SMELLS LIKE GAS?!?!?!??!

[chkn_strp]

ok so i have an altima sedan 2.5 and for some reason it smells like gas and its gotten to the point at one time where you can smell it inside the car but not any more and just comes from time to time never really constant and i thought it was gone but some guy i know who installs my audio stuff noticed it even though i didnt and i have no idea what it could be if some one could pleaswe help thnx

[tdenardoKAT26]

Theres a few things it could be. Your fuel pump has rubber supply and return lines at the tank and if I remember correctly the altima's fuel pump (and said lines) are accessible through an access panel in the trunk. One of those lines may be rotted and leaking gas. Also, you may have a bad injector "o" ring, or a leaky compression fitting on one of the lines. Also a bad connection from the filter to the supply line. Once you get used to an odor you won't smell it as much. I'm sure its something small. I would start at pump since you have the odor inside the car, then the filter then the o-rings and work from there. Make sure you have constant pressure in the line. Get a buddy to turn the key until the lights on the dash come on. That will turn the pump on for a couple of seconds but make sure the area you are checking is visible while the pump is priming.

[chkn_strp]

yeah thats what i was thiniing was something along the fuel thanx ill check on it in the morning and let you kno

[wade001]

hmmm. do you smell it when the tank is not full? and then it goes away when it is? either way. if the car is under warranty take it to the dealership, dont try messing with things unless you know your stuff!!!

[Nissan_mom]

My car does the exact same thing...I believe it's just the model. I can't figure mine out either and it occurs only while my fuel is low. I'm in the same boat financially.. single mom,full time student and worker. Most important I can never allow my fuel to get low because my children will pass out, get high from gas! I have taken mine to get checked out by three mechanics and no one can fund anything!!!!!

[BenMasterTechnician]

I recommend the first step you take with a fuel smell present is to check the tightness of your spark plugs, you may prefer to replace them. The plugs are quite close to the injectors so the smell may seem to be coming from the injectors but in fact be coming from the plugs, this can be caused by a loose plug or the gases passing through a crack or separation in the ceramic portion of the plug. This is the cheapest place to start and is often the cause of a "fuel smell". - Ben 12/14/2013 6:30pm

[pjo33us]

I am having this issue as well. 2000 Altima sedan...67k. I smell gas to the rear of the car outside on the gas tank side. I smell gas inside the car as well, stronger when the heat is on full. The smell comes and goes. I have already replaced the gas cap.

Also, and may or may not be related, I am throwing a P1126 code which is which say throttle control motor relay circuit open... after some research, most people are saying this is actually a faulty thermostat? Does that make any sense?

Thanks.