NHTSA Complaint #10043845 — 1994 NISSAN MAXIMA

1994 NISSAN MAXIMA HAS A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE WHEN STARTED IN THE MORNINGS. USUALLY, BUT NOT ALWAYS, ODOR GOES AWAY AFTER 20-30 MINUTES OF DRIVING. THIS IS A RANDOM PROBLEM, AND APPEARS TO BE WORSE IN COOLER WEATHER BUT HAS OCCURRED IN WARM WEATHER. STRENGTH OF THE ODOR VARIES DAY BY DAY. THE CAR HAS BEEN CHECKED FOR FAULTY FUEL INJECTORS, THE HOSING HAS BEEN CHECKED, THE FUEL FILTER CHANGED. THERE ARE NO "CLEAN SPOTS" INDICATING GAS LEAKAGE ON AN OLD DIRTIER ENGINE. ODOR IS SO STRONG AT TIMES THAT THE CAR HAS TO BE PARKED OUTSIDE THE GARAGE AT HOME FOR FEAR THAT A SPARK FROM THE HOT WATER HEATER WILL IGNITE THE FUMES. ALSO, FIRE FROM ENGINE HEAT IS A CONCERN AS IS DRIVING THE CAR AND HAVING ANOTHER MOTORIST TOSS OUT A CIGARETTE BUTT. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT 95 MODELS HAD A DEVICE INSTALLED IN THE FUEL LINE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM.*AK