Burnt rubber smell in AWD after using the donut spare

Daanderud · Post by **Daanderud** » 28 May 2005, 09:57

I recently had a flat tire in my XC70 and had AAA put on the donut spare. We noticed it didn't look inflated so we pumped it up to 50psi, it said 60psi MAX on the spare so didn't want to max it out. I drove it to an auto tire shop and just as I was arriving I had a very strong odor of burnt rubber. It was really bad. When I got out I smelled the burnt rubber inside the well of the tire but also under the engine. This is very strange as the auto repair place couldn't determine the origin. I drove it home with the regular tire on it but I occassionally smell the burnt rubber. Car is running fine. Could there be something wrong with the AWD? What do you think is wrong.
This just happened yesterday and drove it into the shop today. I did read the manual and said to check pressure inside gas cap lid and it says 60psi.

Appreciate any help on this issue.

Dennis

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 30 May 2005, 15:46

Daanderud wrote:I recently had a flat tire in my XC70 and had AAA put on the donut spare. We noticed it didn't look inflated so we pumped it up to 50psi, it said 60psi MAX on the spare so didn't want to max it out. I drove it to an auto tire shop and just as I was arriving I had a very strong odor of burnt rubber. It was really bad. When I got out I smelled the burnt rubber inside the well of the tire but also under the engine. This is very strange as the auto repair place couldn't determine the origin. I drove it home with the regular tire on it but I occassionally smell the burnt rubber. Car is running fine. Could there be something wrong with the AWD? What do you think is wrong.
This just happened yesterday and drove it into the shop today. I did read the manual and said to check pressure inside gas cap lid and it says 60psi.

Appreciate any help on this issue.

Dennis

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 20 Sep 2005, 21:30

I would suggest that you take your vehicle to the volvo dealer and have them take a look at the vehicle. It may be a coincidence that the rubber smell occurred at the time of the temporary tire was put on, or could be the result of under inflated tire. Your mentioned 50 PSI was the pressure, what type of gauge was used to measure it? Buy a digital or find someone that has a calibrated air pressure gauge with low reading scale...the gauge is important. Those cheap ones that have the white scale plungers are not very accurate and I would not relie on them. Also, what was the condition of the temporary tire after you removed it? Was it "scrubbed"? Meaning did the tread pattern look as it if was skidding or wearing crooked? Also, did you notice of the car was tracking to one side or the other when the temporary tire was installed? If it did, then the tire was scrubbing. Tracking one way or the other could be the result of the temporary tire not being the same size (height) as the normal tire/wheel. Also, the tire could have been under inflated, causing more rubber contact on the pavement, creating more kinetic energy, burning the rubber off the tire.

Another possibility is that you have a belt that is wearing that runs the accessories (A/C, water pump etc...). Take a good look at your accessory belts.

Finally, if it is your 4WD system, then you could have a more serious problem. All the more reason to take it into the Volvo dealership.