what causes a fuel smell in the cabin of the car. I have recently started smelling this during initial startup. I don't drive the car everyday. Because it sits most of the week could that be a reason. Also I noticed a few times during the winter months when this would happen, thus I thought it was a cold weather startup occurence. Any help would be appreciated.

 

I've not seen this in 4-gens yet, but I strongly suspect its your fuel lines leaking. Not the hard metal ones but the rubber ones. When they get old/loose, they will leak when the car is cold and then soften up and stop leaking when the car is warmed up.

I would start at the fuel filter and follow the lines to the fuel injector rail.

In the morning, open the hood and then start the car. You would be able to smell the gas and find the leak. Remember it only takes a small leak to create a pretty big smell.

If you do find a leak and a turn of the screw driver won't fix it, then you will have to go down to your auto-store and get some HOSES MADE FOR FUEL INJECTION and replace the leaky line. Consult a repair manual for the proper way to work w/ gas under pressure.

 

if you have ever had your fuel pump changed, I would check to see if that is the source of the problem, maybe I can be a loose fuel filter hose (happened to me twice already)