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Old 10-20-2004, 08:00 PM   #351
curtiss
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I have a 2004 and it doesn't matter , warm and cold I smell fuel in the cabin. but not all the time but often enough to be upset.
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Old 10-22-2004, 11:36 PM   #352
yoVWmon
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10/22/04 - it's been about 4 days since I first noticed the raw gas smell on my 2002 WRX. After making a few calls to SOA, and talking with the folks at the dealer I am happy to say that they are taking full responsabilty for the issue. I want to thank everyone here that has posted on this problem in the past, this is a very serious issue, and it takes people like us to get things like this out to the public. If it weren't for this post, I would have never known about the TSB, it would have taken me longer to find the problem, and I would have ended up loosing $360.00 getting this thing fixed.

In closing, Subaru is aware of this problem, they know that it should be covered under warranty. As long as you do your homework and let them know you are aware of the issue, I don't think they will give any trouble when it comes down to fixing it.
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Old 10-26-2004, 05:34 PM   #353
blukestrel
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Angry

I tried to get this fixed with the recalls and even brought the Tech Serv. Bulletin to the dealership, but the new service manager at 49er Subaru said my 50k+ car's drivetrain warranty did not cover fuel delivery and that was that.

I was just on the phone with Sub of America and they claim the dealer needs to reproduce the problem because there are "different fixes for different fuel leaks!". I said couldn't they just do the fuel rail repair or several repairs and see if that does it and he claimed it could make the problem worse!

I explained that in CA the dealerships (aside from Tahoe) are below snowline and we buy Subarus, among other reasons, to get above snowline. I live at 3,200 feet, and rarely experience freezing temps, but did twice last year. But we will not be able to reproduce a serious problem that occurs around freezing and below. I explained that people don't just live in Arizona or Alaska, and in fact, many people live in California! He just insisted that yes, they would fix it but not until I could reproduce it for a tech. So I am faced with intermittently facing this problem again or spending a night at So. Lake Tahoe at my expense in order to share the experience with the dealership there.

Who's in for contracting a hit? Violence notwithstanding, I'm opting for filing a complaint with the NHTSA web site.
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Old 10-26-2004, 06:25 PM   #354
yoVWmon
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My Wrx was doing it at 30 degrees....
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Old 10-26-2004, 10:19 PM   #355
daWagon
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mine's doing it at ant temp now! it may be a different problem - possibly a cracked line (due to bad line/connection???) - but it is definitley in the same place as all the cold weather leaks. i can see it dripping at idle. i'll see what the dealer has to say in the net couple of days. i'm at 47xxx miles so i'm not optimistic about a free fix, but i'll bug them about one.
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Old 10-26-2004, 10:43 PM   #356
yoVWmon
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I have over 50K miles on mine, you just have to call SOA, and demand that they take care of it if it's something that has to do with the TSB. I would try and make friends with the dealer folks, they don't really care who pays them as long as they get paid. If you can get in good with one of the dealer guys they may just take care of you on SOA pocket. Not trying to sound cheep, but if SOA made their cars with better gas lines they wouldn't have any trouble, to be honest I have seen cars with 200K on them that have neve had any problem like this. It's unsafe, you know it, they know it, and they will take care of it no matter how many miles you have, you just have to let them know you did your homework.....

Quote:
Originally Posted by daWagon
mine's doing it at ant temp now! it may be a different problem - possibly a cracked line (due to bad line/connection???) - but it is definitley in the same place as all the cold weather leaks. i can see it dripping at idle. i'll see what the dealer has to say in the net couple of days. i'm at 47xxx miles so i'm not optimistic about a free fix, but i'll bug them about one.
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Old 10-27-2004, 02:57 PM   #357
neonblond
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Default gas smell, and its not me!

I also have this problem. I called Flatirons Subaru in Boulder CO they told me that Subaru is covering it under warrenty, so if anyone is having problems with their dealer getting them to cover it call John or Bret @ 303-443-0114 they should be able to help. I am bringing my rex in next Fri. let you all know if the smell is history.
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Old 10-27-2004, 07:13 PM   #358
daWagon
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thanks for the advice yoVWmon! went in to the locall dealer today and simply said I had a fuel leak problem due to the manufacture defect in the fuel line, and showed the guy the TSB and asked waht he thought! he made a bunch of calls for about 20 or 30 minutes. he said that he talked to SOA and they asked him if i was a regular customer and he answered yes!! i have never seen him before, i just bought the car used from a private party about a month ago . . . awsom cust service!!! he also explained how that the TSB is just a reference for the service guys to diagnose problems and not a recall - which I knew. i have 47xxx miles and the warrantee that the fuel lines fall under is the 34000 mile one - forgot what it's called! so all said and done, i just have to pay $70 cost for the parts, and SOA said they would pay for the labor . . .

should they pay it all? . . . maybe, but at least they are taking partial responsibility!

this also all happened without them popping the hood and seeing the stage 4 mods, so my fingers are still crossed till it's done and doesn't leak hopefully since SOA is footing the bill the mechanics won't care about the mods. not that the fuel lines should be justified in busting up with a higher flow annyway - even if they did, which I don't think is the case, that just show's how poorley designed they were in the first place . . . right!

I'll keep ya'll posted!
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Old 10-27-2004, 08:06 PM   #359
yoVWmon
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Nice to hear that their going to take care of you..... $70.00 for parts is not bad, I would let that slide if I were you, the labor is what cost so much, I hear that they charge 8 or 9 labor hours for this job, at my dealer thats $75 and hour, yikes.......
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Old 11-02-2004, 04:51 PM   #360
Dr. All Surface
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Last winter I had the TSB-mandated repairs performed on my 2002 WRX at no cost, which seemed to fix the problem. Now, as the temps are beginning to drop, the smell is back and the car is out of warranty (64kmi).

Should be interesting if I'm going to have to pay this time. Anyone else have the repair "fail"?

Matt
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Old 11-02-2004, 05:23 PM   #361
KIMUTAKU
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i started to have fuel smell from the cabin IMMEDIATELY after i had my catless uppipe put in!! there was no smell at all a while back when i had catback and downpipe installed.. and certainly none even before that.. (been thru 2 cold winters of -10 Celcius, driven in snow, etc)

doesn't matter how cold now, the smell comes under hard throttle and before shutting off the car (idle)..

i'm not sure if my problem is related to any of yours.. but i think the uppipe is the cause here.. (pretty damn sure)

maybe i'm running super duper rich????...
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Old 11-02-2004, 07:20 PM   #362
daWagon
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so I'm an iddiot

turns out i didn't check the vin #'s on the recall and my lines are already staggered (that's what the TSB calls to do). so i guess i just have a crappy line - like most of us seem to have! i'm going to just do the parallel fuel line mod thing . . . eventualy. Until then, i'll just have to keep the handy-dandy extra long screw driver in the car for when the line crapps out.

too bad my good experience with the dealer turned out to be somewhat useless in fixing the problem. i did get the chance to ask about some other issuses and they did all of the other, 'real' recalls. so all was not lost!
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Old 11-03-2004, 09:02 AM   #363
Darryl
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I had the fuel line replaced a year ago because I smelled gas at below 32f. Now at 49f I smell fuel again. Time to call the dealer again.
Darryl
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Old 11-03-2004, 11:29 AM   #364
CtGT
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Well guys, I am joining the club. Started my car yesterday morning, about 20 degrees, and there was fuel all over my y-pipe on my intercooler. Checked it out last night and one of the clamps going from the metal fuel line to the rubber hose was loose. I hope that takes care of the problem? How many clamps are there per side like that, I could one see 2??
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Old 11-05-2004, 09:56 PM   #365
yoVWmon
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Wait just one minute daWagon, their has been several cars with this same problem all the way through 2004. Don't let them tell you no because of the VIN number, my car was not one of the ones listed and they still covered it.

Everyone here needs to stand up to SOA and demand that this problem is taken care of on their pocket. SOA made the car, they know about the bad line, and they will warranty it if you stand up to them. I'm not saying to call them up and azzh0!e, call them, be nice, and demand that they fix it. Don't back down.

Call or e-mail your state Attorney General, I did and their was no questions asked from their on in!

Also, if you have had this issue taken care of by SOA once, it is under warranty for one year from the date of fix. If the smell comes back get it to the dealer right away, it is paid for....



Quote:
Originally Posted by daWagon
so I'm an iddiot

turns out i didn't check the vin #'s on the recall and my lines are already staggered (that's what the TSB calls to do). so i guess i just have a crappy line - like most of us seem to have! i'm going to just do the parallel fuel line mod thing . . . eventualy. Until then, i'll just have to keep the handy-dandy extra long screw driver in the car for when the line crapps out.

too bad my good experience with the dealer turned out to be somewhat useless in fixing the problem. i did get the chance to ask about some other issuses and they did all of the other, 'real' recalls. so all was not lost!

Last edited by yoVWmon; 11-05-2004 at 10:05 PM.
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Old 11-11-2004, 10:56 AM   #366
CtGT
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Brought my car in to the dealer yesterday and they couln't find anything wrong and SOA is saying the dealer has to reproduce the problem if they are going to cover it. Basically they are saying I may have to leave my car down there for a week or so and wait for temps to drop?
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Old 11-11-2004, 12:30 PM   #367
Stanley
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CtGT,
I'd require a statement in writing from the dealership stating that they will not cover it under warranty. These stories make me very glad that there are more manufacturers jumping into the awd car market segment...
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Old 11-11-2004, 12:35 PM   #368
CtGT
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Stanley,
It's not that they won't cover it under warranty, they won't cover it until they can reproduce the problem and so far it has only happened once. Apparently a fuel soaked y-pipe isn't enough evidence to do anything yet.
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Old 11-11-2004, 07:14 PM   #369
Jon [in CT]
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CtGT
Stanley,
It's not that they won't cover it under warranty, they won't cover it until they can reproduce the problem and so far it has only happened once. Apparently a fuel soaked y-pipe isn't enough evidence to do anything yet.
Yup, that's exactly how SOA is handling this safety defect. Earlier in this thread I explained:
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show...&postcount=310
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Old 11-16-2004, 01:22 PM   #370
stevo2234
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dunno the manufacture date, but its an 05

it seems that after i get off the interstate and come up to a stoplight i start to smell it
coming out of the engine bay

only mods are a Blitz cat back, removed air box, forge BOV, and strut bars
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Old 11-16-2004, 01:47 PM   #371
TimStevens
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On an 05! Wow, can't believe they wouldn't have fixed this in the newest models...
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Old 11-26-2004, 12:42 PM   #372
niftybee
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Dang! This just happened to me this morning. Wow, it's pretty scary to smell that much gas from the engine! I couldn't see the leak though. Thanks to everyone for posting info. It was very helpful.

Does anyone know if the hoses from the Samco "ancillary" silicone hose set will replace the hoses in the TSB? Is silicone recommended to use with fuel?

Here's a link to Oakos' site with a pic of the hose set. I'm not trying to advertise for them, it's the only picture I could think of right away:

Samco ancillary silicone hose set
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Old 11-26-2004, 02:49 PM   #373
BonesXMahones
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Im so glad this isnt just my car havng this problem, it happened last winter but it was my first time with the car so I shrugged it off. Now that it has gone below freezing again the problem has seemed to resurface and I had my girlfriends father look at it as I could see nothing but only smell it (He is the head of the automotive department at the local college). He said it is probably a tiny leak in one of the clamps, but now I see this is a common problem, its back to subaru I go! So glad I found this I just hope it doesnt cost an arm and a leg with 72XXX on it.
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Old 11-26-2004, 11:32 PM   #374
SlideWRX
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Quote:
Originally Posted by niftybee
Does anyone know if the hoses from the Samco "ancillary" silicone hose set will replace the hoses in the TSB? Is silicone recommended to use with fuel?
Silicone might be, but not these hoses. those hoses are a vacuum hose & coolant hose set IIRC.

Tom
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Old 11-28-2004, 12:54 PM   #375
lilsix
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My 04 has this problem now. However, I didn't notice this until I installed my catless uppipe. I don't know if this a coincidence or not. But then again, it wasn't that cold out yet either, until now. Should I take it in to the dealer or not. I'm worried because of my UP and DP mods. I'd hate to get black flagged. Oh, btw I only have 6k for mileage.
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