Hey guys. It's good to know there's a site like this, anyways here's my problem:

I bought a 2001 impreza rs 2.5 w/ about 37000 miles on it. I got it for 10,400 (I think thats a good price, whatever). Well all is well when I start smelling this fuel smell after I fill it up. So I drive it for a week thinking it will just go away, but it doesn't. Then the check engine light comes on. So I take the the Gillman Subura in Houston for them to look at it. They put it through a diagnostics test or something like that, which took like 2 1/2 to 2 hrs. Then the guy told me that he could keep going w/ the diagostics but it'll cost me more so I say "I'm not tryin to spend alot of cash here" so he says he'll keep it low. Finally he comes to me and says that they reinstalled the fuel cap and cleared the codes and I'm like $164 just to close the cap, and then he starts telling me that there was somethin up w/ the sensor (i guess o2 sensor). So I was like whatever, I was ready to leave. The gas smell was gone so i thought they fixed it.

A month later the smell is back. It's driving me crazy. The smell is so strong I feel like if my car was parked in the sun long enough it will explode. Then also when I was drivng on the highway, the engine light flashed for a few secs. then stopped. At that time the smell went away. I took it to Gillman again and left it for 3 days. They said they couldn't find anyhthing wrong w/ it. So I took it home. Next 2 wks. the smell is back I put some fuel injector cleaner in it, the next day the smell stops.

Now 3 months later, the smell's back. I put some fuel system cleaner in the tank but it still smells. ANYBODY EXPERIENCE THIS CHAOS!!! :confused:

Does this happen on very cold days?

Also you might want to get some of these CEL codes pulled yourself, or ask the dealer if they know what they were.

I know with the wrx a loose gas cap can cause a CEL so make sure that you close your gas cap all the way.

You need to find a mechanic that has an emissions-sniffing wand. If you can smell the gas, it should be very simple for a mechanic using one of those to track down the source of the leak. Seems like your dealership is not adept at this, for whatever reason...

02 and 03 WRX's had a problem with the fuel lines under the left cylinder bank leaking in cold weather. There is a flash out on it. SOA fixed it for free for me even though the car was out of warranty. I don't know of RS's having this problem but it's conceivable. I could only smell it when it was cold (below about 45) and with the vents turned to fresh air, not recirculate. Your dealer is incompetent. Good luck.

02 and 03 WRX's had a problem with the fuel lines under the left cylinder bank leaking in cold weather. There is a flash out on it. SOA fixed it for free for me even though the car was out of warranty. I don't know of RS's having this problem but it's conceivable. I could only smell it when it was cold (below about 45) and with the vents turned to fresh air, not recirculate. Your dealer is incompetent. Good luck.
Who did you have to call about the problem becuase my 02 is doing the same thing and i dont want my kid to be sniffing the gas fumes.

I didn't have to call anyone. I just took it to my dealer, told them the problem and let them know I knew there was a service flash out on it. They called SOA on my behalf and 15 minutes later, they came back and said SOA was going to fix it even though it was out of warranty. Search the forums and you should be able to find a copy of the flash to take to your dealer if necessary. It's not just a defect issue, it's a safety and emissions issue. You shouldn't have a problem unless your local dealer is shady. Meantime, turn your vents to recirculate and you won't get your kid high on gas fumes. To confirm if you are having the same problem, open the hood and smell down by where the intake runners meet the heads on the left cylinder bank. If the smell is strong there, you've got a fuel line issue related to the flash. If your dealer gives you any sh**, call SOA direct and complain, they should handle it no problem. Good luck.

You'll probably get fewer puzzled looks if you refer to it as a "TSB" instead of a "flash". ;)

I had the same exact problem as Acostafan--fuel smell in cold weather. I have a 2002 WRX, and the dealer replaced the fuel lines at no charge. My car was still under warranty (12,000 miles), but I was told there is a bulletin out on this problem. I had it fixed 2 months ago, and it has been fine since. They needed a whole day to fix it, FYI. DON'T PAY FOR THIS FIX--SHOULD BE COVERED EVEN IF YOU ARE OUT OF WARRANTY. If enough people point this out, maybe it turns into a recall.

Hi guys,
FYI, Subaru paid for my fuel smell issue (for a third time) as the TBS fix seemed not to conclusivley fix the issue the first two times around. I actually had my car in four times, but one time the results were inconclusive when the dealer kept the car overnight, never smelling fuel upon startup the next morning. The last repair had me calling Subaru Tech (Steve), and sinmce the firat repair was done under warranty, it was still considered a warranty repair. Believe me, this last time the dealer really smelled raw fuel. Why did it take three shots to fix it? Go figure.
Now here's a kick for you to assimilate. I was listening to National Public Radio's "Car Talk" program a couple of weeks ago. The subject was a fuel smell in a Subaru Outback. It seems the rubber fuel line was being permeated by fuel. The one host stated that he replaced that hose with fuel line hose (say what?!), and charged the lady $100.00. Sorry it took me so long to bring this up, but there it is, FWIW.
So far it's turned colder here again, and I might be irreparably psyched now, but I sniff for fuel, and wonder:" is that gas I smell?" I may need to charge Subaru for therapy! :D
good luck all
Darryl
PS I don't think I smell fuel now

I had mine fixed out of warranty by SOA for free. The fix cured it the first time. No trouble since.

I had mine fixed out of warranty by SOA for free. The fix cured it the first time. No trouble since.
Actually I was told by the Subaru Tech guy (not the dealer) that I'm the onlyone he's known to have the problem repeated after the "cure". Assumming the initial work was done correctly I cannot explain why the smell returned for a confirmed third time.
Is there a fuel smell if there are no noses to smell it, Grasshopper? :p

Well I know cars sometimes do this when it's cold, but mine will do it at 70 degrees or 60. And also the smell doesn't come from the vents it seems to come from the rear, like there may actually be a leak in the tank or something. But the weird thing is that it's on and off (like for 3 days it'll smell, then stop). And I know my tank cap is closed, becuz I always listen for the clicks, thats why I was confused when the dealer said they had to "reinstall my fuel cap".