heater smells

I have a 1993 accord se 2 door. When I turn on the heater, it smells
like solvent/ gasoline for awhile. After awhile, it's OK.
If I set the air to recirculate, it's OK. Only when I set it to the
fresh air does it smell. It's been like this for at least a year.
Where is the fresh air intake for the heater?

 

On the right side of the car in most cases at the windshield.

 

Most cars pick up outside air from under the windshield, behind the hood.

This is worrisome. If you are smelling gasoline on startup there may be a
gas leak under the hood. Start the car once, shut it down after maybe ten
seconds, and smell under the hood. If you smell gas, get it hunted down and
fixed - the sooner the better. I had an engine fire once from a leaking
injector. I don't recommend it :-(

Mike

 

I had a similar issue with my '93 Accord LX last fall before I unloaded it.
In my case, a joint in the fuel line had become very corroded. There was no
fuel leaking onto the ground, so it was fuel vapors that were escaping.