Hi, hope someone can help on this one!!!!

Filled up the tank this evening and noticed some fuel was spitting out and a small puddle of fuel was gathering under the tube where you insert the fuel nozzle, on closer inspection i noticed a split on the underside of the tube that you insert the nozzle into about 1.5cm long.

I am really puzzled as to how this could have happened, any help would be greatly appreciated.

65 plate 500x 1.4 multiair. will be taking to dealer in morning.

thanks

John.

I think mine has a hole in it too. It's OK when I shove the fuel nozzle all the way in, but when I tried using some fuel additive a few weeks ago, none of it went into the tank and it left a big stinking puddle on the filling station forecourt.

Re: Split in metal tube for fuel nozzle.

Garree001 said:

I think mine has a hole in it too. It's OK when I shove the fuel nozzle all the way in, but when I tried using some fuel additive a few weeks ago, none of it went into the tank and it left a big stinking puddle on the filling station forecourt.

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Is it a venting gap to prevent a vacuum building up in the tank as it empties?
Collected my 500X today and took it for a drink at the fuel station, as the nozzle went into the tank there was an escape of air - or rather an inrush (an 'exchange of pressures') so I assume it might be to regulate the balance somewhat as the level reduces...

R-V-M

Re: Split in metal tube for fuel nozzle.

Red Van Man said:

Is it a venting gap to prevent a vacuum building up in the tank as it empties?
Collected my 500X today and took it for a drink at the fuel station, as the nozzle went into the tank there was an escape of air - or rather an inrush (an 'exchange of pressures') so I assume it might be to regulate the balance somewhat as the level reduces...

R-V-M

Click to expand...

Somewhere on the inside of the filler flap it says something about 10 Seconds, but I have to confess I haven't got round to reading it yet

Re: Split in metal tube for fuel nozzle.

Red Van Man said:

Is it a venting gap to prevent a vacuum building up in the tank as it empties?
Collected my 500X today and took it for a drink at the fuel station, as the nozzle went into the tank there was an escape of air - or rather an inrush (an 'exchange of pressures') so I assume it might be to regulate the balance somewhat as the level reduces...

R-V-M

Click to expand...

Congratulations on collecting your new car Happy with it?

I'm not sure what it is. I sometimes get that whoosh noise too, so I am guessing if it were a vent, this wouldn't happen? Might be wrong though. I guess I just need a longer nozzle that I can get deep in the hole :devil:

My car is idling roughly at times, there's a noticeable vibration when pulling away (like the engine is slightly unhappy) and it sounds a bit throaty at around 2,000rpm in any gear, almost like it has a hole in the exhaust. The start stop also rarely works. So I wanted to see if the additive helped. Hope it's not a hangover of the previous 1.4MA issues that plagued Alfas - unfortunately the symptoms are consistent.

Will take it to the garage to be looked at, along with a few other issues.

Re: Split in metal tube for fuel nozzle.

Garree001 said:

Congratulations on collecting your new car Happy with it?



I'm not sure what it is. I sometimes get that whoosh noise too, so I am guessing if it were a vent, this wouldn't happen? Might be wrong though. I guess I just need a longer nozzle that I can get deep in the hole :devil:



My car is idling roughly at times, there's a noticeable vibration when pulling away (like the engine is slightly unhappy) and it sounds a bit throaty at around 2,000rpm in any gear, almost like it has a hole in the exhaust. The start stop also rarely works. So I wanted to see if the additive helped. Hope it's not a hangover of the previous 1.4MA issues that plagued Alfas - unfortunately the symptoms are consistent.



Will take it to the garage to be looked at, along with a few other issues.

Click to expand...

I can't comment on the 500X 1.4MA as I've never driven one, but I was loaned a Classic 500 as a Courtesy Car and ended up taking it back because it sounded and drove like a bag of spanners. I was quite embarrassed when the Service Manager told me that was normal below 2000ish revs. Maybe the same issue?

Re: Split in metal tube for fuel nozzle.

Alanw47 said:

I can't comment on the 500X 1.4MA as I've never driven one, but I was loaned a Classic 500 as a Courtesy Car and ended up taking it back because it sounded and drove like a bag of spanners. I was quite embarrassed when the Service Manager told me that was normal below 2000ish revs. Maybe the same issue?

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Are you thinking of the 0.9 TwinAir? I've had one in a MiTo courtesy car and it was bloody awful. It was like driving a VW Beetle, only it was worse than that too!

They only have two cylinders, whereas the 1.4MA has 4 and should run smoothly and sweetly.

Re: Split in metal tube for fuel nozzle.

Garree001 said:

Are you thinking of the 0.9 TwinAir? I've had one in a MiTo courtesy car and it was bloody awful. It was like driving a VW Beetle, only it was worse than that too!



They only have two cylinders, whereas the 1.4MA has 4 and should run smoothly and sweetly.

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That sounds like it, I know it was a very small engine more akin to a motor bike or lawn mower

Re: Split in metal tube for fuel nozzle.

Yep, that's the twinair engine. Had one for 6 years, loved it. You get used to keeping the revs over about 1800 if you want to keep things smooth. Very strong mid range acceleration if you are not in Eco mode. Chain cam, so no belt to change.
It's a "Marmite" engine, plenty of lovers and haters on the 500 forum. I tried the 4 cyl n/a 1.2, and found it flat in comparison. Its impeccable reliability over 6 years and 46,000 miles was one of the reasons I replaced it with a 500X when I needed something bigger (although I appreciate they share no parts).

Garree001 said:

I think mine has a hole in it too. It's OK when I shove the fuel nozzle all the way in, but when I tried using some fuel additive a few weeks ago, none of it went into the tank and it left a big stinking puddle on the filling station forecourt.

Click to expand...

If you put anything in the filler cap other than a fuel nozzle you need to use the special plastic nozzle otherwise it will spill out. Also why would you need an additive? It’s a modern engine that has no need for anything other than ordinary fuel.

Re: Split in metal tube for fuel nozzle.

Garree001 said:

Congratulations on collecting your new car Happy with it?

Click to expand...

I've only driven about 45 miles so far but that much, yes. Love having a proper auto box again rather than the Dualogic on the Qubo - it's alright up to a point but the full auto is really nice and smooth. (9 gears!! - is that enough... I had 7 on my Saab 9-3 and thought that was too many..)

I did manage to locate a setting to make the satnav talk to me today and it seems to have some semblance of Go-Live too, I'll find out how much on the commute to work in the morning. I didn't want to play too much as I was sitting on the drive with the motor running (isn't there any way of having an 'ACC' kind of setting with a keyless, like just having everything available but no engine? Seems v wasteful if not) so I guess I'll learn more about how things work as I drive around. Annoyed to find a compressor in the boot instead of a wheel - even a space saver would have been something. Can I get that foam insert, jack, chock and a wheel as an aftermarket purchase?
Looking for the tyre pressure label usually found on the door jamb (none present ) I did locate a sticker telling me that it only had a compressor and the tyre-wrecking gloop on the check list though there were all the options for wheel and tools etc.

It's a Cross Plus 4x4 though I think it must be lower than the top spec as there's no rear camera, cold seats, cold steering wheel, no lane change facility (seems a bit ott if you can't change lanes without the car saying it's ok..) park assist or whatever other gizmos I've not yet read about in the handbook. I've got reversing sensors!

Precious few useful cubby holes for parking change and apart from the bottomless armrest, no hidey-holes for anything you don't want on display - the boot is too far away from the driver's seat when moving to get what you might have stowed.

Looking forward to learning it anyway, no doubt other things will manifest themselves as I get used to it

R-V-M
(Perhaps I should become Red-Cross-Man now?!!)

You can get a spare, jack, etc for between £50 and £100 on eBay. So no big deal.

The Cross Plus is the top of the range 'off-road' trim. It's analogous to my trim (Lounge) on the 'city look' version. Unfortunately, FIAT made some very strange equipment choices. The least you'd expect on a top of the range spec is the auto lights, wipers, dimming rear view mirror. But this is omitted which is odd as they gave it xenon headlights(!). It also hasn't got LED daytime running lights which I feel should be standard.

Would have been happier to lose the dual zone climate control in favour of single zone, the puddle lights and the useless chilled glove box in exchange for these. I would have even happily lost one of the two ways you can lock the inside doors from each of the front seats!

Heated seats and steering wheels tend to be an optional extra nowadays - more so as they are trying to keep the cost of the vehicles down whilst also facing the fact that we have a weaker £GBP with which to buy stuff.

The top glove box is great for hiding stuff. And the door handle, which is more of a door pit, is great for loose change You can also get change pots that have lids on, which slot into cup holders - may want to look for one of these...

I'm conscious of thread hijacking here - I'll start another thread and copy your last message into the first one there

R-V-M
(First Impressions and Stowage solutions)

Garree001 said:

You can get a spare, jack, etc for between £50 and £100 on eBay. So no big deal.

The Cross Plus is the top of the range 'off-road' trim. It's analogous to my trim (Lounge) on the 'city look' version. Unfortunately, FIAT made some very strange equipment choices. The least you'd expect on a top of the range spec is the auto lights, wipers, dimming rear view mirror. But this is omitted which is odd as they gave it xenon headlights(!). It also hasn't got LED daytime running lights which I feel should be standard.

Would have been happier to lose the dual zone climate control in favour of single zone, the puddle lights and the useless chilled glove box in exchange for these. I would have even happily lost one of the two ways you can lock the inside doors from each of the front seats!

Heated seats and steering wheels tend to be an optional extra nowadays - more so as they are trying to keep the cost of the vehicles down whilst also facing the fact that we have a weaker £GBP with which to buy stuff.

The top glove box is great for hiding stuff. And the door handle, which is more of a door pit, is great for loose change You can also get change pots that have lids on, which slot into cup holders - may want to look for one of these...

Click to expand...

Just got around to studying the fuel filler on my 1.4 MA when I filled up today. The "split" underneath the filler orifice is definitely manufactured, not a fault, and as others have said is probably a vent, which allows air/vapour to escape during filling. I've had no spills from mine, I always push the nozzle in as far as it will go, and stop filling when the pump shuts off. The diagram indicates that when you have finished filling, you should wait 10s before withdrawing the nozzle to allow any pressure build up to escape. In practice, I've had no issues after waiting less than 5s.

TrevC said:

The diagram indicates that when you have finished filling, you should wait 10s before withdrawing the nozzle to allow any pressure build up to escape. In practice, I've had no issues after waiting less than 5s.

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Thanks Trev, I should really have read it by now

No problem - I only really looked at it carefully because of this discussion!