I had stopped for a haircut and when I went back and started the car, the Check Gas Cap warning came on along with the check engine light. I Undid the gas cap and put it back on again. Gas Cap warning went away and the check engine light stayed on. Anyway, I started driving (windows closed, air conditioner on) and began smelling gasoline. I got home and popped the hood. Can't smell anything there. But if I get into the car. the smell is strong. Anybody ever run across this one?

 

could be purge valve, there's a TSB for that and was discussed in previous threads, other possibility is evap hoses in trunk/ gas tank

 

If the code reveals a 'small (or large) evap leak), then its the CCV and vent tube. I've already been thru that little saga.

 

probley canister close valve under the car in the rear. they are know to stick due to old age. also if the smell started after the put the gas cap back on the fuel vapors can enter the vehicle and stay for sometime.

 

Had it in to Jaguar yesterday. They told me there was an evap code which they cleared. Then they told me they couldn't find the problem and handed me a bill for $120. Since then the smell is off and on. I bought a new gas cap and that has not had any affect. I'll try to get it in to my regular mechanic next week. Is it safe to drive in the meantime?

 

I'm sure you are ok to drive. Probably a leak in the evap system.

 

Thanks. Glad it's drivable.

 

Took it to my guy. The purge valve was stuck. He replaced it and the problem appears to be fixed. Re Jaguar dealership...I lost $120, they lost a customer.

 

Where is the purge valve located? My mother's '02 has the exact same gas-smell issue and she's afraid to drive it.


Thanks,


Rob

 

I may be having the same issue as well...can someone explain a quick way to check either the purge valve or canister close valve to see if they're the culprit?

Thanks!

Dave

 

I'm getting a small gas smell in the engine compartment. Car runs fine, what could it be??

 

Mine turned out to be the purge valve. Other possibility is if you fill up to the top and get any overflow, that can clog the charcoal filter resulting in a gas smell in the car.

 

Another possibility is to get under the car and look for a little section of black rubber hose, 2"-3" long, between the right side canister close valve and the right side evaporative canister (the black rectangular box), under the car, near the right rear wheel. These dry rot and start leaking...you should see cracks in the rubber if this is your problem. If this is it, the part number NJC6068CA and it is around $8.00 at the dealer.

 

The smell is coming from the front, not the engine though. Maybe somewhere in the fron wheel well? Is there something there?

 

The purge valve is in the left front wheel well

 

Howdy ya'll. I just now experienced this problem... having a powerful gasoline smell with the air conditioner on and the recirculate mode activated. If I turn the recirc off, the smell stops. Could it be the same culprits as mentioned above? I smell nothing coming from any wheel well areas. I hear no ticking from the purge valve up front in the left fender well.

I took the car out for its first blast on the highway after having a LOT of maintenance done. OMG! It is SO fun to drive on the highway!!! The effortless driving and ease of overtaking/passing slow vehicles is addictive.

PS: I have been flogging the car HARD in the corners and stopping/braking/accelerating hard to see if anything will reveal itself as needing to be repaired prior to driving about 1500 miles starting on Thursday.

 

The purge valve does not necessarily need to be ticking loudly to be causing the problem.

Finding this is a bit of a process of elimination of the known common problem areas. I would start with the purge valve TSB, including vent relocation (about $100 investment).

Also check the 2" black hose under the car between the two rectangular black charcoal canisters near the rear axle - it dry rots and cracks.

 

It turns out that my repair tech didn't reset my computer's programming after having the battery disconnected. It allowed a valve to stay open and vent fumes from the gas tank.

Alas, no more gasoline smell. =)