I was driving around today and noticed gas fumes inside the cabin, then I opened my windows to ventilate only to notice MORE gas fumes. I stop my car and go outside, nothing is leaking... So I figure maybe it's just a fluke. I drive my car around and later in the day the service engine soon light comes on. I hope I can get a service appointment for Monday or Tuesday... I may just leave the car in the garage until then.

 

Gas cap on right?

 

I have notice alot of engine light problems and gas cap comments in this and another forum. When filling the car up are you stopping after the pump clicks or trying to squeeze in the last few drops? Most new cars say stop after the pump shuts down automatically the first time.

 

Make shure the gas cap is tight if not it will cause fumes and turn on the ck eng light on.

 

Why do you have to stop pumping gas after the first pump click? I have always topped off the tank (way up to the top). What adverse effect does doing that have?

 

There are vent lines in the top of the filler neck and if you try to fill it to the top you could get alot of fuel down those vapor lines possibly turnig the ck eng light on.

 

There is no info in the Z manual about overfilling. In my Accord manaul it states, "Stop filling the tank after the fuel nozzel automatically clicks off. Do not try to top off the tank, leave some room for the fuel to expand with temperature changes." My take on this is that overfilling may cause undue preasure to the engine causing the engine check light to come on.

 

I've always done that with my Stealth and I don't think the light has ever come on but it certainly makes sense though. Thanks.

 

thanx for the warning
ill try to remember not to do that on my Z

 

Bonz, Your stealth is a few years old. All this overfilling and securing the gas cap stuff came about in the last few years with the advent of OBD-II. Thank god for CARB (Ca. Air Resource Board) and all of their stupid new rules.

 

A sticker in the Z's fuel filler door warns against topping off and says you must stop filling when the pump shuts off. Failure to heed this may cause the problems reported. (?)

 

Do you think that maybe the stereo installers could have drilled through to the fuel tank??

 

Oooohh, that would explain it, alright, but it sounds too terrible to contemplate!

 

My dad always "tops off" his tank. I see no big deal, just stop when it clicks, what are you going to gain by toping it off, another 10 miles from the tanks? In the scheme of things its nothing, and run the risk of spilling gas!





-Josh

 

Hmm..that's interesting. The fume smell was there already, but it got worse when I topped off the fuel tank and fuel spilled out. Then later the engine light came on after I had been driving for 30-40 miles. Could this possibly be it?? I've topped off several other cars that i've driven that are all between '99-'02 model years and they never exhibit this problem either. Also, the gas cap IS on tight, I checked that first. And the stereo install didn't go into the gas tank..hehe. I was watching when they did drilling for the amplifier (the only thing they drilled into the body)--and it was only drilled into the surrounding metal inside the cabin.

 

If you did overfill the tank that is more then likley what has turned the light on .Start run the car and shut it off 4 times if that was the problem the computer will reset the light.