Charcoal Canister - culprit for fuel smell? Options

[914Next]

In the past year I've noticed a significant increase in the fuel vapor smell in the cabin of my 73 2.0. I think it's time to track it down.

Is the most likely culprit the charcoal canister? Are there other potential causes?

If it's the canister can these be "re-loaded? I recall hearing that they may be able to be opened up and charcoal replaced. Anyone done that? How big a task is it?

Os do I just look for a used replacement canister?

TIA

Steve

[TRP]

I went through this whole process recently. A lot of folks said "it's the charcoal canister", so I set about buying one and getting it installed. It turns out, for my car, it was actually a small fuel leak in the pressurized fuel line under the tank.

Before I could swap in the canister, the small leak became a big leak one morning while warming the car up in the garage. Prior to the bigger leak, I would just get a very strong fuel smell when driving the car, no puddles under the car. Once the leak got bigger, I was finally able to see the puddle under the car. The only other thing that I noticed when the bigger leak occurred is that morning when I went to start the car, it took a few seconds longer for the motor to catch/fire up. (a few more wurr wurrr. wurrrs than the normal two or three rotations of the motor). Now I put that in my mental database to be mindful of when starting the car.

For peace of mind, a guy could jack up the front of the car, remove the steering rack belly pan and look in the big inspection hole under the tank. Get a mirror and a flash light and check to see if any of the fuel lines are wet. Check to see if the bottom of the tank is wet, etc. Had I don't this sooner I would have seen the wet fuel lines and not driven the car around with a fuel leak under the tank.

I have since pulled the tank and replaced every single rubber line, ran the Tangerine lines, etc. etc.

I will be putting the charcoal canister back in this coming weekend. If you need new activated charcoal, shoot me a PM. I accidentally purchased WAY TOO MUCH and now happened to have a lifetime supply. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Best of luck,
Ted