Expert: William Brady - 7/29/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hi William
There is a strong smell of gas after engine is stopped and car is parked, Happend once before and mechanic said he drained some time of gas reseivoir. Is this something I can do.
I am handy but no a mechanic
Thanks
Scott
sgrody@gmail.com

ANSWER: The car has a fairly elaborate fuel system vapour collection system.  Basically, the vapour is stored in a container behind the left headamp and sucked into the engine when it is driving, there are many components to the system so you would need to get a copy of the system layout to follow it through.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks William
Is there a resevoir I can access either thru the engine compartment or thru the headlamp...is it the left headlamp looking at the car from the outdie or inside?
Is it possible that the resevoir can be purged and does it possible contain actual gasoline?
Thanks again
sgrody@gmail.com

Answer
There is no reservoir, there is a carbon cannister in the left front wing, the job of which is to store petrol fumes whilst the engine is not running.  It can malfunction for a number of complicated reasons. I suspect there is a broken vacuum hose somewhere which is causing the smell, the best you can do is to follow all of the hoses and check none are broken.