In the past couple months my '98 S70 has started randomly turning its hazard lights on while I'm driving. It only happens about once every couple of weeks, and I can easily just turn them off, but I'm worried that it's a symptom of a larger problem. Any ideas?

Also, I've noticed that it has a strange smell sometimes, particularly when I turn the heat on -- sort of like hot glue. Sound familiar to anyone?

 

I would replace the switch and see if that fixes it.

 

Yep; hazard switch is common failure point on these cars..
http://www.fcpgroton.com/product-exe...d+Flash+Switch

The smell could be the heater core; another common failure point... luckily they're pretty easy to replace.

 

How important would it be to replace either of those if that was the case?

 

It depends on how important it is to you:

1. ...to come out to your car after it sat overnite, but it won't start because the battery is dead due to the hazard lites being on all night long..
2. ... or to be driving down the road when the heater core completely lets go and sprays scalding hot H2O on you and your passenger...

So you pays your money and takes your choice... If you're a DIYer, both of these are easy to repair. The switch just pops out; plug in a new one and pop it back in.

For the heater core, first make sure that's what the promblem is. Ck for damp carpet on driver or passenger front floor area. I can point you to a good write up if you're interested. If you search this site, you're sure to find it.

 

I'm starting to smell maple syrup with my heat on. Although this reminds me of delicious maple Jimmy Dean sausage :-) ...I know it's merely a newly leaking heater core :-(

I have looked and can't see or feel any wetness. Must be a very small amount on it. I'll look into replacing that come springtime weather. And my keyless battery just stopped working...GAR!

 

my hazard light come on ocassionally because of the poor location of the switch, when the radio station is changed