Gasoline Fumes/Compressor Sound

[gonzo50]

When I turn on the air vents, either on fan mode or automatic mode, where outside air has to come inside the car, I've been getting a foul smell of gasoline lately. I have no gas leaks, I'm still on the initial tank of gas from the dealership, I have only 230 miles on the car, has anyone else experienced this. Also after starting up the car I hear a strange noise coming from the engine compartment like a compressor sound, its not the fuel pump because I can hear that from the back of the car. Is this normal and what is it? Need some advice, THANKS!

[MAD-3R]

The sound is the auto leveler. I hear it all the time. It does sound like it's from the front. When I get out and hit the alarm active, I hear what sounds like a Turbine winding down. :) Sounds cool to me

[03 Merc]

Gonzo,

I had a "fuel" smell for about 3 days when mine was new.. I suspect a coating burning off caused it... As Mad-3R said the noise is the air suspension cycling...

[cyclone03]

Compressure noise is just that.Don't worry aboutm it.

As for the smell,mine had a simular smell.
OPen the hood and look down below the brake master cylender,find the exhaust manifold and check all around it and make sure the shifter cable/brake release cable is not rubbing on the manifold.
Theres a wire mettel bracket that the cable routes through,mine was miss routed.
New cable and missing bracket covered on warrenty.

[SHAGGY]

You will also have a smell while the catalytic conv. burn off some of the overspray. It will burn off after about 500 miles.

[gonzo50]

I really appreciate all the response to this Thread, I feel relieved that it's not anything to be concerned with at this time, I will still continue to monitor it and hopefully with time it will heal itself, "the smell", as for the auto leveler, I guess i could get use to it, "the noise", soon I won't even notice it. THANK'S GUYS!!

[RF Overlord]

I want to add my thanks as well, to everyone who answered this post; I, too, was wondering about the "compressor" sound, as it didn't happen all the time...I was in the dealer yesterday getting the subwoofer buzz fixed and forgot to ask them about this other sound...now I don't have to!

Thanks once again to Logan for starting this site; it's been an enormous help and my wife and I really enjoy reading all the various subjects...

[Fourth Horseman]

What I find odd is how sometimes when I get out of the car and close the door the air from the suspension is released right away. Other times it's not.

I'm sure it's working correctly, but I can't figure out what the parameters are that the system uses to determine when to release the air and allow the car to lower down.

[03 Merc]

I suspect the reason it sometimes runs or vents and other times doesn't has to do with if the car is parked realitively level or not... My driveway is about a 25 - 35 degree grade and if I park on it the compressor usually runs or vents... My office parking spot is level and the compressor has never run... This is just an observation but I can duplicate it...