sweet/burning smell & wheel grinding

[jsp]

I have a 2001 Outback 112000km which has been running great. I live in the Rockies, so winter is mostly sub zero temperatures and driving on snow, with winter tyres. Just recently I noticed a sweetish burning smell inside the car while driving - it was not unpleasant and I actually thought it was food or drink left in the car and though nothing of it. Around the same time I noticed a grinding noise which seemed to come from the driver's side front wheel whenever making a sharp left turn - only on snow or rough ground, not on smooth pavement. I got out of the car after such a turn and noticed a burning smell coming strongly from the driver's side front wheel. This smell was not sweet, but more like burning brake pads, so I thought it was something to do with the brakes sticking - I had them checked and cleaned etc and there did not seem to be anything wrong with them, and the symptoms continue. Tonight when I stopped at my house the sweet smell was coming from the passenger front wheel, and not from the driver's side. This makes me think that the smell may be coming from somewhere between the 2 wheels and it emerges wherever the wind blows it.

I'm now not sure whether the wheel grinding and the smell are connected. Does anyone have any ideas what the cause(s) of these symptoms may be? I live a couple of hours from a dealer and I have a feeling that the local independent may charge me for hours of labour without finding the cause of the problem.

Thanks for your help.

[tunered]

I have a 2001 Outback 112000km which has been running great. I live in the Rockies, so winter is mostly sub zero temperatures and driving on snow, with winter tyres. Just recently I noticed a sweetish burning smell inside the car while driving - it was not unpleasant and I actually thought it was food or drink left in the car and though nothing of it. Around the same time I noticed a grinding noise which seemed to come from the driver's side front wheel whenever making a sharp left turn - only on snow or rough ground, not on smooth pavement. I got out of the car after such a turn and noticed a burning smell coming strongly from the driver's side front wheel. This smell was not sweet, but more like burning brake pads, so I thought it was something to do with the brakes sticking - I had them checked and cleaned etc and there did not seem to be anything wrong with them, and the symptoms continue. Tonight when I stopped at my house the sweet smell was coming from the passenger front wheel, and not from the driver's side. This makes me think that the smell may be coming from somewhere between the 2 wheels and it emerges wherever the wind blows it.

I'm now not sure whether the wheel grinding and the smell are connected. Does anyone have any ideas what the cause(s) of these symptoms may be? I live a couple of hours from a dealer and I have a feeling that the local independent may charge me for hours of labour without finding the cause of the problem.

Thanks for your help.

i cant think of anything sweet related to a wheel bearing,a sweet smell will come from antifreeze but cant imagine the two related. i would check for leaks.where is international in the rockies?

[1 Lucky Texan]

Yeah, likely unrelated problems. The sweet (toasted marshmallow) smell is coolant. Have someone experienced with soobs thouroughly check out the cooling system - all the way from leaking hoses/heater core, radiator cap, stuck thermostat to weeping/leaking head gasket(a known issue on that year model engine).

 

Do that first while monitoring for additional problems with the wheel noise. possible brake,bearing, CV joint issues there I guess.