Mechanics Help!

[shc1]

Have a 99 Plymouth Voyager. The remote starter has been a big help in cold weather.
Lately after I let it run for 10 or so minutes (defrost on) I have a strong gas odor inside. The smell isn’t exhaust it’s raw gas that disappears while moving but sometimes comes back, say while at a stoplight. Mileage has gone down as well.
Now, the dealer can’t find anything wrong with the thing. Fuel system is ok from one end to the other. I can’t find a gas leak anywhere but the odor and mileage has me stumped.
Gremlins?!?

[imanaknut]

When an automobile is started cold, the fuel ratio is set to very rich. If you drive off slowly and let the vehicle warm up that way, the fuel control leans the mixture as the vehicle is driven, and actually warms up more quickly. If you let it sit and idle, the mixture stays super rich longer, so as the engine warms up, the computer doesn't see a throttle change and keeps the ratio at the cold setting even with the engine warm. That extra unburnt fuel is probably what you are smelling. That is also why the mileage is down, that extra fuel spent going zero MPH is pure waste. 30 seconds of warm up for a modern engine, and a 1999 Plymouth is still considered modern (let's not get into that ;) ) so you are really running all that fuel right out the tail pipe instead of converting it into driven MPG. Remember, a vehicle going zero MPH is getting zero MPG, so that is why your mileage is so bad.

Feels good to get into a nice warm vehicle, but really is harmful to the vehicle.

[Noah Zark]

Could be your van's fuel vapor recovery system has a fault, like the charcoal cannister has cracked, the valve has failed, or a hose is cracked or split.

Noah

[doublecheez]

VGER seeks to join with the creator. :cupjoe:

Edit to add:

http://photobucket.com/albums/v237/prestemonkey/th_vger.jpg

[Noah Zark]

VGER seeks to join with the creator. :cupjoe:

LOL! :lool:

Noah