Other Fuel System Hoses Lines/piping, And Fittings problems of the 2007 Saturn ION

Gas leaking from fuel pump/gas tank. A strong odor of gasoline is permeating the cabin. My eyes burn and lips are numb. Second day gas can be seen dripping off of the fuel filter, the fuel filter is coated with gasoline. Gasoline pours from underneath the rear passenger side of the vehicle any time its started.

At first I had starting problems. I looked into the ignition,spark plugs,coils,plug wires. A g. M. Dealer said I had a code that said #3 cylinder misfire. #3 cyl. Spark plug was the only plug that was not running to lean. At that point my transmission started shifting rough. With in about 1. 5 months the engine started hard starting. I decided to change the fuel filter, bought one from auto zone, crawled under car and could not find a fuel filter. My g. M. Dealer didn't know what I was talking about. So I explained it again. They came back with "it must be in the fuel tank. I have changed hundreds of fuel filters in my 50 years of being a mechanic. Every automobile I have changed the in tank fuel pump has had a screen to catch the large pieces that may get in your tank, but I have never seen a fuel filter in tank. Please let me know what you think.

Early in 2013, we noted some moisture in the trunk of this vehicle. In late may, we hung a "damp rid" desiccant device in the trunk and noted that the "damp rid" device rapidly saturated with moisture and also formed clumps and/or crystals in the trunk of the auto. (the "damp rid" in the trunk was saturated within two weeks, whereas it takes a couple of months when hanging inside a closet in the house 1-888-326-7743). This week, I inserted a brand new 9 volt battery into a kidde model number kn-coeg-3 carbon monoxide/explosive gas monitor and placed the monitor in the trunk. Within 24 hours, the monitor was chirping. The peak level of gas after 24 hours in the trunk of the car was 10. (this household monitor can not discriminate the precise type of gas in this particular case). Today, I opened the trunk and cleaned everything out. The source of the moisture was clearly noted on the passenger side inside of the trunk because the interior of the trunk was actually muddy close to a one way flapper vent/valve on the passenger side. The one way valve measures around 4 inches high and 6 inches long. I am reporting this because of the proximity to the gas tank filler cap on the passenger side, 12 volt ac delco battery on the passenger side in the trunk, and auto emissions from this Saturn and other cars. Inhalation of any or all of these fumes or vapors can lead to health problems including erratic behavior, drowsiness, etc. Of course the risk of explosion and corrosion of sensitive electrical and fuel components is accelerated in damp conditions.