2002 Subaru Forester Fuel System Problems

Your fuel lines are leaking gasoline in cold weather, which creates a serious fire hazard under your hood. This problem has occurred twice in two years on different fuel hoses. The repair will likely involve replacing the damaged fuel hoses and potentially inspecting the entire fuel line system for cracks or deterioration.

Your car has a strong gasoline smell when you approach it after it's been sitting, and the smell gets even stronger right after you shut off the engine. The smell is worse in warmer weather. This could indicate a fuel leak or evaporative system issue that should be inspected to prevent fuel odor and potential safety concerns.

On a cold morning, you noticed a strong gas smell after parking your car. You found gasoline leaking from around metal clamps on a small rubber hose located near the power steering fluid cap. The leak appeared within a couple of minutes of starting the engine, and tightening the clamps seemed to help. Leaking gasoline in the engine area is a fire hazard and should be monitored closely.

You're noticing a strong fuel smell inside your car when idling with the heater on, and again after short drives. While you can't see an actual leak, the odor seems to be coming from the intake manifold area on the passenger side. This could indicate a fuel leak or vapor leak in the fuel system that needs to be located and sealed.

Your car struggles to accelerate when driving uphill, and the check engine light comes on when this happens. A mechanic identified the fuel sensor module as the likely cause of the problem. Getting this fuel sensor replaced should resolve the acceleration issue.

During cold winters when temperatures drop to 20°F or below, you notice a very strong raw gas smell inside your car when it's idling or parked. The smell is so intense it can cause headaches, making the car uncomfortable to drive in cold weather. This issue likely involves a fuel system component that contracts in extreme cold, allowing fuel vapors to enter the cabin.

A VERY STRONG FUEL SMELL COMES INTO THE CAB OF MY 2002 SUBARU FORESTER WHEN TEMPERATURES DROP BELOW 35. I RECENTLY MOVED TO MONTANA AND HADN'T NOTICED IT BEFORE BECAUSE PORTLAND DOESN'T GET THIS COLD. .AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE ONLINE, FOUND OUT SEVERAL OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. SUBARU IS RECALLING WMX FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT NOT FORESTERS. *TR

AFTER A PERIOD OF COLD WEATHER (BELOW FREEZING), I DROVE MY CAR FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES. AFTER EXITING THE CAR, I SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE AT THE FRONT OF THE CAR. DURING THE TRIP WHEN USING THE HEAT INSIDE THE VEHICLE, I ALSO SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE AND EXHAUST AND SHUT OFF THE HEAT. (I THOUGHT IT WAS COMING FROM THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME IN TRAFFIC.) AFTER LEAVING THE CAR IN THE GARAGE ALL DAY, I DROVE IT TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC TO SEE IF THERE MIGHT BE A FUEL LINE LEAK. THE NEXT DAY, HE ADVISED ME THAT THERE HAD BEEN A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED BY SUBURU ABOUT COLD WEATHER AND FUEL SMELL. HE SAID THAT INDEED THE FUEL LINES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT EXHIBITED SIGNS OF GAS LEAKAGE. WHEN THE FUEL LEAKED, IT LEAKED ONTO THE ENGINE AND MANIFOLD (WHICH I THINK IS NORMALLY GETS HOT). GIVEN THE POTENTIAL FOR FIRE, HE REPLACED ALL OF THE FUEL HOSES IN THE CAR WITH NEW HOSES AND THE FUEL FILTER. ON THE SAME DAY, ANOTHER SUBURU CUSTOMER HAD THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM WITH SMELLING GASOLINE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND HE HAD TO HAVE THE SAME REPAIRS DONE. I SHOULD ADD THAT ON THE DAY I FIRST SMELLED GASOLINE NEAR THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND WHEN I HAD TURNED THE HEAT ON IN THE CAB, IT WAS ABOUT 22 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, WITH A WIND CHILL IN THE SINGLE DIGITS. THIS IS UNUSUALLY COLD FOR OUR AREA. I HAD JUST FILLED UP MY GAS TANK THE EVENING BEFORE. MY MILEAGE IS A LITTLE MORE THAN 70,000 MILES, AND THE CAR HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED. *TR

DURING A VERY COLD DAY I FELT VERY STRONG GASOLINE SMELL RIGHT AFTER START IN MY 2002 SUBARU FORESTER S. I LOOKED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND I SAW GASOLINE O ONE OF THE RUBBER HOSES CONNECTING 2 FUEL LINES. THE SMELL DISAPPEARED AFTER THE ENGINE WARMED UP, BUT REAPPEARED AFTER THE CAR STAYED OUTSIDE FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS. THE CAR DID THE SAME THING A FEW YEARS AGO DURING VERY COLD TEMPERATURES. AT THAT TIME, THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP TIGHTENED THE CLAMPS HOLDING THE RUBBER HOSE. RUBBER HOSE. *TR

FROM A STAND STILL VEHICLE WILL HESITATE OR ONCE GETTING STARTED WILL LUNGE FORWARD. DEALERSHIP LOOKED OVER VEHICLE, AND CONTACTED SUBARU WHICH TOLD DEALERSHIP THAT VEHICLE MET ALL REQUIREMENTS, AND RETURNED VEHICLE TO CONSUMER WITH NO MODIFICATIONS. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK