Fuel smell in cabin.

[Rick Raven]

I have a 2004 Marauder with 55xxx miles. No mods performed on vehicle. I put a system in the trunk awhile back and I was in a hurry so I didn't bolt down the sub, and as a result it slides around and so far I have ruined two different rca cables; the amp is mounted to the box and it slides around and rips the ends of the rca cable's out. Anyway, I finally had some free time at work, so I pulled my car in and removed my old sub that I was no longer using and moved the existing sub to the passenger side of the trunk to give the rca cables more slack. I had the ground wire grounded to the inertia switch. When I removed the ground wire from the body, it tripped the inertia switch, unbeknownst to me. As I was about to run the new rca cable I couldn't open my doors enough cause I was in a lift, so I started the car and backed it up a couple feet. It was then that I noticed the car began to stutter and spit and the check engine light came on. I started it again immediately and it was still sputtering and the throttle was unresponsive totally. I was really upset cause I just came back from lunch and it drove fine. I hooked up the IDS to it (Ford's scantool) and the code was referring to fuel issues (fuel pump, inertia switch etc.) So I went to the trunk and pushed the button: problem solved, cleared the codes and went on. I ran the new rca cable and used two brackets and bolted the box to the bottom of the trunk so it wouldn't slide around anymore. Before I did that I looked underneath to be sure I wasn't going to puncture the fuel tank or any lines or harnesses. The job was done and I left work and went to a baseball game. The next day I was with a friend and we drove by the only gas station I use in town (mainly because we use them for the work vehicles, so I know the guys, and because they don't have ethanol in their gas either). I had about a qtr tank left, but filled up anyway. When I got back in, I smelled fuel. I thought that may be normal perhaps from the wind as I just filled up. But everywhere we went, when we got back in the car, it reeked of fuel. I thought it was on my clothes or shoes, but they didn't smell. It gave my friend a headache it was so strong. Even the next day (today) it still smells like fuel. I checked for puddles at almost every stop, but there were none. I looked underneath the trunk at the four screws I used for the brackets, and they are very close to the charcoal canister, but they punctured nothing and all four screws are in plain sight. They didn't hit anything. I am totally at a loss of ideas on what could be causing this fuel smell all the time, and out of nowhere Anyone have any ideas? I work at a Ford dealership as a mechanic so I have a connection on parts and master certified technicians also. Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated.

[Marauderjack]

Sounds like you may have drilled a hole in the tank........it is in front of the trunk well.......take a look!!:eek:

[Guittard22]

If you have not drilled into the tank it maybe is your Fuel filter maybe Clogs are not connected right or maybe just out of place . My Vic had this happen to when the car started to Shake From lack of gas get into the motor . So I changed the filter and bam lol

[burt ragio]

If you did not puncher the gas tank it sounds like the air vent hose at the charcoal filter may be plugged.

[RF Overlord]

That wall of text hurts my eyes...

[fastblackmerc]

I bet the tank was punctured during the sub installation.

[Joe Walsh]

Uhhhh.....

OH!

I thought that the thread said "fart" smell in cabin......my bad.

Carry on.

BTW: As others have posted, sounds like a hole got drilled in the wrong place.

[martyo]

I work at a Ford dealership as a mechanic so I have a connection on parts and master certified technicians also. Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated.

Check your technician price on a gas tank - it sounds like you are going to need one.

[Rick Raven]

If you have not drilled into the tank it maybe is your Fuel filter maybe Clogs are not connected right or maybe just out of place . My Vic had this happen to when the car started to Shake From lack of gas get into the motor . So I changed the filter and bam lol


If you did not puncher the gas tank it sounds like the air vent hose at the charcoal filter may be plugged.



I bet the tank was punctured during the sub installation.

I thought that too. but I looked underneath and all the screws are visible. Two of them are close to the charcoal canister but not even touching it. When I got to work this morning i immediately got out and looked at my fuel filter and it was also dry. Ill do an evap test on it later on.

[Mr. Man]

I'd venture a guess if it's coming into the cabin while driving the smell is coming from the engine area.

[Gryphonzus]

I am having the same issue with my 2003. It always smells like that for a few days until the amount in the tank drops. I have not been able to find my leak either. I will have to look into some of the ideas you have been given so far. Good luck.

[Mr. Man]

Check in around the fuel filler hose area.

[DWSTANG67]

If you punctured the tank it will leak though the trunk wall and behind the trunk fabric and lay in the bottom soaking in the trunk fabric. If its a small leak it may take awile to leak out of trunk

[Marauderjack]

He drilled the holes in the trunk well bottom so the tank was not punctured!!:beer:

I have been told to NEVER "top off" or fill the tank to the brim because you can flood the evaporative system......perhaps this is what has happened??:confused:

[Sully008]

This may be a stupid question but did you fill all the way to the top? Fuel could be coming out of the overflow/vent tube that runs in the rear fender.

[fastblackmerc]

He drilled the holes in the trunk well bottom so the tank was not punctured!!:beer:

I have been told to NEVER "top off" or fill the tank to the brim because you can flood the evaporative system......perhaps this is what has happened??:confused:

I do it all the time... fill to the top of the filler neck, in fact I just did it this morning, no smell.

[tbone]

I overfilled mine and it was spilling out on the ground. No smell.

[Marauderjack]

I have been told numerous times it will "water log" the evap canister so I quit doing it......never had a problem either when I did top it off......just an idea!!:bandit:

[VMARAUDER]

Maybe it might be the filler tube from tank, the have a tendency to get perforations that will allow vapors into the car...stronger at the driver side rear

[Rick Raven]

This may be a stupid question but did you fill all the way to the top? Fuel could be coming out of the overflow/vent tube that runs in the rear fender.

I didn't know that was possible. Seems like a shotty design. I'm leaning more towards that. I pulled it in Monday to do an evap test but the scan tool said to have 15-85% tank for test and I was on full so it would not perform the test. I inspected it with the help of a couple other technicians, and we couldn't really see anything. A couple people said the filter neck looked damp, at the coupler where it meets the tank but I didn't really think so. I removed the evap canister and there as no fuel in it but when I opened the trunk, the smell was so strong (much stronger than in the cabin) you could almost see fumes coming out. I'll definitely look there though. As the days go on the smell is lingering less and less. I think you may be on to something.

[Rick Raven]

This may be a stupid question but did you fill all the way to the top? Fuel could be coming out of the overflow/vent tube that runs in the rear fender.

I didn't know that was possible. Seems like a shotty design. I'm leaning more towards that. I pulled it in Monday to do an evap test but the scan tool said to have 15-85% tank for test and I was on full so it would not perform the test. I inspected it with the help of a couple other technicians, and we couldn't really see anything. A couple people said the filler neck looked damp, at the coupler where it meets the tank but I didn't really think so. I removed the evap canister and there was no fuel in it but when I opened the trunk, the smell was so strong (much stronger than in the cabin) you could almost see fumes coming out. I'll definitely look there though. As the days go on the smell is lingering less and less. I think you may be on to something.

[Comin' in Hot]

I just replaced my entire evap system, and I doubt its the evap system... I would put money on it that you put a hole in the tank.

[sailsmen]

I do it all the time... fill to the top of the filler neck, in fact I just did it this morning, no smell.

The crash worthiness could be compromised when fill to the top of the filler neck.

[Bruce Wayne]

We sell a lot of filler necks with the attached hose assembly, could this be the culprit?

[fastblackmerc]

The crash worthiness could be compromised when fill to the top of the filler neck.

I agree. I'll be sure not to get in any accidents after I fillup!

[VMARAUDER]

I replaced 2 filler necks 1 on my 1990 lincoln and then on my 98 GM because of gas odor
I however to confirm it was the filler neck, used my combustble gas detector. Replaced the filler tube and no more gas smell.
Just my 10 cents my 2 cent is free

[fastblackmerc]

I replaced 2 filler necks 1 on my 1990 lincoln and then on my 98 GM because of gas odor
I however to confirm it was the filler neck, used my combustble gas detector. Replaced the filler tube and no more gas smell.
Just my 10 cents my 2 cent is free

I guess you really shouldn't use a match or lighter to find a gas leak.

[VMARAUDER]

I guess you really shouldn't use a match or lighter to find a gas leak.
ROTF...thats funny

[Rick Raven]

I just replaced my entire evap system, and I doubt its the evap system... I would put money on it that you put a hole in the tank.

Look at the photo I posted. The gas tank is in front of the trunk and the 4 screws are clearly at least 18" behind the gas tank. I didnt put any screws anywhere near the gas tank.