pop cover off of area (three rusty phillips screws where fuel pump enters fuel tank and examine hose connections first ,they transition with a rubber hose,steel(rusty) ferrule which tends to collect dust and water,thus the rust and potential leak area
Strong smell of gas in cabin 2002 1.8T Tiptronic
So I read the looong thread about the recall for the fuel line and heat shield etc. According to the Carfax there aren't any outstanding recalls on my car.
Here's what I experienced today: I had the car stored in my storage unit for about 3 or 4 days. I went and got it out today and it started and ran fine. It has been very cold a few days ago, but today was around 20 degrees, but with a wind chill probably close to 0. I know you're not supposed to do this, but when it gets to be -20 a LOT of people around here leave their car running when they fill up. So, I left the car running while I filled it up. I noticed a very strong smell of gas outside the car as I stood by the pump, but didn't really think much of it. Then I got in the car and the smell of gas was probably worse in the car than it was outside. It was so bad I had to drive with the windows down. I stopped after a few blocks, popped the hood, and didn't smell any gas underhood. To be clear, I drove it before filling up and there was no gas smell prior to the fill up.
If this is the fuel line issue as related in the recall, will VW still honor the recall?
Also, do you think fueling while the car was running had anything to do with it, though it never seems to affect my other cars (Honda, Subaru) -- I only ask in case there is some Passat thing about fueling while the car is running. No need to lecture me about fueling while running, I won't be doing it again on this car while it's in this condition...
Thanks in advance for any advice or insight you can offer.
Here's what I experienced today: I had the car stored in my storage unit for about 3 or 4 days. I went and got it out today and it started and ran fine. It has been very cold a few days ago, but today was around 20 degrees, but with a wind chill probably close to 0. I know you're not supposed to do this, but when it gets to be -20 a LOT of people around here leave their car running when they fill up. So, I left the car running while I filled it up. I noticed a very strong smell of gas outside the car as I stood by the pump, but didn't really think much of it. Then I got in the car and the smell of gas was probably worse in the car than it was outside. It was so bad I had to drive with the windows down. I stopped after a few blocks, popped the hood, and didn't smell any gas underhood. To be clear, I drove it before filling up and there was no gas smell prior to the fill up.
If this is the fuel line issue as related in the recall, will VW still honor the recall?
Also, do you think fueling while the car was running had anything to do with it, though it never seems to affect my other cars (Honda, Subaru) -- I only ask in case there is some Passat thing about fueling while the car is running. No need to lecture me about fueling while running, I won't be doing it again on this car while it's in this condition...
Thanks in advance for any advice or insight you can offer.
1 - 19 of 19 Posts
cchief22, thanks so much for the reply. Could you guide me toward the cover you are referring to -- is it accessed from inside the car, through the back seat, or trunk or what? Thanks again for any help you might offer.
I only have wagons but on those it's easiest to access the fuel pump cover from the inside through the rear passenger door and then behind the rear seat. I've never had a sedan but I think they are about the same.
Thanks Iowegian, I appreciate it. It's supposed to warm up quite a bit starting tomorrow, so I will tear into it then. I have a heated garage (full of another car and 4 motorcycles), but didn't want to risk all those fumes in an enclosed space. Will keep you all posted.
I did call my local VW dealer -- well, the one that's 95 miles away -- and they checked and my car has had all the recalls done. The heat shield/fuel line recall was performed in 2008, but I guess that doesn't guarantee nothing has gone wrong in the meantime. Thanks again everyone!
I did call my local VW dealer -- well, the one that's 95 miles away -- and they checked and my car has had all the recalls done. The heat shield/fuel line recall was performed in 2008, but I guess that doesn't guarantee nothing has gone wrong in the meantime. Thanks again everyone!
yes as Lowegian says you have to take out rear seat and it is slightly forward of rear axle centerline
If the recall was done in 2008 and something else related to the recall happened now, VW is still responsible for the repair. I just got the fuel tank replaced on a 2005 4motion wagon after I had been told that the recall work had been done in 2009. At that time the vent valve was not leaking so they only did the other parts of the recall. The recall code is 26E5/R5. Since I needed the tank replaced it took about a month to get my car back. Don't expect the dealership to be of much help if the problem is related to the recall. You will need to call VW and get a customer care specialist involved. If you do a google search for that recall code you can find the document that was sent to the dealerships at that time which is a good guide for you to try to find if your problem is related to the recall.Thanks Iowegian, I appreciate it. It's supposed to warm up quite a bit starting tomorrow, so I will tear into it then. I have a heated garage (full of another car and 4 motorcycles), but didn't want to risk all those fumes in an enclosed space. Will keep you all posted.
I did call my local VW dealer -- well, the one that's 95 miles away -- and they checked and my car has had all the recalls done. The heat shield/fuel line recall was performed in 2008, but I guess that doesn't guarantee nothing has gone wrong in the meantime. Thanks again everyone!
Hey SCT, thanks for the reply. I was thinking they would still be responsible, and when I spoke with the dealer today I hinted that even if they didn't find anything wrong in 2008, that doesn't mean there's not something recall-related wrong now, after the fact. They're a pretty on-the-ball dealership I have to say -- as soon as I told the service guy over the phone this morning what was happening, 5 seconds later he was reading off all the details of the heat shield/fuel line recall to me. He basically said if it's related they would take care of me. Only issue is driving the car 95 miles with the heavy gas smell inside, though I do have AAA premium membership which I believe covers tows up to 100 miles. In any case, I'm still going to look behind the seats as some of the other posters suggested to see if I can't pinpoint the problem area. Thanks to everyone who chimed in here!If the recall was done in 2008 and something else related to the recall happened now, VW is still responsible for the repair. I just got the fuel tank replaced on a 2005 4motion wagon after I had been told that the recall work had been done in 2009. At that time the vent valve was not leaking so they only did the other parts of the recall. The recall code is 26E5/R5. Since I needed the tank replaced it took about a month to get my car back. Don't expect the dealership to be of much help if the problem is related to the recall. You will need to call VW and get a customer care specialist involved. If you do a google search for that recall code you can find the document that was sent to the dealerships at that time which is a good guide for you to try to find if your problem is related to the recall.
The fuel tank recall does not apply to FWD cars.
Correct. We weren't necessarily talking about the fuel tank, but the fuel line going into it. The poster talking about the fuel tank was just saying that even though his car had been inspected in the past, they still replaced his tank later, similar to the situation I may be in with the fuel line. According to the original AP report on the recall "The 4motion cars had potential fuel tank ventilation valve damage. Additionally, some Passats with an automatic transmission may have an underbody heat shield that could be subject to damage. And some with 1.8T engines have a fuel line that requires potential replacement." I believe all three of these issues were lumped into the same recall - someone correct me if that's not right. My dealer told me that my car had the heat shield and fuel line inspection performed back in 2008, so no, I'm not looking at the fuel tank venting issue you appear to be referencing.The fuel tank recall does not apply to FWD cars.
Now I need to look into mine about that recall. I had it performed and no replacement of the line was necessary at the time. Last year, it did crack open and start dripping. RIGHT OVER THE CAT! Fixed it up with rubber fuel line, but when it gets cold, it weeps a little. Smelled it last night. Just may call up the dealer this afternoon and see what I can talk them into.
Yesterday it warmed up to about 32 degrees -- which is pretty warm compared to the 3 or 4 days previous -- so I thought I'd start the car and see if I get the gas smell again. Nothing this time. I drove it about 50 miles to burn off some gas -- in case it is leaking when topped up for whatever reason. Again, no gas smell at all. Just to remind everyone, I smelled the gas right after filling up, and it was cold that day, about 0 degree with the wind chill, probably 10 degree air temp. I also pulled the fuel pump cover in the trunk area and it looked dry, but that doesn't mean it was dry when I was smelling the gas a few days ago. I will attach some photos later today of what I saw under the fuel pump cover. The 'ferrules' were rusty as described by cchief in his post above. More to come as time allows. Thanks everybody who took the time to chime in here!
car needs to be running (outside not in garage if you indeed have a leak) when you check area described, you can sorta see fuel lines from in there but more importantly your leak could be coming from the return line, the fuel system is a closed loop,if the car runs chances are you have a good sealed line to the engine, the return line is to atmospheric pressure , however it does have to elevate to enter back into tank so could be that there is a leak you would not see it if car is off. If continued smell in future pull rear wheel/fender liner and examine hoses in that area,tank hose, vapor canister,etc.
Thanks cchief22 for sharing your knowledge. I will try again with the car running and make sure the car is outside when I do it. I will also have hoses etc. in wheel well area checked as soon as I can. Thanks again!
+1 on what VAGguy said. My 1.8T FWD cracked open a fuel line in the engine compartment right over the CAT, apparently a fairly common problem. I've got it patched with rubber fuel line but feel it is a basic design/construction issue on VW's part. It doesn't really fit your description of problem, except that when the leak is "on" there is a HUGE smell of fuel inside and outside. Also in (and visible in) the engine compartment, so probably not the OP's issues. But still worth a visual check, and hope you don't start on fire. I'll do some looking about that recall as well, there may be a tiny glimmer of hope.
Thanks for chiming in, FamousDan. Yeah, I don't think what you're describing is the issue I'm having. I did pop the hood and take a smell when I smelled the gas, but that was the one place I didn't get a strong smell of gas -- I couldn't smell any from underhood, in fact.
Recently had to replace a factory installed Bosch fuel filter (~19 yr old AEB 1.8T) because it had a small split where the cylinder is crimped to the ends. As this failure was after the fuel pump, the fuel mist, odor and high fuel consumption were obvious.
Leave your car running for 3-5 minutes while watching for fuel dripping from a spot ~6-8 inches forward of the pass. rear wheel...that's approx where your fuel filter's located.
If your fuel filter is bad(?) resist the temptation to complete the replacement work inside a building or without a fire extinguisher handy.
Leave your car running for 3-5 minutes while watching for fuel dripping from a spot ~6-8 inches forward of the pass. rear wheel...that's approx where your fuel filter's located.
If your fuel filter is bad(?) resist the temptation to complete the replacement work inside a building or without a fire extinguisher handy.
My fuel consumption seems unchanged after putting another 75 miles on the car. Probably not a bad idea to inspect the fuel filter in any case. I appreciate all the good ideas folks, thanks!
So, last week on the way home to my Mom's for Thanksgiving, I swung by the VW dealer in Bismarck and had them completely inspect my fuel system. They said everything was good. The service adviser said there is some tech info in a bulletin about filling these cars when the motor is running (which was the scenario I had related above). He said it can flood the evap system and/or lead to the charcoal cannister becoming soaked with gasoline, leading to the smell I had. I may not be describing that exactly as he did as I am going only from memory. In any case, I have sworn off filling the car while running, and hopefully won't have that problem again (even though it is so tempting when the air temp drops to -20 degrees -- pretty common in these parts in January and February). Since it happened the one time it hasn't happened again so the evap/charcoal cannister explanation seems plausible. Thanks again to all who offered advice and insight!
1 - 19 of 19 Posts
- This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Volkswagen Passat Forum
Passatworld is a forum community dedicated to Volkswagen Passat owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about mods, Quattro, Turbo Diesel, reviews and more!
Full Forum Listing
Recommended Communities
