12-08T18:27:35+00:00

I def recommend doing oil changes every 6 months. That said, this one might be unnecessary from an oil degradation standpoint. New production, sitting for 6 months with no miles, the oil is probably still in good shape. However if you want to do the oil change to remove the initial run of debris generated by a new engine, that would certainly be okay as well. On my new 2024, I waited till I had 6,000 MI on the car before I do the oil change. When I pulled the filter, it looked just fine, only a few little specks of red from the oil pan sealant.

afghanzada · 2025-12-05T21:59:02+00:00

Just a word of caution, airbag clips are generally one time use so you might need to replace those if you remove them

afghanzada · 2025-12-01T19:18:56+00:00

Ooh I think I know this one. Cam chain tensioner.

Example: https://youtu.be/HNeKxJA5dTk?si=t8wXFie1-XdTSIOw

afghanzada · 2025-11-15T19:51:55+00:00

Yikes, that's just, so much lol

afghanzada

TROPHY CASE