Gas Vapor/Smell on REX....anyone have this?

[nowr2go]

I was in my garage and opened the fuel door by pressing the button within the car. When I went to open the fuel door there was a pressure sound and a massive gas vapor smell. Note that I did not open the fuel cap. Ever since then Ive had a slight gas vapor smell in the garage. There is no visible gas leak so I suspect that there is some kind of gas vapor escaping from somewhere in the gas line. I'm going to take it in to have this checked and curious to know if anyone else has had this issue. I recollect reading something that the earlier REX had some kind of a fuel pressure valve or something like that. The production date on my car is November 2014. THX.

 

[jadnashuanh]

The i3, which is not a common thing, pressurizes the fuel system which is why you smelled something when you prep it to open the fuel filler - it has to relieve the pressure. This is a guess, but if you haven't driven the car since, it may have left that vent open until you press the start button again, when it would then repressurize the system. Or, if you have, the cap may not be tight. Or, there's a fault. The fault monitoring probably can detect if the pressure is low.

 

[nowr2go]

It's been two weeks and have driven the car every day. I checked the fuel cap, opened it up, and closed it again. I still smell it every once in a while...maybe it's my imagination but I'm going to take it in and make sure it's fine.

By the way, loving every minute that I drive my i3. Way better than the Volt I turned in after my 3 year lease.

 

[jadnashuanh]

Because the fuel system is pressurized, if there is a leak, even a small one, you'd tend to notice it. Could be as simple as a defective filler cap. Yes, getting it serviced is prudent.

 

[nowr2go]

Got a call this afternoon from my dealer and apparently the gas pressure release valve (or something like that is bad and they ordered the part which should be in tomorrow. Glad it's a minor fix and I'll be back in my i3 tomorrow afternoon.