2006 XC70 Evap Line leak? Topic is solved

[Skymongrel]

My 2006 XC70 has been giving me a faint whiff of gas smell for a few months. This past week my engine light came on but sadly the new iCarsoft Volvo code reader can't find the fault. I did get a flash on the dash that indicated I had a "Loose Gas Cap". It was momentary and has disappeared but the engine light remains.

Traced a light trail of gas along the bottom spare tire well up towards the lines going to the filler cap. There are three lines (I think). One smaller line was rubbing against the spare tire well and there was some suspicious corrosion around it. Sure enough this line has a hole in it (I was able to insert a small pick tool into it!). I believe it is a metal line (it 32 degrees out and maybe its just hard rubber but I think its metal).

I've enclosed a picture, which shows the corrosion and the area where it was rubbing. Question; how hard of a repair is this? What are my options? My thoughts are, maybe I can clean this small hole and JB Weld it. Perhaps use a small wrap of fiberglass cloth coated in JBWeld?

Sure appreciate your thoughts! Car inspection coming up. Also any idea why my code reader can't detect failure?

Line with pinhole in it

VolvoXC70EvapLeak.jpg (286 KiB) Viewed 727 times

[Skymongrel]

An update on my evap line leak; in short, I went ahead with a JB Weld repair after preping the leak area. Epoxy is still curing so don't know if it worked but I'm hopeful. BTW all my research did not reveal a leak of this nature! But its obvious as to why due to direct contact of Evap line and body. A preemptive move for you would be to check and see if you have the same problem before you have my problem.

Note: to prevent epoxy from dripping down off evap line I used a 1/2 plastic wire loom, the ribbing will better hold epoxy and with the slit facing upward should hold all the epoxy. The loom wasn't structural but just to hold epoxy til it cured. It also should prevent future rubbing of line against body.

Here's the steps;

1. Identified the leak by following a gas trail to the evap line where it was in direct contact with part of the spare tire well.
2. Jacked car up and removed the right rear tire. Removed one plastic nut holding fender liner on to give better access.
3. Remove one plastic cable tie and a plastic bracket that holds all three fuel lines together.
4. Cut strips of 80 grit sandpaper and sanded area surrounding small hole in evap line, also used a fingernail file stick to get better sanding action on hard to reach areas.
5. This was going to get messy so masked off surrounding area with tape.
6. Using a popsicle stick put JB Weld directly in evap line pin hole.
7. Using about two thirds of a tube of JB Weld filled an epoxy syringe.
8. Injected epoxy into a 2 1/2 inch long 1/2 inch wire loom with epoxy (using all of it)
9. Spread a little epoxy directly onto line and then carefully put epoxy filled wire loom onto line. Used one cable tie on one end of loom.
couldn't fit another at the other end due to poor access.
10. Let cure and cross fingers.

Sanded Evap line

VolvoXC70EvapLeak1.JPG (340.91 KiB) Viewed 708 times

Placing epoxy filled wire loom

VolvXC70EvapLeak2.JPG (304.4 KiB) Viewed 708 times

Completed Evap Repair

VolvoXC70EvapLeak3.jpg (375.98 KiB) Viewed 708 times

[Skymongrel]

After letting car sits for a day and a half to let epoxy cure (its cold here), looks like it's fixed. No engine codes. Running great! Patting myself on the back.

[xHeart]

You are solving problem is a good news; it is a creative process.

I had a situation with same hard plastic vacuum line along the path near passenger side front door. I was able to saw out the damaged piece (due to an oversight on placing jack stand) with rotary tool and added a coupler like sleeve -- CN90 suggested a 3"- 4"piece of fuel hose. You could coat he OD of vac line with JB paste before sliding the coupler.

Your repair should work too!

Happy holidays!