Fuel Fumes are filling our Garage!

SandyKC · Dec 29, 2001

I'm highly concerned about a problem I'm having with my 2000 Odyssey. As the gas levels get lower, the smell of gasoline proliferates from my van. If the tank is less than 1/4 full, then the air is so thick it's almost unbearable.

I've had the van in for service, but they said that a system pressure check showed there was no leak in the fuel system. Yet there is no vacuum suction noise when removing the gas cap for fueling.

I'm afraid of the health hazards this condition could cause, but don't know what to do given that the dealership found no problem.

Anyone had similar problems? ANYONE have any suggestions about what the problem could be or what to have the dealership do?

adam1991 · Dec 30, 2001

The dealer should have devices that can sniff for gas fumes, and can tell you how high the concentrations are. Just have him drop by your house one morning when you know the tank is low and it's sat overnight in the closed garage.

Reason number 2 why I don't buy houses with attached garages.

DWF · Dec 30, 2001

My garage is full of new car smell!!!

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2002 EP LX
1998 Civic DX, Blue
1992 Civic LX, Dark Red (154k miles, anyone want to buy it, runs great!)

Previous Hondas:
1987 Prelude, Gray (totaled in 2000 w/188k miles)
1978 Accord, Red

Other cars:
1982 Ford EXP (We all make mistakes!)
1969 Olds Delta 88 (with 10 speed bike in back seat in case it broke down)

Other:
2000 Yardman mower with a Honda engine.

adam1991 · Dec 30, 2001

1992 Civic LX, Dark Red (154k miles, anyone want to buy it, runs great!)

The problem is, it's not worth nearly as much to someone else as it is to you, who knows everything about it.

So you either dump it or else keep it. Many are the cars that, in retrospect, I should've kept...

(Doesn't it make you hate Hondas? "Yeah, I'd really love that WRX, but the damn Civic just keeps going and going and going and going and going and going....")

Guest · Dec 30, 2001

"Yeah, I'd really love that WRX, but the damn Civic just keeps going and going and going and going and going and going...."

They do have a habit of doing that, don't they?

Around here it's our Chrysler and Toyota that keep going and going and going and going and going and going...! It's quite annoying when you WANT a car to die and go away and it WON'T!

Michelle

Intrepid175 · Dec 30, 2001

Originally posted by poodleluvr:
It's quite annoying when you WANT a car to die and go away and it WON'T!

Michelle

Naturally Michelle!

That's a well documented law of nature when it comes to automobiles. When you want them to quit, they won't. When you've got a "really" annoying problem, it won't do it for the dealer, etc, etc.!

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Drive Safe,
Steve R.
'01 SS LX
Cargo tray, leather steering wheel, mud guards, alarm, fog lights, transmission cooler, in-dash CD player, Kelton subwoofer, under seat storage tray.

Guest · Dec 30, 2001

Luckily we haven't had to take the Ody back to the dealer for anything other than a paint protection package and mudflaps. But I do know what you mean, it happens to me all the time with other things.

Now, does this mean that since I don't want my Civic to die (yet), it will?

Michelle

J R Jensen · Dec 30, 2001

SandyKC, Did you have the dealer check to see if the gas cap was defective? I expect they did the system pressure check by attaching a unit to the gas filler pipe after
removing your cap. If all checked out ok I'd suspect the cap. Just a thought.

SandyKC · Dec 30, 2001

Originally posted by J R Jensen:
SandyKC, Did you have the dealer check to see if the gas cap was defective? I expect they did the system pressure check by attaching a unit to the gas filler pipe after
removing your cap. If all checked out ok I'd suspect the cap. Just a thought.

Good thought J.R. We haven't specifically checked the gas cap. If it did turn out to be something as simple as that, then I could rejoice like everyone else!! I appreciate the suggestion specifically directed towards my problem ;-)

Actually, I AM a happy Ody owner. I had a Dodge Grand Caravan before.. don't have enough bad things to say about that experience and wouldn't want to fill up the Ody board with Dodge debris. I'm QUITE happy with my Ody, odd smell and all. I've yet to be stuck with a load of groceries, two crying kids, and two car seats, in the middle of a 5 lane road with total inability to even THINK about opening my door to get out. (S-C-A-R-Y -- especially when it happens over, and over, and over, and over, and over and.. well.. I could be here all night.)

hachiroku · Dec 31, 2001

Originally posted by SandyKC:
I appreciate the suggestion specifically directed towards my problem ;-)

Definitely need to stick to topics here !

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-ROB-
'01 GG LX "Lagreat"(with lotsa stuff.S-T-U-F-F)

http://community.webshots.com/album/18601743AkjQIJiKqK

Guest · Dec 31, 2001

Definitely need to stick to topics here !

Sorry about the birdwalk.

pietro · Jan 3, 2002

Sandy.

Sounds like we had the same problem (or similar) on our 2001 EX. After numerous trips to the dealer and after being accused twice of " over filling" the tank, the dealer decided to remove the entire fuel tank. They found a defective tank (which is made out of plastic) in the sender unit area (fuel pump). The tank was deformed (poor molding process) thereby causing fuel to spill out. They ordered a and installed a new tank and sender unit cap (it was deformed as well)... Everything works well know.

Hope this helps.

jkues · Jan 3, 2002

It would certainly be worth trying a new gas cap. I just can't figure out why it would show up just when the tank is low on fuel....
I also think that I'd park it outside until the problem is solved because it sounds dangerous. Good luck.
John

Jerry O1 · Jan 3, 2002

Sandy,

PLEASE, do not keep this van in a closed garage until you find the cause of the vapor leak! Be aware that gasoline vapor is heavier than air and builds up at ground level and could be ignited by any spark or flame. It will travel inside your home, if the garage is attached and could cause an explosion and fire. I know of a fella who washed parts in gasoline in a DETACHED garage and had the vapor travel through a breezeway and into his laundry room, where it flashed into flame, upon contact with the water heater pilot light, and destroyed a lot of the house. The flames also traveled out to the garage and burned him seriously. Gasoline is a VERY powerful item and deserves the utmost respect, always. Good luck......

Jerry O.

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2001 Odyssey GG LX

pietro · Jan 4, 2002

Sandy.

One more thing. Our Ody passed the so called pressure check even though the tank was actually leaking. I think your check engine light would go on if your gas cap was defective.

Pietro

SandyKC · Jan 4, 2002

Thanks so much for the words of warning regarding the gasoline fumes and for the info on the gas tank leak situation. I took the van back in this morning.. and guess what? It passed Another pressure check.

I was more forceful and pointed out that SOMEthing was wrong if you can smell the fumes. They put it up on the rack, walked under it to see what they could see, and were "overcome by the fumes"! So, they are now trying - in earnest - to find out what is leaking. The service man said he didn't think a leak around a gas cap could cause that strong of a problem.

Basically, they have now provided me with alternate transportation and are keeping the van to try to fix the problem. I'll post the results when I hear something back.

Thanks All!
Sandy

Guest · Jan 4, 2002

Woohoo! Good luck!

Jerry O1 · Jan 4, 2002

Sandy,
Glad to hear you finally got them to "admit" there is a problem and that you're going to be safe. Good luck....

Jerry O.

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2001 Odyssey GG LX

SandyKC · Jan 5, 2002

Hi Pietro,

Would you mind emailing me the dealer's name that replaced your tank? My dealer said they replaced a couple of things which didn't alleviate the problem. They said the next step was to take off the tank.. so now my van is in for an extended stay.

I mentioned I knew of another person whose tank turned out to be the problem. They asked if I knew the dealers name because they'd like to call and inquire about what was tried / eliminated as problem areas.

If you don't object to sending me the info, I'd be grateful!

Originally posted by pietro:
Sandy.

One more thing. Our Ody passed the so called pressure check even though the tank was actually leaking. I think your check engine light would go on if your gas cap was defective.

Pietro

pietro · Jan 6, 2002

Sandy,

the dealer is:

Bell Honda
701 West Bell Road
Phoenix, AZ 85023

(602) 298-2028 (service?)

www.bellhonda.com

When we had our car repaired they said that Honda was issuing a service bullitin (I dought that this actually happened).

Again the leak was from the "Sender Unit" on top of the tank (not visible) in the forward section on the tank. Hope this helps, let me know the scoop.

Pietro

Fuel Fumes are filling our Garage!

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