mostwanted

Thanks for the reply! I took it to a VW specialist and since there were no visible leaks that was his suggestion. He said mine was cracked pretty bad. Replaced gas cap on 4/3 and smell is still there. Only when I turn off engine.

I'm wondering if it's the fuel injectors or something??

bozack

I have been dealing with the same issue and like everyone else thought it as one of the other cars or motorcycles but started noticing it outside when we parked too.

Coming strong from the drivers side and not the filler side so myself and my Merc mechanic crawled under and its dripping gas from the top and running down both sides of the tank. Not enough to drip yet but enough to smell it.

So question is has anyone done their fuel pump as i see a few different ones for my 07 with the 4.2. One has a flange which could be the flange portion cracked and leaking and then there is another separate fuel pump seal that it could be.

iconoclast

Volkswagen, Audi Recall 80,000 Vehicles Because Leaking Fuel Can Lead To Fire ? Consumerist

Jamesmccready

Turns out it was my fuel pump and housing... There was a tiny pinhole crack in the top of the plastic dome on the top of the fuel pump. It was so small, I had to use a light to backlight it just to see the tiny stream of gas spraying up when the pump was priming the injectors. (When you open drivers door, the pump primes the lines and you can hear it cut on) Take out you rear passenger seat and the plate under carpet to check your pump assembly and lines from gas tank. I used this video for instruction http://youtu.be/fyNOvhwtCdk
I ordered the new pump assembly and replaced it at problem solved! Car is running great! Hope this helps. Good luck to you.

bozack

Turns out mine is the same issue, pinhole crack at the top of the fuel pump leaking....

jjojo2004

I had the same symptoms as the OP. Turned out it was the fuel filter housing on the driver's side (LH side) under the middle row seat sheetmetal . The plastic top had developed cracks and gas was seeping out causing the odor. This type of failure will not set off the MIL or affect drivability believe it or not! The hardest part of the repair was figuring out how to remove the middle row seats--they were bolted in with German complexity! Hahaha!!

Tomadelphia

Well.. It's my turn to replace the fuel pump. I was sizing up the middle row seats but I'd sure like your advice on how to remove them. Did you see anything online? The VW seats are different and that's the only thing I've found on YouTube

bozack

2nd row seats were no problem. They just had those larger bolts to remove and that was it, can't remember the size but it was a larger one and then the seats came right out.

jjojo2004

I found nothing of detail on the Q7 middle row seat removal.

1. Start by removing the baby seat anchor plastic trim pieces at the seat bottom and backrest joint area. They just pop out, snapped in. Be careful prying them out, they are fragile and may break.

2. Next remove the seat bottoms. They are just snapped in place at the front, clipped on the front of the seat framework. Once pulled up, disconnect the seat heater electrical connections.

3. You will now see the middle seat bottom framework and the mounting bolts with the seat bottoms now gone. There are 2 different size bolts. You will need a socket/bit set called a "Triple Square" bit to remove those bolts! DO NOT use a Torx or Allenwrench--you WILL strip them out! There are also 2 hidden bolts by the far left and right sides by the footwell area. Those bolts are hidden by carpet colored plastic trim pieces. Pull those up and out at the same time to remove them. They are fragile and may break! I broke the tabs on one of mine and ended up Velcroing it back on!

jjojo2004

4. Once the middle seat is removed from the Q7, you will see some round perforated areas in the carpet. The RH side is for the fuel filter. You will have to cut out the carpet on the perforations with a box cutter knife to access the access panel. Remove the carpet piece completely, leaving it flapping is actually not going to work well and will annoy you. The carpet pieces can be Velcroed back on to the access panels once you are done.