gas smell in my TC

hiyaz i have a '97 TC that has a gas smell inside the cabin i have had the car on a lift been under it no detecable leaks looked in trunk make sure no screws accidently put into gas tank put cardboard under car to make sure no leaks there havent noticed anything un top of motor as far as a leak goes and my check engine light is on as well any ideas would be greatly appreciated thanks in advance Jimi

Hi Jim -

Always start with that Check Engine light. Many auto parts stores will connect a scanner and give you the readout for free... Or, Sunday papers feature OBDii scanners very cheap, like $35 just about every week. Harbor Freight also sells a cheap OBDii Scanner under $35. Personally I have the expensive model, but thats NOT necessary.

There's been allot of posts lately on rusted lines running down the drivers side, inside the frame rails.. I believe a fuel lines run through there too.

The 90s town cars are getting old enough where people are starting to notice the rusted out lines. The fuel, brake and air line all run in that bunch. With all of those lines run so close to each other, they catch a lot of road grime and salt between them.

As for the fuel smell. Check the gasket around your filler neck on the tank. Also check your charcoal canister, lower left or right front corner on the older models. There is a solenoid valve that is supposed to purge fumes, right near the canister. Check the solenoid valve to see if it's working, there are two plastic caps on the canister make sure they are still there. Is the problem all the time or right after you fill the tank?

As for the fuel smell. Check the gasket around your filler neck on the tank. Also check your charcoal canister, lower left or right front corner on the older models. There is a solenoid valve that is supposed to purge fumes, right near the canister. Check the solenoid valve to see if it's working, there are two plastic caps on the canister make sure they are still there. Is the problem all the time or right after you fill the tank?


as far the lines and the underside of the car i have never seen a car this clean b4 underneath for its age unless it a frame off restore the original owner was a limo service so was kept in garage and well maintained altho i do have to replace the ride height control piece as well but i will get back under the car and look at the lines again and i will definatley look into this charcol canister and solenoid that you are talking about thanks again

if possible follow what town car said, first find out why the check engline light is on. I have a check engine light on for 7 months, with a gas smell. I needed an air mass flow sensor, egr pressure feedback sensor, and spark plug wires. if you live near an autozone, they will provide you will a print out of codes, you can then come back to the forum, to find out what these codes mean.