GAS odor!!

09vGT · Post by **09vGT** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 5:41 am

It's horrible.. I've taken it to the dealer and they "fixed it". Whenever the car is setting and idling a STRONG gas odor comes through the vents with the circulation OFF, and when you are around the car you can smell a strong gas smell too. It's not noticeable inside the car when ever the recirculation is turned ON. Now the car is out of warranty.. 37K miles.. so what do you think it is?

GMJAP · Post by **GMJAP** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 6:22 am

Might be a leaky fuel pump

TONY TAT2 · Post by **TONY TAT2** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 9:41 am

I read some where in the owners manual that the car does a evacuation process of the fuel vapors after 5 hrs of sit time,possibly has somethen to do with that.Wish i knew more.

star_deceiver · Post by **star_deceiver** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 10:12 am

Has something damaged a fuel line under the car?

09vGT · Post by **09vGT** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 10:18 am

Not that I know of.. We bought the car used in July.. and I never turned off the recirculation until recently... and thats when I noticed it.. It seems to be getting worse.. enough fumes to give you a headache..

star_deceiver · Post by **star_deceiver** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 10:59 am

Have a look in the engine bay, follow the fuel lines back from the injectors through their various paths back to the fuel tank. Also you can pull up the back seat to access the fuel pump.

Attached files

epcIII · Post by **epcIII** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 11:03 am

Wow, I had no idea the fuel pump was accessible under the seat! That's cool.

2oo5vibe · Post by **2oo5vibe** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 4:45 am

My vibe has been setting po441 and po455 codes for two years and if you fill it past 3/4 tank you can smell fumes. Now it will not pass inspection until repaired. It will leak (or spill out) some gas if tank is filled. At the rear of the vehicle, looking under it at the tank you can see 'gas tracks' where leakage has occurred. Anyone know what this might be?In the beginning, dealer said it was the cap. I knew that was BS, but I did replace it. I need some quick help, as I cant get a license plate until it passes inspection.

star_deceiver · Post by **star_deceiver** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 3:04 am

A line on the vacuum/pressure system for the gas tank has come loose or been broken. That and/or the filler tube is rotting out.

09vGT · Post by **09vGT** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 2:59 am

Took the car to the dealer today.. They couldn't find anything.. they said they too could smell exhaust in the car.. They said there wasn't anything that they could do.. This makes me very upset, still paying on a new car and have a problem that can be fixed! I also contacted a Toyota dealer with no help..

epcIII · Post by **epcIII** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 4:41 am

That really sucks. Can you try a different dealership?

09vGT · Post by **09vGT** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 4:43 am

Just made another appointment in a town nearby .. If they can't figure out whats up I'm not sure if I want to keep this car another 4+ years with it doing this crap.. It can't be healthy..

star_deceiver · Post by **star_deceiver** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 12:51 pm

Definate warranty issue if exhaust is getting in! The plastic cover under the rear seat for the fuel pump could have come loose... Hole in the tailpipe? Demand the dealer find what's wrong! Exhaust in the cabin is not good...

djkeev · Post by **djkeev** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 8:11 pm

Whoa cowboy!You start off with a fuel smell and now it is exhaust smell??Two totally different animals coming from totally different places.Tell us not only what smell it is but also what are you driving?Dave

09vGT · Post by **09vGT** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 1:39 am

Ok well I said gas smell but the service manager said exhaust smell.. I guess it really does smell like exhaust. There is an extremely strong exhaust smell around the car. The dealer said that when I turn the recirculation off it is sucking in the exhaust and there was nothing he could do. He said that they checked it front to back and found no leaks.. he said he even checked to see if it was burning oil and it wasn't. He told me that he took it into the shop.. backed it up to the wall.. and started it with fresh air coming in at full blast.. sure enough he said he could smell strong exhaust. Its a 2009 Vibe GT. Im not guessing that any other 09+ owners are having this issue.. I don't feel just really comfortable breathing in carbon monoxide. I would leave it on circulate all of the time.. but since during the winter windows to fog up and frost over.. I have to use the defrost.. which turns off the recirculation..

djkeev · Post by **djkeev** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 3:00 am

Ok, A few questions.We've ruled out gasoline smellWe've got a hot burned exhaust "gas" smellWhat about hot burned oil, could that be the smell?You should NOT smell exhaust anywhere except at the tailpipe. If you do smell exhaust from the front you've got major issues, take it to the dealer and have them fix it NOW!! If you smell "exhaust" towards the front of the car I'd wager a guess that rather than exhaust it is hot oil you may be smelling. If the heating fan is sucking it in, then it is coming from the engine area.It is too bad we can't teach smells via a keyboard!! All three of these smells are radically different.I'd look for a minor oil leak, big enough to drip and burn off of the hot engine, manifold or pipes, small enough to not leave puddles.I'd focus on valve cover gasket, Oil pressure sender, oil filter or bad oil filter seal, spilled oil from the fill from the last time it was serviced, etc.09, still under warranty, go to the dealer and have them fix it not just say "I dunno Mrs. Jones, you must be imagining it!"(have I mentioned my distaste for "professional " auto repair personnel? )Dave

09vGT · Post by **09vGT** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 3:11 am

I really don't think its oil because its the same smell from the rear of the car.. They said they looked ALL over and said no oil leak either.. I hope that the next dealer can fix it.. The service manager told me to keep checking for leaks since its got the 100,000 miles warranty.. The smell goes very faint almost not noticeable while driving, but will return just stopped for a short period of time like for a red light or stop sign.. If they still can't seem to find a solution what do I need to do?

star_deceiver · Post by **star_deceiver** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 10:26 am

Get them to do whatever it takes to fix the car. (I'd go as far as to request a new engine and exhaust system if they can't fix it)

09vGT · Post by **09vGT** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 8:30 am

I cannot get the smell to come back.. Very strange..

808 Vibes · Post by **808 Vibes** » Sun Dec 27, 2009 1:32 pm

Quote, originally posted by 09vGT Â»I cannot get the smell to come back.. Very strange.. See? I told you to stop tooting in the car.

star_deceiver · Post by **star_deceiver** » Sun Dec 27, 2009 4:29 pm

Smelt a fuel odor while scraping the windows on boxing day. Outside temp of -2C. High idle 1300 rpm. Engine had been running for about 30 seconds. Cold engine, cold O2 sensors, high idle, incomplete combustion... seems normal to me!

09vGT · Post by **09vGT** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 2:07 am

This would happen on relatively mild days.. after being driven for 15+ minutes.. I'm just glad its gone!

zyzyix · Post by **zyzyix** » Thu May 10, 2012 3:57 pm

Out of curiosity, do you still have this car and has the fuel smell come back?

star_deceiver · Post by **star_deceiver** » Thu May 10, 2012 8:08 pm

He still has his car.

I've noticed the smell only once since then and that was right after I filled the tank right to the top of the filler hose. I never filled it that high again and I've never smelt gas again as well.

zyzyix · Post by **zyzyix** » Fri May 11, 2012 3:52 pm

star_deceiver wrote:He still has his car.

I've noticed the smell only once since then and that was right after I filled the tank right to the top of the filler hose. I never filled it that high again and I've never smelt gas again as well.

That's good to know. Thanks

09vGT · Post by **09vGT** » Mon May 14, 2012 11:43 am

Sorry, just saw this post, yes, I still drive it. The dealer could smell it too, after parking it the garage and turning the air on fresh air mode. Really noticeable in the winter. I think what most of it was, was just exhaust fumes being brought back in through the air. I just turn on the recirculation, solves the problem.

zyzyix · Post by **zyzyix** » Mon May 14, 2012 2:34 pm

09vGT wrote:Sorry, just saw this post, yes, I still drive it. The dealer could smell it too, after parking it the garage and turning the air on fresh air mode. Really noticeable in the winter. I think what most of it was, was just exhaust fumes being brought back in through the air. I just turn on the recirculation, solves the problem.

I see. I'm glad you found a solution.

GAS odor!!

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