Gas smell

Hello everyone, thanks for all the helpful tips, you guys have saved me a lot of $$$. Quick question on a fuel problem. I recently replaced the fuel pump and fuel pressure regulator in my 99 GT 3.8 NA. This was due to the pump working intermittently, problem solved. NOW, I have a gas smell at the rear of the vehicle around the emission canister, gas cap area outside the car. If I keep all the windows up I have no gas smell inside the car, only outside once you get out is it noticable at the rear of the car. It also recently kicked out code P0440, Evaporative Emission System error. Of course this isn't specific enough for me. Any ideas? I have ordered the vent solenoid that sits by the charcoal canister as I don't think it is the purge solenoid under the hood, since I have checked and there is NO SMELL under the hood. I have not had a chance to tear it down and look at the canister, but I am hoping it is just the solenoid. I am not sure if the gas cap may cause this to? I hate to just throw parts at the problem but I don't have all the fancy tools to check the system and I don't want to pay the labor PLUS parts to fix it.

Thanks for any ideas. :o)

yea i ve got the same problem too, is it after your driving you smell it? if anyone could give me some tips too that'd be great. thx.

Here's some info on odb-ii DTC error code P0440, EVAP Emission Control System Malfunction:

The evaporative leak detection diagnostic strategy is based on applying vacuum to the EVAP system and monitoring vacuum decay. The PCM monitors vacuum level via the Fuel Tank Pressure sensor input. At an appropriate time, the EVAP purge valve and the EVAP canister vent valve are turned ON, allowing engine vacuum to draw a small vacuum on the entire evaporative emission system. If a sufficient vacuum level cannot be achieved, a large leak or a malfunctioning EVAP purge valve is indicated. This can be caused by the following conditions:

Disconnected or malfunctioning fuel tank pressure sensor.
Missing or malfunctioning fuel cap.
Disconnected, damaged, pinched, or blocked EVAP purge line.
Disconnected or damaged EVAP canister vent hose.
Disconnected, damaged, pinched, or blocked fuel tank vapor line.
Disconnected or malfunctioning EVAP purge valve.
Disconnected or malfunctioning EVAP canister vent valve.
Open ignition feed circuit to the EVAP canister vent or purge valve.
Damaged evaporative emissions canister.
Leaking fuel sender assembly O-ring.
Leaking fuel tank or fuel tiller neck Any of the above conditions can set DTC P0440.

CONDITIONS FOR RUNNING THE DTC

No VSS, TP sensor, HO2S, Misfire, IAT sensor, MAP sensor, Fuel Trim, Fuel Injector(s), EGR Pintle Position, ECT, or MAF sensor DTC(s) set.
Start up engine coolant temperature is between 4°C and 30°C (40°F and 86°F).
Start up intake air temperature is between 4°C and 30°C (40°F and 86°F).
Fuel tank fuel level is between 15% and 85%.
BARO is greater than 75 kPa.
System voltage is between 8 and 16 volts.






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