For Matt - That smell
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
For Matt - That smell
Sorry - Your thread will not allow me to post a reply - been trying for 2 days - I'm having big trouble with this forum & no other forums. 
Matt - get the car up on a hoist & go through the underside from one end to another. It sounds as though you might have picked up something of the road as others have stated. Other possibilities. - look at the diff pinion & side shaft seals for leaks. Sulphur Phosphorus Gear Oil additive stinks. The other possibility is Catalyst smell. Has this happened after filling your fuel tank with some different brand of fuel - this can sometimes stink. Have you picked up a load of fuel containing alcohol. Burning alcohol fuel gives off aldehydes which have a sickly sweet unpleasant smell. If you have ever been to Brazil you will know what I mean. I can't imagine why the brakes would smell peculiar - hot & burnt yes. They are either metal on metal or thin friction material on metal. One possibility. Do you have a leaking caliper? might be getting a little brake fluid onto the brakes. Good luck!
Matt - get the car up on a hoist & go through the underside from one end to another. It sounds as though you might have picked up something of the road as others have stated. Other possibilities. - look at the diff pinion & side shaft seals for leaks. Sulphur Phosphorus Gear Oil additive stinks. The other possibility is Catalyst smell. Has this happened after filling your fuel tank with some different brand of fuel - this can sometimes stink. Have you picked up a load of fuel containing alcohol. Burning alcohol fuel gives off aldehydes which have a sickly sweet unpleasant smell. If you have ever been to Brazil you will know what I mean. I can't imagine why the brakes would smell peculiar - hot & burnt yes. They are either metal on metal or thin friction material on metal. One possibility. Do you have a leaking caliper? might be getting a little brake fluid onto the brakes. Good luck!
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Mar 6, 2010 at 05:48 AM.
