# 2002 Kia Spectra smells like gasoline through heater vents when starting car **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [December 9, 2008, 5:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-kia-spectra-smells-like-gasoline-through-heater-vents-when-starting-car/23165 "2008-12-09T17:06:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jeremyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/839c29/32.png) [@jeremyn](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jeremyn)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 5:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-kia-spectra-smells-like-gasoline-through-heater-vents-when-starting-car/23165/1 "2008-12-09T17:06:26Z")
All of a sudden, there is a distinct gasoline smell coming through the air vents for the first 15 minutes of driving. I never noticed it before now and we haven’t had any service done recently… Does it have something to do with the cold weather? What might it be? I assume that if I can’t figure it out myself, I need to take it in ASAP…gasoline fumes cannot be a good sign. ---
**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 7:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-kia-spectra-smells-like-gasoline-through-heater-vents-when-starting-car/23165/2 "2008-12-09T19:52:54Z")
You’re right. You do need to have a mechanic check it out. And yes, cold weather can have an effect on the rubber hoses, and seals, which carry gasoline, on the engine. If you want to make like a good Boy Scout, carry marshmallows (for roasting, you know). ---
**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 7:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-kia-spectra-smells-like-gasoline-through-heater-vents-when-starting-car/23165/3 "2008-12-09T19:57:17Z")
I suggest you open the hood and carefully inspect the fuel hoses to see if there’s a leak immediately after cold-start. You might be able to see something. If you can smell gasoline, then it’s leaking somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Me\_pickles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Me\_pickles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Me_pickles)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 5:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-kia-spectra-smells-like-gasoline-through-heater-vents-when-starting-car/23165/4 "2018-12-07T05:17:10Z")
i’ve seen evidence of a fuel leak on the right side of the engine looks like a fuel pressure regulator i’m trying to find a gasket or prong that goes in there