Smelling Gas 1989 Prelude

[Gebo]

If you smelled gasoline when you pulled your 1989 Honda Prelude with 250,000 miles in your garage after you have shut the engine off, where would you look for the leak? Or where would you start first in trying to find the leak? Are there "likely" locations?

It will still smell like gas in the morning after it sits overnight...

 

[Nick1994]

Check evap connections and hoses near the charcoal canister. Also the canister itself.

 

[Gebo]

Originally Posted By: Nick1994
Check evap connections and hoses near the charcoal canister. Also the canister itself.


How about some "directions"?

Which side of engine compartment? How big is the canister? Or is it back near the trunk and gas tank area?

 

[zzyzzx]

I would be looking at the flex tube between the fuel filler and the gas tank. I'm referring to a flex hose that that looks a lot like a radiator hose.

 

[Gebo]

Thanks!

 

[JC1]

Check the filler neck and connections near the tank for rusting. Do you have any leaks on the ground after you fill up the tank?

 

[Nick1994]

Originally Posted By: Gebo
Originally Posted By: Nick1994
Check evap connections and hoses near the charcoal canister. Also the canister itself.


How about some "directions"?

Which side of engine compartment? How big is the canister? Or is it back near the trunk and gas tank area?
I don't know where they are, but they're somewhere.

You can also, oh I don't know, Google it or something?

 

[Tegger]

Originally Posted By: Gebo
If you smelled gasoline when you pulled your 1989 Honda Prelude with 250,000 miles in your garage after you have shut the engine off, where would you look for the leak? Or where would you start first in trying to find the leak? Are there "likely" locations?

Carb or injection? I forget how these were equipped.

If injection, a common source of leaks is the low-pressure return line alongside (or on top of) the gas tank behind the driver's door. That line rusts out and eventually leaks.

 

[Gebo]

Originally Posted By: JC1
Check the filler neck and connections near the tank for rusting. Do you have any leaks on the ground after you fill up the tank?


Haven't noticed. I'll start paying attention

 

[Gebo]

Originally Posted By: Tegger
Originally Posted By: Gebo
If you smelled gasoline when you pulled your 1989 Honda Prelude with 250,000 miles in your garage after you have shut the engine off, where would you look for the leak? Or where would you start first in trying to find the leak? Are there "likely" locations?

Carb or injection? I forget how these were equipped.

If injection, a common source of leaks is the low-pressure return line alongside (or on top of) the gas tank behind the driver's door. That line rusts out and eventually leaks.


Injection

 

[Lubener]

Could be something simple as a gas cap. With a 1989 model it can be fuel lines, tank and anything with the evap system.

 

[artificialist]

Take the rubber vacuum hose off the fuel pressure regulator and see if gasoline is coming through the vacuum hose. The hose should have absolutely no fuel on it.

 

[Gebo]

Originally Posted By: artificialist
Take the rubber vacuum hose off the fuel pressure regulator and see if gasoline is coming through the vacuum hose. The hose should have absolutely no fuel on it.


No fuel came out but the inside of the metal tube on the top of the pressure regulator is stained brown and sorta wet looking...

 

[mk378]

Does it smell stronger under the hood, or generally around the car? If it doesn't seem to be coming from under the hood, back the car up on ramps to inspect the tank area and lines under the car. I think that car will also have an access plate underneath the back seat which can be opened to inspect or work on the lines on top of the gas tank.

 

[Gebo]

I unscrewed the gas tank filler cap and it really let out a bunch of air. I went back in the garage 2 hours later and the gas smell is now gone. Well, at least "I" can't smell it.

 

[Gebo]

 

[Gebo]

Originally Posted By: mk378
Does it smell stronger under the hood, or generally around the car? If it doesn't seem to be coming from under the hood, back the car up on ramps to inspect the tank area and lines under the car. I think that car will also have an access plate underneath the back seat which can be opened to inspect or work on the lines on top of the gas tank.


Generally around the car. I'm gonna check around the gas tank.

If it helps in the diagnosis, like I posted earlier, once I let the pressure off the gas tank by loosening the tank, the smell disappeared.

 

[iluvhonda]

I had a newer prelude with a gas cap problem. I don't know if your prelude would throw a CEL for a gas cap. Mine stunk a little for a couple weeks before it through the code 90 for EVAPORATE leak. New cap, no code and no smell.

 

[Gebo]

now that you mention it, CEL comes on after driving first thing in the morning and then it goes away only to show up the next morning on my way to work and then going off. My understanding is that there is no way to get/check the code in a 1989...

 

[Tegger]

Originally Posted By: Gebo
CEL comes on after driving first thing in the morning and then it goes away only to show up the next morning on my way to work and then going off.

Well, that's pretty important. That light isn't there for decoration.

Originally Posted By: Gebo
My understanding is that there is no way to get/check the code in a 1989.

You understand wrongly.

This is the procedure:
1) View the ECU by pulling back the carpet in the passenger footwell until you can see the round LED window in the ECU cover. You won't have to pull it back far.
2) Turn ignition ON and observe the red LED for flashes. The flashes will communicate the code(s).

A short flash = 1.
A long flash = 10.
The flashes are additive.
Example: long-long-short-short-short = code 23.

If there are multiple codes stored, their sequences will be separated by a two-second pause.

Exercise caution when pushing the carpet back in place to make sure that it does not foul on the heater cables or levers.