QuestionMy car recently started to smell strongly of fuel. The smell is much stronger on the outside of the car on the passenger side,after it has been driven.On the inside of the car the smell is very strong when stopped and lessens when driving,the smell also comes thru the a/c vents. I thought it could be a clogged fuel filter,so I replaced the fuel filter. This did not help at all. I have checked for leaks. There are no leaks.
I looked at the Saturn Repair Manual and was amazed at how many sensors it has pretaining to the fuel system. I don't have a diagnostic tester so I have no idea which sensor I need to look at or if that is even what I need to be looking at.
The car has 41,000 miles on it. I also was rear ended last year but the problem just recently started so I didn't think this could be related.
Thank you in advance for any help you can give me on repairing this problem.
Sincerely,
Priska Wilcoxon
AnswerHi Priska,
Sounds like the vapor-recovery system is malfunctioning. Possibly due to a vacuum line break or an over-fill of the fuel tank.
The VRS is comprised of a tube on the top of the fuel tank that runs to a charcoal canister under the hood. On the canister there are several vacuum hoses. The other set of vacuum lines is part of the EFE (Early Fuel Evaporation) system which shouldn't be your issue.
If you overfill the fuel tank, raw fuel is sucked into the canister which is not what it's designed for so it sometimes blocks the vacuum port and if there is no vacuum to remove the vapors, they will build in and around the vehicle.
I would remove and check the charcoal canister and replace if needed. If the canister turns out to be in good condition, then it is possible you ruptured one of the lines, possibly from the accident yet, carrying the vapor from the tank to the front of the vehicle.
Looking for a reputable service technician? My advice on finding a good technician is: Steer clear of the dealership and 'chain' stores like Firestone, Sears, Pep Boys, Monro Muffler/Brake, Midas, etc. as they usually only employ ONE ASE Certified Tech just so they can say they do and chances are, that guy is the asst. manager or manager and is not in the store to diagnose/repair vehicles anyway. Find a service location in the link below or get some names out of the yellow-pages and do a drive-by. Garages that employ ASE Certified Technicians will be marked with the 'Blue-Seal' insignia. If unsure about whether a place employs Certified Techs, just ask to see their credentials. ALL ASE Certified Technicians will be PROUD to show and display their certificate(s).
Thanks for the question, I hope this information was helpful to you.
Fred
Knucklebusters Used Auto & Truck Parts, Inc.
www.knucklebusters.us
570-453-0910
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