Gen 6 - Gas Smell in Cabin & Engine Bay

[rjj130]

Good morning all.

Over the weekend, my fiance's 2007 I4 (38k miles) started blowing a gas smell into the cabin with the fan on.

She had mentioned to me about a week ago that she had faintly smelled gasoline whenever she turned the car on in the morning, but that it would dissipate as she drove to work.

I really didn't think much of it and was waiting to see if it would go away. I didn't know if she stepped in some gas when filling up her car and she had it on the rugs somewhere in the car or what?

Anyways back to this weekend... the smell was horrendous, giving her a headache. I told her to park it and I would look at it.

I observed the smell myself, checked the injectors to make sure everything was tight and turned the AC on to get a huge whiff of the gas smell as well.

When looking at the engine, the smell is most prominent on the drivers side. I also wanted to take a quick test drive to see if I could tell anything by that but whenever I turned the car on a second time, there is a loud sound emanating from the engine bay. It's not as if the engine is knocking, but it sounds close to that.

I turned the engine off immediately, and then put it to the on position and I could hear a loud buzzing sound coming from behind the drivers side wheel. Is this normal? Is this part of the fuel delivery system readying itself to crank over the engine?

The car is just out of warranty (figures) and I would like to get your input to see if it may be something loose I can check on my own without taking it to a shop.

I checked the oil, and its levels are fine, no smell of gas either.

Thank you in advance!

[Netforcer]

Check for an exhaust leak...

[rjj130]

Had the car towed to a trusted mechanic.

He serviced my old tC several times as well as some Camry's of co-workers.

Anyways, he looked and saw that the cause of this was the fuel damper on the fuel rail.

The greatest part (sarcasm x 1000) is that the part is not in stock in the United States. The part has to be rush ordered from Japan and I should see it in a week to 10 days.

It's a freak occurrence...

Awesome luck huh?

[rjj130]

Update:

Upon calling around this morning I found a newer revision of the part then what was be sought about the my mechanic and the local Toyota dealer whom he gets his parts from.

This part was verified to be in stock by another Toyota dealer in several locations.

I called the mechanic back who then called his contact, who said that he saw this yesterday and the part should be here tomorrow AM, hopefully installed tomorrow or by Friday afternoon at the latest.

Still going to cost $$$, but hopefully nobody else has to deal with this!

BTW, the official name and number are:

23270208052 - Fuel Pressure Pulsation Damper Assistant