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1999 Sable Wagon Gas Fumes in car
I am really getting desperate about this problem. Please help if you can. Excuse the length but I am trying to hit all the important details.
Short version: Raw gas fumes from back of car fill car on hot days only. No check engine light. Details follow.
I did a search of the forum and did not find a whole lot on this. My car is a '99 Sable Wagon 3.0 4V 118k miles. The car suddenly fills up with raw gas fumes on hot days (around 100+ which is almost every afternoon here). The fumes are not coming from the front of the car and opening the cowl vent helps to clear out the fumes. The fumes are very intense in the car and really obvious around the back of the car possibly stronger near the filler but not 100% sure.
The tank, which did have a leak, was replaced about six months ago along with the carbon canister and fuel filter. This particular problem existed for long time before those repairs were done.
The car has been in the shop several times and several people have looked for any liquid gas leaks and sniffed around but they found nothing. There is a vent tube that comes out of a valve at the top of the tank. I think the other branch of the valve goes to the canister but I'm not sure ATM. The suck/blow test indicates that it has a check valve that allows it to vent. We temporarily put a piece of hose on this tube and put a bolt in it to see if that would stop the fumes. Things seemed fine until the next time I had the car out on a hot afternoon and it suddenly gassed me again :angry:. I have tried several gas caps, so I don't think a defective cap is the problem either. BTW I do not get a check engine light and yes, the dash bulb is good.
I need a way to figure this out or someone near me (Tucson) who can diagnose this problem properly. Also, I would love to know how the fumes are getting into the car. I have taped up the places where the tail light wires enter the car and checked the hatch seal but the car still fills up. IMO it really should not be making fumes this much in the first place.
Thanks,
S
I am really getting desperate about this problem. Please help if you can. Excuse the length but I am trying to hit all the important details.
Short version: Raw gas fumes from back of car fill car on hot days only. No check engine light. Details follow.
I did a search of the forum and did not find a whole lot on this. My car is a '99 Sable Wagon 3.0 4V 118k miles. The car suddenly fills up with raw gas fumes on hot days (around 100+ which is almost every afternoon here). The fumes are not coming from the front of the car and opening the cowl vent helps to clear out the fumes. The fumes are very intense in the car and really obvious around the back of the car possibly stronger near the filler but not 100% sure.
The tank, which did have a leak, was replaced about six months ago along with the carbon canister and fuel filter. This particular problem existed for long time before those repairs were done.
The car has been in the shop several times and several people have looked for any liquid gas leaks and sniffed around but they found nothing. There is a vent tube that comes out of a valve at the top of the tank. I think the other branch of the valve goes to the canister but I'm not sure ATM. The suck/blow test indicates that it has a check valve that allows it to vent. We temporarily put a piece of hose on this tube and put a bolt in it to see if that would stop the fumes. Things seemed fine until the next time I had the car out on a hot afternoon and it suddenly gassed me again :angry:. I have tried several gas caps, so I don't think a defective cap is the problem either. BTW I do not get a check engine light and yes, the dash bulb is good.
I need a way to figure this out or someone near me (Tucson) who can diagnose this problem properly. Also, I would love to know how the fumes are getting into the car. I have taped up the places where the tail light wires enter the car and checked the hatch seal but the car still fills up. IMO it really should not be making fumes this much in the first place.
Thanks,
S