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Thu May 15, 2003 2:15 pm

I have a 69 beetle, and when I got home last night I could smell a strong gas odor.....there is also gas dripping out of the back of the car towards the left side of the engine. What could this be ?? The car drives fine but I know this can't be good.... thanks for any insight.....I have read other threads about a gas smell, but i didn't see anything about a puddle of gas on the ground...

thanks, J.V.

Thu May 15, 2003 3:37 pm

where is your fuel filter? check the hard line that connects to the soft line behind the firewall. anyone else want to add?
-brian

Thu May 15, 2003 4:07 pm

You have a leak. Do as above. check the line & filter, carb throttle body.

Thu May 15, 2003 6:16 pm

A good practice is to change the line often. I change it about every 2 years. I had a line worn through and set my oval on fire. Luckly I got it out before too much damage was done. I keep a close eye on the line condition now. And a good fire extinguisher. -Jeremy

Fri May 16, 2003 8:34 am

Thanks a bunch !!! I'll check it out this tonite....... ya'll have a good weekend!!!

Fri May 16, 2003 4:41 pm

My bug had an engine fire as well caused by the same thing. Leaking fuel lines are not to be messed with. Get it fixed ASAP, in fact I wouldn't even drive it until you do.

jeremy - do you replace the entire fuel line, or just the soft parts?

Sat May 17, 2003 6:57 pm

How often you change the steel fuel lines really depends on where you live and how much corrosion your climate gives you. THe steel lines should last a long long time.

Sat May 17, 2003 7:17 pm

don't forget to check the rubber part of the fuel line next to the transmission, it is prolly the most overlooked line to replace on the fuel line next to the one under the tank, if one is bad, change all of them,.the piece of mind will go along way because a bug fire is not fun.
ps, make sure you don't scrimp on the replacement line nothing is worse then loseing a $3000 bug because of a $2 dollar fuel line