what causes gas to leak?

[Adam]

I’m trying to help someone out. Her car is 2007 Chevy Cobalt SL. She said gas smells all over inside her car when she drives and gas seem to finish faster than it should. Someone had to puncture her gas tank or what? The smell is coming from inside the car. Is it the hoses or what? She said under her tires was wet and smelled like gas.

The mechanic estimated it’s a $400 repair. Mechanic said it gets wet around the gas pump.

Topic

[Richard Kirshy]

Could be a damaged fuel line, fuel filter or fuel pump O ring seal.

[Mike]

From a safety standpoint, I would disconnect and remove the battery until the leak is fixed. Drain the fuel tank and store the car outdoors. You don’t want the fuel vapors to collect inside a structure.

[Adam]

replacing these could fix the problem? How much estimate? Any possible causes of it? The mileage isn’t much, about 70K.

[Mike]

There is a RECALL on fuel pump leaks for many of the 2007 Cobalts., which would make it a free repair by GM.
They would also pay the towing to get it there, as the vehicle is unsafe to drive.
Fuel Module is GMs term for the fuel pump assembly.
Your girlfriend would not have received the notification if the car wasn’t bought new BUT it would still apply to her car and still be done for free by GM.

You can go to GM’s website, call GM at the number shown in the recall message below or go to the NHTSA (gov’t agency oversseing recalls) to be sure her vehicle is included
https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls#vehicle

If the car is part of the recall, I’d be angry that the mechanic didn’t bother to check for this or did know and concealed this fact from her.

September 19, 2012 NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V459000
Fuel Pump Module May Crack
Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.

NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V459000

Manufacturer General Motors LLC

Components FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

Potential Number of Units Affected 49,768

Summary

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007 Chevrolet Equinox and Pontiac Torrent vehicles originally sold or currently registered in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Texas; model year 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, Pontiac G5, and Saturn ION vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in, Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada, or Texas; model year 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in, Arizona; and model year 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Nevada, Oklahoma, or Texas. Some of these vehicles have a condition in which the plastic supply or return port on the fuel pump module may crack, which could cause a fuel leak.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Notification to owners began on on November 21, 2012. Owners were instructed to not bring their vehicles in for repair until January 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.

Notes

GM’s campaign number is 12190. This recall is an expansion of recall 09V-419. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

[Author]

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