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Subaru Forester exhaust/fuel smell in cab

52 messages,  Last post on Jan 28, 2013 at 12:27 PM

You are in the Subaru Forester Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Forester, Fuel System, Fuel System, SUV

Messages Page 1 of 6

#1 of 52 exhaust/fuel smell in cab by kev9

Feb 05, 2007 (6:36 pm)

has anyone had a problem with an exhaust or fuel smell in the cab? i have had the exhaust checked & the seal on the back door, all have been fine. it has only happened in the really, really cold weather.

#2 of 52 fuel smell by sphil907

Feb 06, 2007 (4:49 pm)

It happened to me. I have 03 Forester. This is the coldest weather since I have owned it. And I have gotten the fuel smell. Coming from under hood somewhere, I need to check a little closer, but when I looked yesterday I could not tell exactly where it was coming from. If I park care in garage, it does not leak/stink. but if it has been parked outside, i get plenty of odor. I have not called dealer yet. Car is out of warranty and the talk on WRX forum of cost of $400+ to fix has me scared off.

#3 of 52 Re: fuel smell [sphil907] by kev9

Feb 06, 2007 (8:10 pm)

Replying to: sphil907 (Feb 06, 2007 4:49 pm)
i have had my exhaust checked (& it was fine) & i also had a transmission place check the fluids for any unusuall smell or look, that was fine as well. my check engine light has not come on ever through out the entire thing. the only other thing i have noticed that has also happened under the hood somewhere is a high pitched noise after the car is off. this has also only happened in the cold. i have no idea if they are related. i am calling my mechanic tomorrow, i am not sure what will come of it. if i find out anything i will oist it here.

#4 of 52 Re: fuel smell [sphil907] by kev9

Feb 06, 2007 (8:11 pm)

Replying to: sphil907 (Feb 06, 2007 4:49 pm)
since they talked of $400+ to fix it have you been told what the problem is with your forester?

#5 of 52 Re: exhaust/fuel smell in cab [kev9] by tidester

Feb 07, 2007 (12:10 am)

Replying to: kev9 (Feb 05, 2007 6:36 pm)
Have you had the fuel hoses checked? Very cold weather may be causing them to contract and leak some small amount of gasoline.
 
tidester, host

#6 of 52 Re: fuel smell [kev9] by hsnewcar

Feb 09, 2007 (5:18 am)

Replying to: kev9 (Feb 06, 2007 8:10 pm)
Any news about this smell?...plng. to buy a 2007 forester this week end..think i smelled this in one i tested..not sure if i should buy one now if this is problem...don't like fumes of any kind in passenger cab...

#7 of 52 Re: fuel smell [hsnewcar] by kev9

Feb 11, 2007 (8:21 am)

Replying to: hsnewcar (Feb 09, 2007 5:18 am)
i had my mechanic check it out again & he couldn't find anything that he could say for certain as to the cause of the smell. turns out the my radiator itself (not the reserve) was not completely full (so he topped that off) & also found that even though i have had the oil changed pretty recently that it did appear to look liek it had been changed in a while (no more quick stop oil changes!!), he changed the oil & put a really good filter on it. drove it all day yesterday & i didn't smell a thing. we will see when the really cold weather hits it again, that seems to be really when it happens. i would say if you are looking at one & it smells have the dealer go through the thing top to bottom & try it in the extreme cold (single digits, if possible). other than that i love the car.

#8 of 52 Problem Could be Winter Fuel by rochcom

Feb 11, 2007 (8:45 am)

Replying to: kev9 (Feb 05, 2007 6:36 pm)
In many areas of the country, fuel is reformulated during the winter months and contains large amounts of solvents that are highly volatile. It may just be that these are what you are smelling. There may be no leak at all. They are most noticeable in the cold because the engine takes a bit longer to start and some of the vapor could be sucked back into the vehicle by the passenger compartment fan.

#9 of 52 Re: fuel smell [kev9] by sphil907

Feb 11, 2007 (10:35 am)

Replying to: kev9 (Feb 06, 2007 8:11 pm)
No, I have not. I have not bothered to talk to dealer. After the temp got back over 15 degrees, the smell went away. I will wait till it is back to zero and maybe call them.

#10 of 52 odor in Subaru Forester 2007 by thebird3

Apr 30, 2007 (4:03 pm)

I bought my Subaru Forester last week from Goldsteins, an hour of driving it there was an odor coming through the vents. It smells like someone regurgitated in the car, but it is coming through the vents. Anyone who gets in the car asks "What is that smell?"
It is very upsetting to have a new car smell so badly. What is causing the odor? I did not have the problem with my old 98 Subaru?

Messages Page 1 of 6

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