I have a MY01 Subaru Impreza WRX. I have fitted a walboro intank pump. It was fitted approx 7 months ago. I did not have any problems after fitment.

However 3 days ago I started getting a slight fuel smell in the cabin. It has now increased to a strong smell. The smell is strongest when the aircon is switched on.

What should I check other than the fuel pump cover gasket?

 

I have exactly the same problem. The smell appears to be from around the alternater area and is only really apparant when the weather is cold or I use certain brands of petrol (confusing eh)

Is yours ppp'd?

 

I also have MY01 bugeye. Previous owner logged smell with main dealer but they investigated and found nothing. I have seen somewhere other threads about this and something about checking hoses or fuel lines. I have had strong smell a couple of times in first week of having car, but once was immediately after stalling car (it was my first day!!). Nothing recently so it's an enigma really - it's like clutch judder and comes and goes.

 

Check for split hoses, injector seal & intake manifold gaskets.....

 

After many months with no recurrence and always filling with Optimax, I recently did a fill with normal Shell. It may be a coincidence, but shortly after swapping back to Optimax again, the petrol smell's back -and it was really bad at times yesterday. Seemed to be when coming to a stop, idling, then moving off - stench of petrol into car interior as heater on - but I have a theory.

Last time this happened, I had swopped about between Optimax and normal- just the once - then back to Optimax again. Could it be that computer/MAF/ECU or whatever is trying to readjust to Optimax again, maybe overfuelling?

Anyway, on the way out today, there was still a whiff from time to time, but not as bad. Coming back on the final 15 mile drive tonight.. and no petrol smell - kept heater on to monitor what is coming through from engine bay.

Perhaps car might be settling back to running again on Optimax and thus systems may be getting back to normal, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Put it another way, it didn't do it all the time, so I'm thinking that it cannot be a leak.

All the other threads with petrol smells seem to centre on leaks etc., so any comments on this?

Thanks.

 

Anyone else think that my theory is true? Wife went out today and said no petrol smell today. So far, so good.

 

After a few days, just when starting to think it's OK, the petrol smell is back.

Seems to be colder weather, but that may be just coincidence.

Usually get a waft after coming to stop and idling/pulling away, following period of driving. It seems to be coming from engine bay, as it is pulled into car via heater.

Also recently, Check Engine Light has intermittently blinked when accelarating onto motorway (up to 5000RPM in 3rd). May not be connected?

Any ideas? I am going to go in to dealer and ask them about petrol smell and CEL.

 

i had a similar problem, but the smell was unbearable when the heater was on. i put the car in a garage to get checked out and it was a split hose just above the turbo id been driving around for over a month like this

 

Main dealer has investigated and whilst there mechanics could not replicate petrol smell - apparently, all hoses and lines are sound, so no leak.

So to recap, the smell is only occasionally, usually when at standstill/pulling away and always has been in near freezing conditions. Slight whiff this morning about a mile after starting, but little since, evem with heater on most of the time, plus aircon from time to time.