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Faint fuel smell inside..

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Old Mar 19, 2003 | 02:36 AM
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Faint fuel smell inside..

When I just start my car and waiting for red lights, I can sometimes smell the fuel. It can be smelt on both driver and passenger side.

However, after I switch on the "vent" button (circulate the air inside the car), I can't smell it anymore.

Plz help~
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Old Mar 19, 2003 | 03:45 AM
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You are in serious need of an inspection underhood. First off, don't drive the car, if you can help it. Any fuel smell is indicative of a leak of some sort, as it's supposed to be a closed system, and thus no smell should be present. Next, get your VIN and call the local dealer to see if you've had all your recalls done. There should be a fuel related recall that either was done, or needs to be done. If it hasn't been done, go get it done. If it has been, time to start hunting for the culprit.

Several people have experienced problems with a leaky FPD, and yet others have had bad injector o-rings, both of which cause leaks, which cause not only a fuel smell, but are the causes of countless carfires.

If you don't have the inclination to search for the problem yourself, get your car to a good mechanic and have them check your car out and fix whatever the problem is. If you've got the cash, I'd say go with some good preventative maintenance and have things checked out and replaced if they're over 60k miles old (that's just my number for when these things start to go south, not any statistical representation of when they really do).

Anyway, go get your car fixed, or it'll go up in flames.
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Old Mar 19, 2003 | 04:32 PM
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wowow~
are u serious???

but there's only faint smell~
and no fuel drop on the ground~

if i want to check myself, where should i start at?
thx
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Old Mar 19, 2003 | 04:44 PM
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Arrow

This is a fairly common occurance on FD's. Help yourself out and do a little searching in the forum using the key words "fuel smell".

Here's a thread to get you started:

https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...hreadid=113638
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Old Mar 19, 2003 | 05:04 PM
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so will the fiant fuel caught fire easily?
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Old Mar 19, 2003 | 05:20 PM
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That is why it is always safe to have a fire extinguisher in your 7, could save your car and your money in the long run.
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Old Mar 19, 2003 | 05:26 PM
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ok guys
how can i check the FPD is leaky??

thx
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Old Mar 19, 2003 | 07:14 PM
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If you smell fuel, it is probably leaking. I had to replace mine about 5 months ago. If the gas smell is coming from the left side of the engine bay, it is probably the FPD.
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Old Mar 19, 2003 | 07:22 PM
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i had the smell problem about 2 months ago. i had the FPD changed out and the smell was totally gone. well actually, i still smell feul once in a blue moon but that's probably cause i'm running really rich. 7 mpg =(
stop signs are an FD's worst enemy... comes with the san francisco territory
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Old Mar 19, 2003 | 07:30 PM
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Have your fuel system checked to see if it's holding pressure. Sometimes the charcoal canister goes bad, and vapor escapes. The canister in the rear by the rear subframe.
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Old Mar 19, 2003 | 07:39 PM
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OK
I just sniff around the engine bay, the gas seems from above the alternator or near the driver side.
The smell seems more noticable when the fan is on~

By the way, I know i am running very rich, about 300 km / 65 L, becaz i have fouled O2 sensor~
so...

plz help~
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Old Mar 19, 2003 | 07:41 PM
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Originally posted by sheepdin
OK
I just sniff around the engine bay, the gas seems from above the alternator or near the driver side.
The smell seems more noticable when the fan is on~

By the way, I know i am running very rich, about 300 km / 65 L, becaz i have fouled O2 sensor~
so...

plz help~
If you can smell gas odor in the engine bay while the car is idling, you most likely have a fuel leak.

Either take it to a mechanic, or break out the Service Manual and start checking the fuel system lines and components.
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Old Mar 19, 2003 | 08:04 PM
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ok
thx for help
i will book an appointment asap~
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Old Mar 19, 2003 | 08:11 PM
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You could always change the FPD yourself .
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Old Mar 19, 2003 | 08:51 PM
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but i am not sure if it;s the FPD????

So i there any way that I can inspect visually if the FPD has go south???


Thx
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Old Mar 19, 2003 | 10:03 PM
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or, just drive it around, wait until the engine catches on fire, and have insurance pay for new engine.
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Old Mar 19, 2003 | 10:34 PM
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Originally posted by sheepdin
but i am not sure if it;s the FPD????

So i there any way that I can inspect visually if the FPD has go south???


Thx
Just take it to your mechanic as soon as possible. If it is a fuel leak, it doesn't take much to spark an engine fire.
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Old Mar 20, 2003 | 12:20 AM
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o
if my engine catch fire, will my insurance company just give my car total lost or get a new engine???
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Old Mar 20, 2003 | 12:22 AM
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i can't smell it sometimes by the way
but i take my car to my mechanics soon anyway
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Old Mar 20, 2003 | 12:26 AM
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what mods do you have on your car? If they include a midpipe, you WILL be smelling fuel. I smell like fuel from just sitting in my car at a few stoplights. comes with the territory.

Danny
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Old Mar 20, 2003 | 12:47 AM
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i smelled fuel only under boost, i replaced my FPD and its gone!
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Old Mar 20, 2003 | 12:54 AM
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before you leave for the mechanics I would suggest taking a hose and running a light stream of water on the side...hmm... look at the black vac chamber that has two vacuum hoses going to it... on the pass side of it down under the upper intake manifold and also in the same area on the rear side of the upper intake manifold. There is two areas by the primary injectors where the fuel can pool and then spill off onto some hot turbos leading to a fire... just in case!!! O and fire extiguishers are 10 bucks at sears they even stick to the carpet like velcro! get one!
-Ryker
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Old Mar 20, 2003 | 01:29 AM
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Get a BC chemical fire extinguisher with a hose and a metal valve.
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Old Mar 20, 2003 | 03:56 AM
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ok
i go get an fire extinguisher then
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Old Mar 20, 2003 | 07:55 AM
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My car reaks of fuel.. Sometimes my close come out smelling like fuel heheh...
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