I have a 1997 Trans Am that suffers from the dreaded fuel odor syndrome. I've searched this forum for past fuel odor posts, and while there are plenty of posts, there are few, if any posts on how people solved the problem.

On my car, the smell seems worse at idle, and comes through the heat vents. When I am driving it, there is no odor detected at all. But when I come to stop, it's noticable.

I replaced both vacuum lines going to the purge control valve. They were bad, but it doesn't seem to have helped much.

There is no noticable smell in the back of the car by the canister, but under the hood it's noticable.

Some other info.....no SES light....car seems to run fine.....no obvious gas leak anywhere.

Has anyone solved this? Any help would be appreciated!
-Rich

 

I have had a fuel pressure regulator leaking gas into the fuel pressure regulator. The vacuum lines control the regulator along with the interior climate control. There was a fuel smell in the interior after sitting for awhile.
Fixed my problem.

Good luck

 

The above post sounds really likely if it's coming in via your fuel vents since the vac lines for those are right next to each other on the intake. But if its noticable IN the engine bay too that gets me wondering....

It sounds almost like a fuel leak in the engine bay somewhere. That's the only thing that comes to mind when you say it smells only when idling and not when driving.

The only places fuel can really leak are anywhere along the fuel lines, the tank, the canister, the fuel line to the EVAP solenoid, the fpr and the fuel rails. Maybe check your evap solenoid out?

 

I was wondering about the fuel pressure regulator, but it seems most people have the smell all the time. I don't, only when the car is idling at a stop, do I notice it.

I did notice, when changing the purge control valve vacuum lines, they seemed to be a little 'wet' inside. Not dripping or anything, but slightly wet.

I haven't put a pressure gauge on the fuel rail yet....but after the car has sat for awhile, if I press on the shrader valve, there still is pressure in there. So I don't think it's the rail or injectors leaking.

 

If the canister is saturated with fuel, it could cause liquid fuel to enter the purge line.

 

Well, I think I know what the problem is. I connected a vacuum gauge to the fuel pressure regulator, and pulling just a small amount of vacuum resulted in fuel being sucked into the gauge. I then reached behind the engine and felt the regulator, and my hand was wet with fuel.

Looks like I need a new regulator.

 

I changed my regulator.....and the smell is gone!

Thanks for all your help, folks!
-Rich