98 Corolla Fuel Smell Odor Coming From Under Back Seat - Corolland: the Toyota Corolla Forums

I have been searching the forum for help with a newly occuring problem. On my way to work i noticed a slight fuel smell coming from the back seat. So when i got to work i pulled the botton seat out of the back seat to gain acces to the fuel pump area. When i pulled the cover i noticed a faint fuel smell coming from where the fuel pump is located. I could see that there was an area that had fuel there prior but was since dried up but a stain remained leaving me to believe that i need to replace the gasket that goes inbetween the fuel pump assy and the fuel tank. I did take a screw driver to the bolt and some where loose so i tightend everything up and hope this stops fuel from leaking. My question would be what would cause fuel to leak between the fuel pump assy and the fule tank? Is there a fuel pressure regulator on this model of car? If so would that cause this problem? Also I have not noticed anything wrong with idle or excessive fuel consumption. everything seems normal except for the fuel smell and evidence of a leak at the fuel tank where the fuel pump assy is located. thanks for your help and suggestions.

Fuel regulator is part of the fuel pump assembly - sits below the fuel pump/filter assembly. Usually not something that leak on its own - unless the original assembly was pulled for some reason beforehand. The EVAP system does pressurize the tank - but not so excessively that it could break a seal like that. I'd get another gasket just in case the old one got dried out and not making a good seal.

Thanks fishexpo 101. Well this morning as soon as i smelled gas i pulled over and pulled the back seat to take a look at the fuel tank to see if it leaked again. What i saw was the coonector that has the rubber tube had leaked some gas at the seam as the gas found around it. I am wondering could that be fixed or would i have to buy a new fuel pump assy? I am wondering what could cause the pressure needed to push fuel up to leak at the seam of the connector? well I am not sure what is wrong but it appears that my original theory of the gasket leaking has now changed to the connector that holds the rubber tubing. Well any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Did you notice if a clip was on the bottom of the rubber hose? I know on some other vehicles, the retaining clip may vibrate off the hose and cause the connector to move excessively - this could lead to some physical damage to the connector so it will not seal as well. Same case for a loose clip - too much slop will give the hose a chance to move too much. I don't think you can get just the connector by itself - I believe it is sold as an entire assembly (hard and soft lines) - but I could be wrong. Normally - there is mud and dirt that cakes up around that connector. May have to temporarily fix the hose with some silicone or similar goop.

Well problem solved. It was not the connector, that was fine. I pulled the cover off the fuel pump assy and examined the gasket and it was warped slightly just enough to push fuel out the side. So i put on a new gasket and problem solved. It is just weird that the gasket became a little deformed must of been old. thanks for your help and info fishexpo101. Hey what does your name mean? Are you a fisherman? I own an operate a fishing guiding business in alaska. Well just curios about the name. thanks again

Good to hear that you found the problem. That is kind of weird that hte gasket would do that to you. I agree with your thought that the gasket probably warped due to age and environmental conditions.

As for my namesake - I get "Fish" from swims like a fish - I don't remember where the "expo" and "101" came intp the picture. I'm actually a physicist and computer programmer / hardware specialist - working on some interesting government related projects. Also an avid fisherman and sportsman - would love to do something like what you have done, at least the fishing part default_biggrin

well that explains it. Well i also do goverment work i am a biological science tech. been working with N.O.A.A on hydroacoustic projects for the past 5 years. Its great being a contractor so that i can have flexibility to run my fishing operation during the summer months. thanks again fish i always find your advice helpfull and usefull.

Cool, a small world it is. Most of our work centers around R&D services in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences circles. Many are DoD related contract work - but scince we are primarily are an Oceanographic Research company, much of our scope of work would fall within N.O.A.A. mission have worked together in many projects.

wow, small world for sure. Your work sounds interesting. Have you worked on any sonar projects? I have been involved in many projects where we use and collect sonar data from research and commercial outfits. I am currently working on a project about bottom trawlability of certain areas of alaska. but soon the project is ending and unfortunatly i will be job hunting again.

We have a few SONAR / SODAR projects in the past - but most of what we work with is with Electro-Optical (EO) imaging systems as well as some RADAR/CODAR sensors.

Yeah - I know about working contract to contract. Pay is good, but you never know what will happen at the end.