Help only 18 mpg!!! whats wrong!

[Safety Guy]

On the left side of your back seat area is the gas tank evaporative cannister behind the plastic liner. Our manuals don't give a lot of info on this area.

There is a line that goes to a small hole in the floor over the axle swivel mount. Maybe this came loose? If you can see it you must have your back carpet out or loose.

I had to enlarge this small hole to get a socket in to take off my rear axle bracket for an Aspire suspension swap. Then when I replaced the small hose after reassembling the fuel lines and filler hose, I found the seal wasn't good enough and it leaks some fumes. However, I get around 26 mpg average with a bit of a heavy right foot and my ATX and B6 engine.

Karl

[Liltucker]

it doesn't smell like gas if its been sitting... but right after i fill up, up until i use about half the tank, the smell of gas is overpowering.

[Liltucker]

ok karl i hear what your talking about i had the liner out the other day... there are two little plastica black tanks i guess and it looks like there should be a hose attqached too one and there is a free hose just hangin but the hose is too small too fit on the bottom side of the tank. whgat is that hos for?

[Dave G]

it doesn't smell like gas if its been sitting... but right after i fill up, up until i use about half the tank, the smell of gas is overpowering.

Ah ha! Sounds like you have a rust hole (or holes) around the seam in the tank. Try only filling it up half way and see if the mileage improves.

[Pu241]

Now we're getting some where!
I'm in for the rust hole in the seam of the tank!

[Liltucker]

yea? so i can get to my tank how? i have my back seats out right now. and i've pulled the carpet back and theres a little cover or something, is that the way to go ill check the manual. but any help will be apreciated! thanks for the help already

[Pu241]

Liltucker,

If it was your pump or sender that would be the way to go!
But if you have a leak in your tank you need to get to it from underneath the car.
From underneath the car you should be able to find the leak after you have more than a half a tank.
Please DO NOT SMOKE while you are doing this, if you smoke.
Nor let anyone around the car who is smoking if it is a leak.
If it is a leak; it could be from the seam holding the 2 halves of the tank together or the possibly from the fill tube deteriorating.
Let us know what you find!

[Liltucker]

ok good call on the smoking thing. i wouldn't smoke around it cause i'd be the one working but my friends on the other hand.... coulda been bad! but yea i definatly keepo yous guys posted on it, but im at work and my key broke.... so i can't get in my car lol

[Pu241]

Check your hatch and see if its open!
Otherwise it the ole coat hanger trick on the lock nub or slim jim throught the outside weather stripping!

[phantorn]

They (cat converter) can be chemicaly inactive,on an obdII cat the o2 sensor and the cat moniter will mirror image each other p0420 and p0430 depending on what bank fails.The Festiva on the othe hand does not have a downstream o2 sensor.Then it pretty much acts as a staight pipe.

[Pu241]

phantorn,
With all due repect, what are talking about in regards to this thread?

[Liltucker]

my crappy gas milage, and phanthorn what are you talking about?

[phantorn]

I was refering to this post by jglutz

The cat fails two ways
1) it's blocked, car idles well and might drive well but no power under load, going up a hill...no power
2) It leaks...car will run better...louder...but better.

Sorry I should have used quotes

[Pu241]

I was refering to this post by jglutz

Since his post wasn't relavent then, what does that make your post two days later? :?

[phantorn]

Thought some of you guys might know that cat converters can fail a another way......