A car salesman went viral on TikTok after sharing a storytime about a service visit gone wrong that left him furious.
Tyler Weaver (@cole_honda_tyler), a former choir director turned car salesman, told viewers to head straight to the comments section if his experience made them angry, too.
“Would this make you mad, too?” he asks in the on-screen caption of his clip before explaining what happened.
As of this writing, his video had racked up more than 11,000 views from people eager to weigh in. However, as of Thursday, the video is no longer available.
What Happened at the Chevrolet Dealership?
Weaver says he loves his 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer but “it’s giving [him] some issues.” Since his own dealership doesn’t handle Chevrolets, he took it to a Chevy dealer for repairs. He says he dropped it off on October 24th, and as of press time, he still hasn’t gotten it back.
According to Weaver, the car was “throwing up” an evaporative emission control system (EVAP) code and giving off a “strong gasoline smell” inside.
“I have a one-year-old daughter,” he says. “That’s no bueno.”
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But when he called for an update, things only got worse. Weaver says the tech assigned to his vehicle had “dropped” the job for one that paid more, and that no one had actually diagnosed the problem. He also claims that when he asked about coverage under his vehicle’s “special warranty,” he was told it might not apply. Apparently, it’s because “it smells like it won’t cover it.”
“It’s my vehicle, and I don’t want to be swept under the rug,” Weaver says, clearly frustrated by the lack of progress.
By October 29th, Weaver said (in the now-unavailable video) that he had reached out to Chevy’s corporate office for help. He was told his car was “dumping fuel,” which explained the strong gas smell he’d noticed earlier. After filing a formal claim, Weaver says corporate told him it would contact the dealership directly to help resolve the issue.
“Hopefully that’s going to fix some problems,” Weaver says.
What Could Be Wrong With His Car?
If Weaver’s Trailblazer smells like gas and is flashing an EVAP code, something’s probably off in the system that keeps fuel vapors from escaping. The EVAP setup captures and recycles those fumes, but when it leaks or breaks down, they leak out instead, setting off warning lights and that unmistakable gas smell.
Sometimes the culprit is something as simple as a loose or cracked gas cap. Old, worn, or cracked hoses in the EVAP system can cause the same issue, especially after years of heat and wear.
The problem could also stem from a bad purge or vent valve—parts that regulate vapor flow—or a charcoal canister that’s oversaturated and no longer able to contain fumes.
There’s also a chance that overfilling the gas tank caused liquid fuel to enter the vapor lines, clogging or damaging the canister and valves. That would explain both the code and the smell.
Weaver’s best bet, if he hasn’t done so already, is to check the gas cap for cracks and make sure it’s properly tightened. From there, a professional mechanic can run a smoke test to find where vapors are escaping and confirm whether it’s a small leak or a larger system failure.
Until the leak is found and sealed, that smell isn’t going anywhere—and neither is the EVAP warning.
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Can You Be Denied Coverage Due to Your Car’s Smell?
There’s no evidence suggesting that a dealership can turn you away from a warranty claim because your car smells. They may deny coverage if the smell comes from something that voids the warranty, such as neglect or improper care, and they might bill you for cleaning if you broke the rules for a loaner vehicle.
But if the odor is caused by a hidden defect or something covered under the warranty, you could push back against the denial.
Commenters Urge Weaver to Go Elsewhere
Viewers who saw Weaver’s video said it was absurd for Chevy to keep his car for so long without updates and encouraged him to take it to another shop.
“Find your own mechanic,” one person suggested. “Don’t use the dealership. Way too expensive.”
“Should have taken it to a small-time mechanic,” another added. “They’re less crooked. And warranties are useless anyways, they only cover stuff that doesn’t break until the warranty runs out.”
Some viewers recommended leaving a negative review if nothing else.
“Google reviews… the second they get a negative one, that advisor will have your car on a lift begging you to change it,” one person wrote.
Others shared that they would be just as frustrated in Weaver’s situation.
“I would be [expletive],” one commenter said.
“Better buy you a HONDA, I would be LIVID,” another woman added.
“Are you kidding me? So not only are they not fixing it, but they aren’t even working on it,” a third woman commented.
Weaver replied to that comment, writing, “Correct.”
Motor1 has reached out to Weaver via a direct message on TikTok and to General Motors (Chevrolet’s parent company) via email. This story will be updated should either party respond.
