Cavalier urine smell, gas smell, fails emissions

[MEM]

Hi. I have 3 major probs on my 96 2.2L 4 door Cavalier which has 123k miles. I wonder if these 3 probs are related. I live in NJ. Thanks in advance for your help.

1)If I let the fan air come in from the outside it smells like gasoline, but only if I'm stopped or moving very slowly. When I get up to speed it goes away. Also, this only happens when the engine is warm. This doesn't happen when the engine is cold. This leads me to believe that there's a problem with engine compartment fumes getting into the passenger compartment. Here's the wierd thing. I had this problem over a yr ago, then I took it in for service and it went away. I can't remember what they did to it or why I took it in, but it was fixed. But anyway, now it's back.

2)This just started in the last couple of months. When I turn on the heater in recirculate mode, it smells like urine. I think it smells less when I use the a/c in recirculate mode than when I use the heater in this mode. If I let the air come in from the outside while I'm up to speed the smell goes away or at least smells a lot less.

3)I failed inspection for all 3 things that are checked for emissions. I believe one of these is oxygen, then maybe carbon monoxide, and something else. I was told that when it starts failing on all 3 like this, it could be the catalytic converter.

I'm thinking of getting a new car but this one has been so reliable (except for the 2 alternators, the leaky water pump and something else, none of which left me stranded).

Thanks
MEM

[03cavyTT]

yeah, my old man has the same car as you, but it is a 2.2ltr peice of shit 4 cylinder, and it always smells like farts after i am done driving it, and i dont even fart in it. Could you please help me with the farts.

[03cavyTT]

i took it to the mechanic, and they said that it was the catilitic converter, but it still smells like farts.

[MEM]

03cavyTT thanks......I think.

Anyway, I analyzed this problem a little more today. I was wrong about what temp setting it smells worse at. When I move the temp to cold it smells worse than when I put it on hot. Also, I noticed that if I let fresh air come in from the outside, the smell almost completely goes away. But it takes a few minutes of driving without recirculating the air. Also, if I shut the engine off, leave the car and come back to it just a few minutes later, when I first start it up (even with the windows up and in recirculate mode) it smells strong again but this time it takes less time for the smell to go away once I bring in air from the outside. I have been driving around in recirculate mode (which automaticly turns on the a/c) for a long time to prevent the gasoline smell that comes into the passenger compartment when I'm driving slow or stopped. Thanks

[03cavyTT]

if you get out of the car does it smell out there?? because i know mine does

[MEM]

No, outside it only smells like gasoline.

[03cavyTT]

umm well dont know what to tell you

[97 Sunfire]

Originally Posted by MEM

Hi. I have 3 major probs on my 96 2.2L 4 door Cavalier which has 123k miles. I wonder if these 3 probs are related. I live in NJ. Thanks in advance for your help.

1)If I let the fan air come in from the outside it smells like gasoline, but only if I'm stopped or moving very slowly. When I get up to speed it goes away. Also, this only happens when the engine is warm. This doesn't happen when the engine is cold. This leads me to believe that there's a problem with engine compartment fumes getting into the passenger compartment. Here's the wierd thing.
MEM

I have exactly the same problem with my 97 Pontiac Sunfire as described here. I guess if there was a gas leak somewhere, I would notice gas stains under the car. However, there are no gas stains, so I don't think there is a leak. I think it's a tune-up problem. In my case I am gonna first try with tuning-up.

If you've done any progress concerning the problem, please let me know.

[97 Sunfire]

I had my car ckecked yesterday. I was wrong. There is a gas leak. They found that the fuel injectors no. 2 and 3 were leaking. As this poses a serious fire hazard, they have to be replaced as soon as possible. The price tag for the repair is five hundred dollars canadian. One injector costs $170, two hours work $160.

As for the gas smell, most likely you have the same problem, as all the indications are exactly the same. Perhaps the only question is how many fuel injectors are leaking.

[bigdaveangell]

you could do that your self for so much cheaper.

[Super Nova]

Ummmmm check for "o" rings and clean the injectors first before you replace them

[typer0853]

I have the exact same problem & found out that my #2 injector is leaking.

See my post:
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=338236

Is this a common on Cavaliers & Sunfires?
Since this poses a fire hazzard, has there been a recall or is this considered a routine maintenance issue?

[pincheyloveclaw]

I have a 1995 Cavalier with the exact same symptoms. typer0853 says there is a recal for the 1996 but I'm not seeing this recal for the 95 year/model. This seems odd since 95 was the first year for this body-style. I want to check with the dealer anyway. It just sucks because I just got notice to take my emmissions test and I only have til Febuary to get it worked out (I assume it is gonna fail if leaking gas).