Burning Smell coming through the vents

[jason53818]

When the vent is on (either cold or heat) there is a strong smell of burning rubber.

 

I am wondering if it could be a belt? I thought the only belt was the serpentine belt and i didn't think it was that. Otherwise could it be rubber in the blower motor, maybe a bushing? Does anyone know where the blower motor is located?

 

It is a 2000 legacy outback wagon with the 2.5 interference motor in it. 103,000 miles. Automatic tranny.

 

Thanks,

 

 

Jason

[mdjdc]

Have you had the timing belt replaced? It could be a tensioner or idler pulley gone bad and the belt is burning over it. It could also be the sepentine belt. I would get it checked out ASAP.

 

The blower motor doesn't have any rubber in the workings, so I doubt that that is the problem.

[idosubaru]

It's usually a cv boot busted or leaking grease. Easy to diagnose, takes about 34 seconds to look at them.

 

Next most common cause would be oil dripping on the exhaust from an oil leak. Valve covers or a front seal would be the cause. Front seals should be inspected and replaced with a timing belt job...which brings up the next thing:

 

Youre do for a timing belt change, that's a 100,000 mile belt. I usually drop the coin and replace with a timing kit - which includes the tensioner and all the pulleys. Expecting 200,000+ miles out of the original pulleys is a bit much and not worth the risk to me.