NB Miata Gas Smell

[zachcrosen]

My wife has a '99 Miata and we have started noticing a gas smell. The first time we smelled it, it was after about 130 miles of driving to FL. It didn't go away until after we let the car sit for a n hour or more. Then, we smelled it again on the way back home after about 120 miles. Now, it is getting more frequent; some times after 20 miles of driving. It is really bad in the trunk and around the right rear wheel. I know the charcoal canister is at the right wheel.

I took it to a mechanic and he removed one of the hoses going into the canister and it was dripping fuel out of the hose. From what I have found out, there should not be fuel here; just vapor. I have looked around the gas tank for leaks and can't find anything. I have posted this on m.net a few times and I never get a definitive answer as to where the problem is coming from. I have gotten everything from replace the gas tank to tighten the clamps on the fill/vent tubes in the trunk. I have read that it could be a faulty rollover valve also. I looked at the svc manual and there is only a TPCV valve in line from the fuel tank to the canister. Could that valve be bad causing fuel to pass thru? Could something between the canister and the catch tank up front be clogged causing fuel to build up and start smelling??

Has any of you experienced Miata guys experienced this? What did you do to fix the problem? I don't want to start guessing and swapping out parts in hopes that it will correct the problem.

Zach

[ZX3Focus]

Do you/does she fill the car to the gills at fill-ups? I've had previous cars that would send liquid gas into the charcoal canister when the fuel level rose into the filler neck. The first solution given was always "Don't do that".

[zachcrosen]

Not any more. I stop filling it at the first shut off of the pump. We used to fill it up until the next whole number but have stopped.

I have always done this with my other cars with no ill effects. Since we stopped doing that, its not as bad, but still there.

[Cholewa]

If you're getting fluid build up where it should only be vapor, that tells me that there is something blocking the vapor from escaping or recirculating back into the tank. Run over those lines and check and make sure there are no blockages, and also check to see if the overfill safety features are blocked (not sure if miatas have something along those lines).

[Welacey]

Or stay out of mexican restaurants.

[nicktcr]

Or stay out of mexican restaurants.

HA!

[jatow]

Check for a plugged or crimped vent line to your charcoal canister.