1994 Pontiac Firebird

GAS CAP FAILURE IN NORMAL USE ON 1994 PONTIAC FIREBIRD FORMULA (V8 ENGINE ). (1) THREADED PORTION OF GAS CAP, PART THAT THREADS INTO THE FILLER TUBE, BECAME SWOLLEN THRU NORMAL USE (EXPOSURE TO NORMAL GASOLINE VAPORS), TO THE POINT WHERE THE CAP WOUOLD NO LONGER THREAD PROPERLY AND SEAL. (2) SINCE THE CAP COULD NOT BE PROPERLY THREADED INTO THE FILLER TUBE, THE GAS TANK LOST PROPER PRESURIZATION/VACUUM AND THIS AFFECTED GASOLINE VAPOR RECOVERY FROM THE TANK AND ULTIMATELY, WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING, FROM THE VAPOR CANISTER. GASOLINE VAPORS WERE PRESENT IN MY GARAGE. SINCE THE SEAL WAS NOT CONTACTING THE FILLER TUBE, THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOME POSSIBILITY OF GASOLINE SPILLAGE IN THE EVENT OF A ROLLOVER. (3) REPLACED THE CAP, DRIVEABILITY AND GAS MILEAGE INCREASED. CAN NO LONGER SMELL GASOLINE IN MY GARAGE. THIS COULD BE A PROBLEM IN THAT THE GAS CAP, MADE OF SOME SORT OF PLASTIC IS AFFECTED BY NORMAL GAOLINE VAPORS (THIS WOULD INCLUDE THE METHANOL ADDITIVE THAT IS FOUND AT MOST GAS STATIONS NOW-A-DAYS). THE PLASTIC SWELLS TO THE POINT THAT THE CAP IS DIFFICULT TO THREAD INTO THE FIILLER TUBE, CONSEQUENTLY, WHEN HEARING THE "THREE CLICKS", IT IS A FALSE TIGHTENING AND THE SEAL DOES NOT MAKE CONTACT WITH THE FILLER TUBE. SINCE THE SEAL DOES NOT MAKE CONTACT, DIRT AND OTHER CONTAMINATES WORK THEIR WAY UNDER THE SEAL AND FURTHER DETERIORATE IT.*AK

STRONG FUEL FUMES INSIDE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHEN CAR HAS BEEN OFF FOR NON-SPECIFIC TIME. PROBLEM COMES AND GOES. NOTICABLE WHEN GETTING IN THE CAR TO START AND GO. SOMETIMES SO STRONG BOTH WINDOWS HAVE TO BE PUT DOWN IN ORDER TO BREATHE. IT GOES AWAY ONCE THE CAR IS RUNNING AND AIRED OUT. THIS CAN HAPPEN ONCE IN A DAY, OR WEEK, OR SEVERAL WEEKS, OR IT CAN GO ON ALL DAY, THEN NOT AGAIN FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. OR HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES IN A WEEK. THE GAS CAP IS TIGHT AND A VACUUM SOUND IS RELEASED WHEN THE CAP IS LOOSENED. THE SMELL IS NOT OBVIOUS OUTSIDE THE CAR.

I WAS DRIVING DOWN I-4 WHEN CAR SEEM TO LOSE POWER, SO I TOOK NEXT AVAILABLE EXIT. I SHUT THE IGNITION OFF, HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A BACKFIRE. AT THAT MOMENT OF SHUT OFF SMOKE STARTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD, BOTH SIDES AND THEN INTO THE INSIDE OF MY CAR. I AND PASSERBY'S TRIED TO EXTINGUISH FIRE BUT IT WAS TO HOT AND HOPELESS. FIRE DEPT. ARRIVED VERY QUICKLY BUT THE FRONT OF MY CAR IS COOKED. PLEASE HELP ME, THE CAR WAS RUNNING PERFECTLY RIGHT TO THAT POINT! I NOTICED SEVERAL OTHER FIRES. THIS MUST BE A DEFECT, THANK YOU MERRY KNUTSON