4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999) Visit the 4th Generation forum to ask specific questions or find out more about the 4th Generation Maxima.

smelling gas in the cabin area

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 29, 2010 | 10:00 PM
  #1  
najee1062's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 242
From: Baltimore, MD
smelling gas in the cabin area

the last few days i've been smelling gas in my cabin area...any ideas what this could be
Old Sep 29, 2010 | 10:12 PM
  #2  
schmellyfart's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (46)
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,816
From: AZ
I've also been smelling gas these past few days, though I do drive with the windows down..

Last edited by schmellyfart; Sep 29, 2010 at 10:22 PM.
Old Sep 29, 2010 | 10:15 PM
  #3  
ef9's Avatar
ef9
Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 689
From: Keaau, Hawaii
Is your exhaust fumes running rich as well? In my old Supra, the car was running pig rich and the exhaust fumes somehow came back into the cabin if the windows were open.
Old Sep 29, 2010 | 10:42 PM
  #4  
najee1062's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 242
From: Baltimore, MD
I Don't know if I'm running rich... how would i find out?
Old Sep 30, 2010 | 12:13 AM
  #5  
max ride 41's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,789
From: in my max, pa. :p
no offense here man, you guys happen to know that we have a search feature in these forums? i know this question has been answered 10 ways from sunday.
Old Sep 30, 2010 | 12:49 AM
  #6  
Funk-O-Meter's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 59
It's likely your fuel tank vent hose (rubber) or your fuel filler neck (metal). Especially if you notice it when you've just filled up.

See both metal fuel and vent pipes have a rubber hose section behind the left rear tire that are about a foot long between the metal pipes that run down from where you fill and the tank. The vent hose especially gets old and dry rotted and cracks form and fuel leaks out when you top your tank off and fuel runs back into it.

In the case of the fuel filler pipe sometimes they get rusted over the years and develop holes. This was a known problem with 3rd Gen's and Nissan actually issued a recall for them.

I'm dealing with this myself with my 3rd gen. When I fill up I smell gas until I burn a few gallons. If I over fill it runs out onto the ground.

The vent hose is 5/8" and about a foot long on the 3rd gen and you'll probably have to source it from a good auto parts store like NAPA. Bull**** auto parts stores don't carry 5/8ths. If the hose clip tabs on the tank end are oriented in an inaccessible direction you'll have to twist them around with a pair of pliers or drop the tank so you can get it off.

If the filler neck has rust holes then you'll have to get one from Courtesy Nissan, a stealership or a junkyard.
Old Sep 30, 2010 | 05:14 AM
  #7  
LtnMAXX's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (38)
 
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 457
From: Passaic, NJ
had the same issue, in my case it was the fuel tank vent hose(rubber). went to the stealership to get it. its accessible thru the the bottom of the back seat. it was a PITA to replace
Old Sep 30, 2010 | 11:04 AM
  #8  
najee1062's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 242
From: Baltimore, MD
Originally Posted by max ride 41
no offense here man, you guys happen to know that we have a search feature in these forums? i know this question has been answered 10 ways from sunday.
No offenses to you either man, but it's Thursday and I did do a search that found 0 answers only suggestions or what might be. I've done the search of possibilities and found nothing but still smell gas. My tank is practically empty and was when I smell the gas, but once before I smell gas right after I fill up and haven't since then which was a month ago. I think if it was a leak I would smell it all the time or maybe not... IDK

This was why I posted this in hope to maybe come across someone having the problem after all that was suggested it could be and found that it wasn't, Again no offense but would you have any fix or suggestion other than a negative comment?
Old Sep 30, 2010 | 12:03 PM
  #9  
asand1's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,942
From: Reedsport, OR
Funk-0-meter is on the right track. pull the rear seat up and remove the fuel pump access panel. Check there for leaks.

An empty tank has more room to make fumes, could be why its worse then.
Old Sep 30, 2010 | 12:29 PM
  #10  
najee1062's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 242
From: Baltimore, MD
Originally Posted by asand1
Funk-0-meter is on the right track. pull the rear seat up and remove the fuel pump access panel. Check there for leaks.

An empty tank has more room to make fumes, could be why its worse then.
Thanks Funk-o-meter and asand1 I'll check this out as soon as we get over this heavy rain storm... I'll post my findings then.
Old Sep 30, 2010 | 02:10 PM
  #11  
Swazey's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 539
From: MA
SEARCH and READ through ALL the threads that come up. I searched for a few days and found more than enough to get me started on trial and error testing. You will find a bunch of possibilities. You need to be a little more specific. Does it smell all the time? Does it smell when your tank is topped off? Figure out where the smell is coming from and see if there are any gas leaks. Is your check engine light on??

Most likely it is your gas cap being cracked, a leaky vacuum line or your EVAP system not working properly. (these are the 3 most common causes that I found when I searched for help). There are a lot of people with a similar problem. My car started to smell like gas, and a week later my check engine light came on and I pulled an EVAP Canister Purge Control Valve failure. Sure enough when I checked the Evap canister the charcoal inside was disintegrated and the control valve plunger was completely stuck.

The more specific you are the easier it will be to find out what the actual problem is.

+1 on the fuel tank vent hose. I need to check that out myself
Old Oct 7, 2010 | 11:05 PM
  #12  
RustyMax's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 51
From: Buffalo NY
I'm having the same problem but I'm thinking it's my evap valve. Damn evap control system code.
Old Oct 8, 2010 | 02:25 PM
  #13  
angela mckinnie's Avatar
Newbie - Just Registered
 
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1
I have a 1996 and the check engine light came on after I got my emissions done on the car. The code came back po443 the evap cntrl system purge valve c fault what do I need to do to get this fixed?
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
AaronL
5th Generation Maxima (2000-2003)
15
Aug 8, 2020 10:31 AM
My Coffee
New Member Introductions
15
Jun 6, 2017 02:01 PM
ef9
4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999)
10
Oct 4, 2015 08:43 AM
uttadms31
4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999)
2
Sep 30, 2015 05:24 AM




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 01:59 PM.