Hello,
My 2012 Honda Fit sport recently started this strange problem and I can't figure out what it is. I'll be very grateful for any help you guys can offer!

The car smells like fuel inside the cabin (it smells as soon as it starts running) and in the engine compartment. There is no visual fuel leaks anywhere and the fuel cap is fully secured. I even replaced the cabin air filter, but did not make any difference. FWIW, it only smells when it is set to let the outside air in in the air-conditioner settings. The engine compartment has more strong smell than the cabin and I suspect it is from the thing next to cylinders (I might be wrong, see image). The question is, can this be easily fixed (I'm not an expert)? is it dangerous to drive?

Thanks very much for reading and have a great day!

 

Anytime you can smell fuel in the cabin there is a possibility of danger; fire, inhalation. If I were you I would try and get this taken care of ASAP. The last thing you want to see is your sweet lil Fit engulfed in flames.....

The component you point to in your picture is the EGR valve solenoid. Theoretically if it were leaking it could be putting out spent, but rich exhaust fumes into the engine compartment, but a leak that substantial in the EGR system would come with driveability and idle issues. You would likely have the CEL come on as well if that were the case. You would see black carbon build up in the location of the leak as well.

However, immediately to the right of the EGR Solenoid and under the intake runners is the fuel rail and injectors. If a fuel smell is coming from that general area, I would suspect a the issue being fuel leak somewhere on the fuel rail/injector orings/lines. I would suggest you turn your Fit on, grabbing a flashlight and looking under/between the intake runners to check for visible fuel leaks.along the rail, and especially at the o-ring/insulator area where the injector meets the head. Follow the fuel rail and look at all lines and connections as far as you can trace... I suspect you will find your issue.

Here is a Youtube video for a injector replacement on an L15 (from a GD, but core components are the same) which will help you visualize the parts involved and where everything is located.

Hope you can figure this out!

 

I'm betting you haven't had your valve lash adjustment done? Should be done around 100k. I say this because one of the symptoms of valves needing adjustment is the smell of fuel on startup. Your exhaust valves aren't quite sealing perfectly and you aren't completely burning fuel in the cylinder. This goes away as the engine heats up and the valves slightly expand and seal better.

 

Fuel filter is below the shifter, isnt that where the smell comes from

 

Thanks very much for the replies! So, next time when I started, the check engine light came up! Autozone told me it was P0303: Misfire No. 3 Cylinder and either the ignition coil or the spark plug was the issue. So ordered the parts, checked the youtube videos, and replaced it myself. No more smell and all seems to be running fine.



I just replaced the coil and all 4 spark plugs. It looked like the other 2 were just fine, but 4th was looking pretty bad (rusty soot covering it). Do you think I should have replaced all 4 at the same time?

Thanks,