My fuel tank started leaking, and I managed to get my fuel tank replaced as part of the recall. During the replacement the garage broke a valve in the fuel line, and they charge me for the part, but not the labour. I couldn't collect the car that day because it wouldn't start without that part, so I needed to get a lift to work .

They claimed that the valve was blocked, and I must have had trouble with the car. The car was running perfectly though, and it managed to pass it's MOT, which was done before they changed the tank. I can't prove anything here, did they mess up, or is it likely that it did need replacing?

Anyway, it took a few days for the petrol smell to go. Then I filled up again, and the petrol smell is back. The tank also looks wet, but I haven't had a good look yet. People have even mentioned the smell when walking past my car.

Now, where would I stand with this Fiat dealer? If something wasn't right surely they should have at least told me? What else could be wrong? When it went in the fuel pump etc. was dry! Have they really messed up?

Hi,

If even the passers-by notice the smell it's really not good. Which means they did really mess up things. Get the car back to the garage and complain. Most likely the fuel pump or the evaporation valve is not mounted correctly. I, for example, did not renew the rubber gaskets on my first go at the tank and mounted one of them upside-down (cause it was so used up it looked symmetric). After the first filling up the top of the tank was soaking wet and really smelling. Replacing the gasket (and mounting it the right side up ) solved the problem. So, either they (a) did not care to replace what needed replacing (remember that many gaskets are quite fine until they are taken out off their seat, some folks seem to ignore this), or (b) mounted things the wrong way. It may ofcourse still be something else, but it's their duty to make sure that the newly mounted tank is not leaking. In either case - go back and complain. Car smelling of fuel is not a safe one to drive.

The evaporation valve - is that what they broke? I was buying it once at Fiat, cause I thought it needed replacing and the guy said "Why? They don't usually go, use your old one...". But I can imagine it can break, if not mounted properly, from the pressure against the body of the car (it sits very closely between the tank and the bottom of your back seat). In such case I would say it's fully their fault (they should know better), but it is probably difficult to argue.

Cheers,

Woj

They didn't give a proper name for the valve, all they said was 'valve', but they said it was in the fuel line.

When they first told me what happened I couldn't believe it. I was on my mobile phone at the time and it was hard to hear. They said something about 'it will need a ...', which I couldn't really hear, and I asked when can I pick it up. They said I can't pick it up because it wouldn't start, I was really worried about what they may've done to it lol..

You need to go back to the Fiat dealer, and without getting a full strop on, ask them to check their work as the car still smells of petrol. Better still if it smells of petrol when you get there.

Make sure you have a copy of the invoice for the mystery valve, and keep it safe.

If they do nothing, then off to Trading Standards who will take up your case for you.

Cheers

D

I don't know if a stuck evaporation valve can cause the car not to start, but this is the only valve that is accessible when the fuel tank is replaced (unless of course Seis have something more than Cinqs connected to the fuel tank). And of course there are some valves embedded in the fuel pump I guess, but that wouldn't be it, would it? /Woj

OK guys, thanks. I'll give them a call next week.

I think the valves are different on MPI Seis.

I broke this valve refitting my tank, easy done as room is tight when trying to push all the pipes up when remounting the tank, there is a knack to fitting the valve and it sounds like yours is still leaking or not right.

Liam

I got it inspected today, and it's the fuel filter leaking. They say that they wouldn't have done that because it's nowhere near the tank. I think he was quite supprised when I said I fitted it earlier this year. I haven't looked myself, but it's apparently not just loose connectors, it's the filter itself leaking.

I got an OEM filter off shop4parts, and he seemed to think they would be able to swap it for me if I had proof of purchase. My shop4parts reciept doesn't seem to say that it is an OEM one though, so I'm not sure whether they'll be able to do that?

It seems very strange to me that both the fuel tank and fuel filter started leaking at eactly the same time. What do you think I should do?