Faint fuel Smell coming from trunk area

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Overworked9000, May 4, 2015.

  1. Overworked9000

    Overworked9000 Junior Member

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    I have pinpointed a fuel smell coming from the trunk area. I have removed all rear paneling and the backseat and cannot pinpoint the smell. I continue to get whiffs every now and then that is clearly fuel. I have yet to see the top of the fuel tank. Is there supposed to be an access panel under the back seat?

    I have no error or warning codes, so I don't suspect this is an overfill. Any advice?
     
    #1 Overworked9000, May 4, 2015
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    welcome! maybe the hoses to evap canister? not sure of the setup, you may wanna look at toyota repair manual for diagrams. all the best!
     
    #2 bisco, May 4, 2015
  3. Overworked9000

    Overworked9000 Junior Member

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    I have no idea how to get to those hoses. When I take off the backseat, I see a center cable connecting to the top of the fuel tank, but it appears I don't have any other access to other cables
     
    #3 Overworked9000, May 4, 2015
  4. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    ....got me...there is a vent to the outside over on the opposite side from the fuel port, the black conduit there. But its hard to see how fuel vapors would get over there. Its getting a little hard to smell gaso as the low sulfur specs are being adopted, but presumably there are some variations out there as the specs are gradually phased in. I don't know if its possible you picked up a particularly smelly batch somehow.
     
    #4 wjtracy, May 4, 2015
  5. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    I am thinking you need to look under car for fuel line leaks or something like that. We have not had many reports of anything like that but presumably road debris could cause some damage. In any case maybe have to have someone take look. You don't want to risk a gaso problem (I am assuming your nose knows).
     
    #5 wjtracy, May 4, 2015
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    iirc, there have been a couple threads. i would try searching. do a google search, it will bring you back here if there is anything.
     
    #6 bisco, May 4, 2015
  7. AzWxGuy

    AzWxGuy Weather Guy

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    I would take it to a local repair facility of your choice that has an emissions test set. Their hydrocarbon sniffer can detect ppm concentrations and find that leak pronto. Don't ever fool around with gasoline vapor, especially in an enclosed space.
     
    #7 AzWxGuy, May 4, 2015
  8. exstudent

    exstudent Senior Member

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    Gas is flammable. Vapor is EXPLOSIVE!
    Be careful and keep anything that could cause a spark away.
     
    #8 exstudent, May 4, 2015
  9. Overworked9000

    Overworked9000 Junior Member

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    thanks everyone. I'm going to take it in for diagnostics
     
    #9 Overworked9000, May 4, 2015
  10. Overworked9000

    Overworked9000 Junior Member

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    This is where the smell was the strongest. However, when I took the panels off, it just went away and I couldn't track it down
     
    #10 Overworked9000, May 4, 2015
  11. Overworked9000

    Overworked9000 Junior Member

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    I have taken the car to the dealer not once, but twice. I asked if they had a chemical sniffer when I dropped it off and they said yes. They did not find any smell (don't think they tried very hard) and I eventually was told they did NOT use a chemical sniffer. On the last occasion when they drove it up to me the person driving it said they smelt gas. They had some customer relations person there who heard him say it, then dismissed it as "very faint".

    This dealer pretty much sickens me with this activity, so I will go ahead and say their name. Mac Haik Toyota in League City, TX

    I will be taking it to another dealer.
     
    #11 Overworked9000, May 14, 2015
    Gavin Birnam likes this.
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