Fuel smell while heater is on.

skoobidoo · 12-09-2005, 07:56 PM

Im not sure if this is the right forum for this thread but I figured it would be the closest. If not, feel free to move it to the correct one

My wifes '02 WRX has a bad fuel smell when she turns on the heater after the car has been in the cold (never when it has been in the garage). I know this means the hose has contracted causing the clamps on the fuel hoses to become loose. My question is:
Is there a specific fuel hose/clamp that is notorious for becoming loose causing a fuel leak? I find it sort of odd that it is only noticable while the heater is on.

I have poked around and checked for loose hoses/clamps and visible signs of fuel but I cant find any. The smell does seem to be coming from the passenger side of the intercooler though, near the turbo.

Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance
Mike

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Mulder · 12-09-2005, 08:06 PM

Known issue on the 02s, read here-
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=131755
You smell it while the heater is on because the vent fan is running and drawing in outside air, since the fresh air intake is at the base of the windshield it will pick up any fuel vapors from inside the engine compartment.

rewt · 12-09-2005, 08:09 PM

Search much

From what I've read, the smell comes from fuel lines under the intake manifold on the passenger side of the motor. Supposedly, the line transitions from hard line to a soft line (clamped of course), and when the temperature gets low enough, the hard line contracts more than the soft line.

I've heard you can see this line when looking in between the intake manifold runners where your turbo inlet is...

Might want to also search this forum (there's a sticky about this at the top) and the Maintenance forum, too.

skoobidoo · 12-09-2005, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rewt

Search much

From what I've read, the smell comes from fuel lines under the intake manifold on the passenger side of the motor. Supposedly, the line transitions from hard line to a soft line (clamped of course), and when the temperature gets low enough, the hard line contracts more than the soft line.

I've heard you can see this line when looking in between the intake manifold runners where your turbo inlet is...

Might want to also search this forum (there's a sticky about this at the top) and the Maintenance forum, too.

Awesome, thank you for the help guys! I actaully did search, but I searched on the wrong forum, LOL. Shoulda known to come here first

Thanks again, I appreciate the help
Mike

subeforlife2002 · 12-09-2005, 08:28 PM

Yeah I just had the same problem the other night when it got very cold. I was leaking fuel and I checked it out...The leak was coming from the fuel line under the driver side intake manifold. Where it goes from hard to soft. I did get a turn or two out of he clamp and I'm all fixed now.

pityr · 12-09-2005, 08:55 PM

Take it to the dealer and have them replace it if you have the extened warrantee. Otherwise do a search here and find the TSB that was posted about this. It will tell you everything you need to know to fix this.

Mulder · 12-09-2005, 08:56 PM

Already posted the link, no need to search.

skoobidoo · 12-09-2005, 10:45 PM

Hmmm, was there ever a recall on this problem? The reason I ask is I read the link provided above and went to tighten the clamps, and sure enough the clamp under the V in the manifold is stripped. Yay!! I cant even get it to turn without stripping it further. So I figure if there was a recall on it I can take it in to get it fixed.
Anyone know if there was a recall? I have the mechanical knowledge to take the manifold off and fix it but I dont have the time to mess with this ****.

Thanks
Mike

cdvma · 12-09-2005, 11:36 PM

No recall, just a TSB.

jlam86 · 12-09-2005, 11:39 PM

btw, they only grant it to a CERTAIN batch of 02 and 03s. not 04 or up

skoobidoo · 12-09-2005, 11:57 PM

So if I dont have a warranty Im SOL huh? I thought I read in the link that some people without warranties were actually lucky enough to call SOA and get the work done for free. Maybe I'll be lucky as well, but I wont hold my breath.

Thanks for all the help guys! Wish me luck.

lilsix · 12-10-2005, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skoobidoo

So if I dont have a warranty Im SOL huh?

I am pretty sure SOA has decided to not pay for those repairs also.
No way! Go figure!

12-09-2005, 07:56 PM	#1
skoobidoo Scooby Specialist Member#: 91159 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: St George, UT Vehicle: 2005 WRX Wagon WRB	Fuel smell while heater is on. Im not sure if this is the right forum for this thread but I figured it would be the closest. If not, feel free to move it to the correct one My wifes '02 WRX has a bad fuel smell when she turns on the heater after the car has been in the cold (never when it has been in the garage). I know this means the hose has contracted causing the clamps on the fuel hoses to become loose. My question is: Is there a specific fuel hose/clamp that is notorious for becoming loose causing a fuel leak? I find it sort of odd that it is only noticable while the heater is on. I have poked around and checked for loose hoses/clamps and visible signs of fuel but I cant find any. The smell does seem to be coming from the passenger side of the intercooler though, near the turbo. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance Mike * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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12-09-2005, 08:06 PM	#2
Mulder Trust no one Moderator Member#: 11170 Join Date: Oct 2001 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: NYC Vehicle: 02 RAV4 MT 15 WRX/11 CRZ	Known issue on the 02s, read here- http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=131755 You smell it while the heater is on because the vent fan is running and drawing in outside air, since the fresh air intake is at the base of the windshield it will pick up any fuel vapors from inside the engine compartment.

12-09-2005, 08:09 PM	#3
rewt Scooby Specialist Member#: 60794 Join Date: Apr 2004 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Somewhere in Northern DE Vehicle: 2007 Solstice GXP	Search much From what I've read, the smell comes from fuel lines under the intake manifold on the passenger side of the motor. Supposedly, the line transitions from hard line to a soft line (clamped of course), and when the temperature gets low enough, the hard line contracts more than the soft line. I've heard you can see this line when looking in between the intake manifold runners where your turbo inlet is... Might want to also search this forum (there's a sticky about this at the top) and the Maintenance forum, too.

12-09-2005, 08:28 PM	#5
subeforlife2002 Scooby Newbie Member#: 100667 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Richmond, IL Vehicle: 2002 WRX stage 4 Blue	Yeah I just had the same problem the other night when it got very cold. I was leaking fuel and I checked it out...The leak was coming from the fuel line under the driver side intake manifold. Where it goes from hard to soft. I did get a turn or two out of he clamp and I'm all fixed now.

12-09-2005, 08:55 PM	#6
pityr Scooby Specialist Member#: 31719 Join Date: Jan 2003 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Portland	Take it to the dealer and have them replace it if you have the extened warrantee. Otherwise do a search here and find the TSB that was posted about this. It will tell you everything you need to know to fix this.

12-09-2005, 08:56 PM	#7
Mulder Trust no one Moderator Member#: 11170 Join Date: Oct 2001 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: NYC Vehicle: 02 RAV4 MT 15 WRX/11 CRZ	Already posted the link, no need to search.

12-09-2005, 10:45 PM	#8
skoobidoo Scooby Specialist Member#: 91159 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: St George, UT Vehicle: 2005 WRX Wagon WRB	Hmmm, was there ever a recall on this problem? The reason I ask is I read the link provided above and went to tighten the clamps, and sure enough the clamp under the V in the manifold is stripped. Yay!! I cant even get it to turn without stripping it further. So I figure if there was a recall on it I can take it in to get it fixed. Anyone know if there was a recall? I have the mechanical knowledge to take the manifold off and fix it but I dont have the time to mess with this ****. Thanks Mike

12-09-2005, 11:36 PM	#9
cdvma Scooby Specialist Member#: 21980 Join Date: Jul 2002 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Central MA Vehicle: 2002 PSM WRX (Sold) 2017 BMW X5	No recall, just a TSB.

12-09-2005, 11:39 PM	#10
jlam86 Scooby Specialist Member#: 86822 Join Date: May 2005 Chapter/Region: VIC Vehicle: 2004 WRX PSM	btw, they only grant it to a CERTAIN batch of 02 and 03s. not 04 or up

12-09-2005, 11:57 PM	#11
skoobidoo Scooby Specialist Member#: 91159 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: St George, UT Vehicle: 2005 WRX Wagon WRB	So if I dont have a warranty Im SOL huh? I thought I read in the link that some people without warranties were actually lucky enough to call SOA and get the work done for free. Maybe I'll be lucky as well, but I wont hold my breath. Thanks for all the help guys! Wish me luck.