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Just got my 05. Enjoying every moment of it. Though, I do have a question.
I mentioned this in another thread and did a search and found that overfilling the tank can result in a gas scent. I do not think this is it however. Does anyone else have this issue or an idea of WTF is going on?
The smell seems to be coming from the front of the car. It is a strong petroleum scent. My eyes water and burn as I'm driving. My throat is sore from driving it with the fumes.
If I roll the windows up with the top on, the smell diminishes to nil. If I crack the window, it's back again at any speed.
It's stronger at slower speeds, but very detectable at highway speeds also. I stink like gas/oil when I get out of the car after driving.
If it's gas, don't give up yet. As for mine - I was wrong it is not heat related. I can smell gas as soon as I come to a stop with the car cold. I jumped out of the car and with the motor still running stuck my nose everywhere - in the tailpipe, in the filler door, under the hood. When idling it is very faint, but it is coming from the area of the charcoal canister.
It might be the purge solenoid is dead, leaving the charcoal saturated, or a leaky fitting or hose on the canister. I think I'll let the dealer take it from here. Does anyone know if an aftermarket muffler voids the warranty?
I do not know. All I know is another LT member drove my car for about 4 miles, smelled the same smell, and got a headache from driving it. I'm going to ask Andy to come for a ride with me and I'll show him what I'm talking about.
I also noticed today that when I get on the 2nd cam and then come to a normalized speed, the scent is very strong.
Where is this canister located please? I would be willing to try and seal it off as mentioned in another thread - a test to see if that's where the fumes are coming from.
I keep thinking about this but I don’t know the exact system and set up of the fuel system on this car. That said, could this be a return line from the engine bay back to the tank? Maybe a seal somewhere along the return line. Assuming there is a return line on this car. After accelerating, medium to fuel on it, does the excess fuel after you let off the throttle go back to the tank?
Again, I don’t know if our car has this sort of system or not but something to think about.
Any way, I would have it at the dealer ASAP to get it fixed. This car is way fun and you bought it to have fun with. Not avoid driving because your getting sick in it.
Red hose is from the tank.
squeezing the sides of the fitting releases it. I was thinking of sticking a cork or something up it to close it off, but no point tonight because it is dumping rain.
There is an o-ring up inside the fitting that could be damaged or dislodged by the plug.
I found this diagram of the evap system on another thread. Sorry I lost track of which one and can't give credit.
I appreciate the praise, but I've had my Elise less than a month, so I'm making this up as I go. I don't want something bad to happen to your car based on my advice - proceed with caution!
Well, I went to the Lotus Dealer today. When I arrived, they asked me why I don't have the top off and windows down. I explained that it was the only way to keep the smell out of the cabin. I told them about the 3 total times I've gotten sick now.
My mechanic there said that he is going to "smoke out" the leak and repair it. He asked if I had a CEL and I told him I don't... He mentioned something about a flap being possibly stuck open?
In any case - I was encouraged to know that he has a way to track this, and is going to fix it for me when the clam, resistor pack, alarm, and headlamp assemblies are replaced next week sometime.
If I find anything out I will post about it here. If anyone else has any ideas on what to do to fix this, speak up.
I have a "new to me" 05 Elise that I picked up yesterday, and I have noticed a gasoline fume smell with the top on and windows closed driving or sitting if the heating blower is not on. I'm in Washington state (cold) so I don't have much open window or any top off time yet with the car, so I don't know if those make the fumes worse...
I will start investigating today (to rule out dangerous gas leaks before I drive the car more) and will post anything I learn.
the1sen, has a fix been found on your car yet?
I just got off the phone with Andy at Lotus of Scottsdale. The Closed Canister Valve was not actuating - they actuated it with a probe and it works fine now. :huh::nanner:
Andy said he put a sniffer in there and could tell where the smell was coming from. His words were, "I inserted a probe, and actuated the the valve. I don't know if it was sticking or what, but once it actuated a couple of times, I couldn't sniff anymore hydrocarbons with the sniffer. Problem solved."
:nanner:
Andy is THE MAN. I am not driving with my top on for a long time. Andy, you are a god amongst men and you have made my Lotus experience THAT much better. THANK YOU for your tenacity and patience in dealing with me. I LOVE YOU MAN!!!!
I would also like to thank every member who posted to this thread and who have PM'd me about this issue. You guys all rock. If I can be of assistance in any other way, I would suggest that everyone with this issue also check out Kevinthefro's thread about his gas smell... http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f101/dashboard-smells-like-gasoline-69686/
I am so Stoked... I am going to the flats tonight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:coolnana:
I have the same problem with the interior with my car. How do you actuate the part can you take a picture or show me how so can fix it. there is no lotus dealer here in New Orleans. Please help!! my car smell like gas. its so bad that i leaves a dirty smog stain on all my windows inside my windows.
I just got off the phone with Andy at Lotus of Scottsdale. The Closed Canister Valve was not actuating - they actuated it with a probe and it works fine now. :huh::nanner:
Andy said he put a sniffer in there and could tell where the smell was coming from. His words were, "I inserted a probe, and actuated the the valve. I don't know if it was sticking or what, but once it actuated a couple of times, I couldn't sniff anymore hydrocarbons with the sniffer. Problem solved."
:nanner:
Andy is THE MAN. I am not driving with my top on for a long time. Andy, you are a god amongst men and you have made my Lotus experience THAT much better. THANK YOU for your tenacity and patience in dealing with me. I LOVE YOU MAN!!!!
I would also like to thank every member who posted to this thread and who have PM'd me about this issue. You guys all rock. If I can be of assistance in any other way, I would suggest that everyone with this issue also check out Kevinthefro's thread about his gas smell... http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f101/dashboard-smells-like-gasoline-69686/
I am so Stoked... I am going to the flats tonight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:coolnana:
#1 Have the dealer check the canister vent close valve. A lot of people have had those stick open. It is an emissions part and probably still under warranty.
I have an 07 and last year did not have any issue with this. But after winter storage....man does it smell inside. I checked the injectors and looked around the air filter for any leaks.
I assume it is the closed canister valve was not actuating, but once I take it to TJ at FVMC I will let everyone know.
I have this problem as well. Not sure what actuating the valve requires but I'm about to just remove the vent piece and screw with it tomorrow. I see the vent valve but not sure how it vents. More info would be very much appreciated.
In my 05 Elise, I'm going to start digging in to the gasoline smell problem. Seems like it doesn't happen in the garage; only when driving. Keeping the interior fan on helps.
It doesn't seem to matter whether I just filled the tank or not. I'll start sniffing, check the charcoal canister, check the closing valve, look for leaks, cracked hoses, etc.
Does the charcoal canister ever have to be replaced, or can it just be emptied if containing liquid?
I notice that when filling up, when I open the gas cap, there is NO sound of pressure or vacuum releasing. Is there supposed to be?
I have an '07 Exige and again this is stumping the experts. We replaced the canister valve and it didn't fix it. @Maui05Elise, did you figure yours out?
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