Just got a 92 Firebird with 112K and so far it's running great. Only problem I've noticed so far is after I've driven it, sometimes I'll catch a whiff of gas fumes above the car. Also, after digging though some of the previous owner's reciepts I noticed it had been serviced "under waranty" for fumes (gas smell) on 2 occations in the past and it looks like they replaced the gas tank on one of those.

Is this a known issue on these years? Is it a valve or something that fails? Anyone know if there was ever a recall or anything on it?

Thanks!
Tim

 

well you have to realize the TBI design; there are two barrels which gas is sprayed down, and it's open to the elements. Sometimes you can get a big whiff of that gasoline smell, because there is in fact raw fuel being only seperated from you by the air cleaner. Look for the smell, if its in the front, it's that. If it's from the rear, you may have a crack in your fuel tank filler tube (which I hear are poorly welded on). If it's from the front I'm not sure if there's anything you can do.

Have you or the previous owners done any drilling, possibly to mount car audio? The fuel tank is 1/2" under the rear interior floorboard behind the seat. That could be a possible cause.

 

Hmm, yea I was kindof thinking that too, but I've got a TBI setup on my Blazer and don't get any gas fumes from it, of course it's TBI is about 5' in the air and in a much larger engine compartment.

I haven't been able to locate the smell, it seems kindof random although I think it's coming from the back, but maybe that was just me thinking that it must be coming from the gas tank. These 3rd gens are pressurized tanks right? So if there was a hole or crack somewhere it probably would expel gas fumes, no?

That's a good idea about checking any aftermarket audio stuff although this car doesn't have any. I've seen some bad installs before, drilling into wiring and through a truck bed (from inside the cab). Especially from Audio Express "home of the $1 dash fire".

 

lol yeah. Just pull up the rear carpet and check. Takes about a half an hour to pull it up and put it back in. Not a bad idea if you have time.

I believe they are pressurized, yes.

 

nhtsa.dot.gov

Has info on all recalls. I believe there was one on the fuel filler neck for some years.

 

Thanks for the link. Yep sure enough there was a recall on F-Bodies built Oct 1, 1989-Aug 1, 1992. NHTSA Campaign ID #: 94V077000

Summary: The fuel filler neck solder joint can develop cracks or pin hole leaks, which does not comply with FMVSS NO. 301, "Fuel System Integrity." The cracks and holes can allow fuel vapor and fuel leakage.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the fuel tank assembly and replace those which exhibit the cracks or pin hole leaks.

I ordered the full report, not sure if I can get this done due to the age of the car, but I'll go into a dealership this week and see what they say.

 

offically, safety recalls are for the life of the vehical(unoffically if there are no more parts, they can't do it-duh), should be no problem doing it on a 92

(now if it was a 67 camaro that kept breaking motor mounts, I highly doubt there are any of the mount limiting cables left in the GM parts warehouses, lol)