Top job. If that 21k mileage is genuine, you've done very well - it must be among the lowest mileage pre-facelift B's out there.

Your post has reminded me (again) that I still haven't got round to sorting my petrol smell out (although in my defence it's very faint, and only detectable in the boot). So that's another job to add to the list

I've lost count of the times that I've gone out to the barn, intent on some serious spannering, only to persuade myself that I really ought to 'warm her up properly' before starting work. Three hours later...

Hi from Ontario,Canada. I just received my 98 Barchetta, from Japan, with only 21K on the clock. Teal blue with original tires, and over all in decent shape.But when I gasssed her up I couldn't stand the smell of raw gas especially when I turned a corner.Out came the seats,out came the rear mats and there it was , the tank with fresh gas sitting in the well around the pump.Obviously the seal was not doing its job.I removed the pump, cleaned the seal as best I could, cleaned the tank flange being careful not to let too much debris fall into the tank, and used Permatex sealant on the seal and buttoned everything back down. What a difference. Put just the drivers seat back in and took her for a spin. No smell and the top of the tank was as dry as a bone.NICE

Great result! Nice to hear a success story. Post some pics of your car when you can! Steve


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Hi, good to hear all is well now. I note you took her out fora drive without the passenger seat in, did your abs light show and have you managed to reset it?
Steve

Yes I did take her out with just the drivers seat in. I saw a light on but didn't take much notice of it, I thought it was a seat belt light. I just got back from Kentucky.and haven't had a chance to finish the job. I will let you know and post some pics as soon as I learn how.!! By the way Micks Garage does not carry a gas tank seal. Where can I get one ?Also plugs and brake shoes? thanks

Hi Guys

Just been reading through this thread and Id add my experiences too.
First of all, there seem to be numerous pictures of Barchettas in flames or burnt out on the web, it always seems to be most burnt around the o/s/f wing area. The fuel tank vapour purge canister as you probably know already, is in this area.
I too had the smell of fuel, present only with roof down or window open, no problem at all with roof up, window up. So started thinking that for the smell to reach the cabin it has to be coming from somewhere forward of that.
I disconnected the pipe under the rear floor, which carries the tank purge vapours to the canister and drove it about, no problems at all with fuel smell.
Now, on a VW, the purge valve/canister etc system operates as follows- you start the engine from cold, pressure gradually builds in the tank as the car warms up. This pressure used to be mainly caused by the dumping of warm fuel returned from the rail back to the tank. So legislation states that we can't just vent this vapour building in the tank to atmosphere, so its passed to the canister where it is "stored". Once the engine is warm and is operating in a certain drive cycle, the engine ecm opens the purge solenoid valve normally by duty cycle and the vapours are drawn from the canister into the intake and burnt in the engine. the canister has an opening to atmosphere so that air can be drawn in to flush the canister and also to prevent the engine collapsing the canister and even the fuel tank in some cases via suction. It also uses this to vent excess pressure of vapour to atmosphere in the case of a fault with the purge valve, pipework etc resulting in the system not working.

Like I said, I am/was a Seat tech so I can't say if Fiat is like this, but I bet its not too far off.

I tested the purge valve on my B and found it refused to open at all, no suck present at the pipe joint under the bonnet by the coolant tank. I tried this with it fully hot, at all engine speeds still didn't open.

I took the B for an mot a few days ago, it failed on Lambda too high. I eventually traced this to the Lambda sensor connector on the car harness side having its main signal wire broken at the connector, a small green wire.
I reconnected it temporarily and it passed the mot this morning.

The reason I mentioned this is because that wire has probably been broken/breaking for the best part of a year, you might remember I wrote a post on it when I first put the car on the road and had Lambda high at mot then.

My 2 points are 1, at no time over the last year have I seen any engine light come on and the car has been driving ok like it. I don't have a scanner to work on the B, so can't tell if any faults are set.And 2, a VW ecu would IIRC disable purge valve operation if faults are set. I wonder if the Fiat ones do this?
Oh, and I replaced the fuel pump assy and hose clips etc and still get a smell of fuel when filled to higher than about two thirds.

Regards
John

Hi from Ontario,Canada.I've got my car back together and everything is working tip top (except for the air bag light). My wife and I went on the last ride of the year today with the Toronto Fiat Club, and there wasn't a hint of gas smell in the car. I really think most of the problems with this condition is due to a compromised fuel pump seal.

Same problem now solved. It was a poorly fitting petrol cap. Now imake sure I fit it correctly after fill-ups

Wow, that truly was a simple fix. Now if I could only get the air bag light to go out. My problem here in Ontario, is finding a scanner that works on a 98 (built June 97)Barchetta.Obviously the dealers in Europe have them so they must be available somewhere. I saw one on ebay by Auto-mar, but they did not answer my email .

Made the same mistake. Was about to start dismantling the car!!!!

Hello
RnRollie

you said:"
The (rubber) IN fuel line is suffering from "old age" and getting hard, brittle and loose where it meets the injector rail.

If you stand in front of the engine, look at the top left near the injection rail, you 'll find the fuellines (in/out). Wiggle them about a bit and see if they spit fuel (near the nipple).

Do you know where to buy these fuel lines? Or do you know a part number of the fuel lines? Mine look old and cracked. And it smells of fuel after driving for a while.

eramosa said:

Wow, that truly was a simple fix. Now if I could only get the air bag light to go out. My problem here in Ontario, is finding a scanner that works on a 98 (built June 97)Barchetta.Obviously the dealers in Europe have them so they must be available somewhere. I saw one on ebay by Auto-mar, but they did not answer my email .

Click to expand...

take out the speedo unit ,and there is a small bulb for each of the lights including airbag light..just take it out previous owner of my car had done this to airbag/abs/ and some other lamp i dont remember

You should always hear the gas tank sucking air into the tank as you remove or open the gas cap. A vacuum is created as the car uses the fuel. A spring loaded valve, with a preset pressure value opens as the vacuum increases to let in more air, otherwise the tank would implode. If you find that the smell gets really strong after cornering the fuel pump seal has dried out and needs replacement or resealed. I resealed mine with a Permatex gas impervious sealant. A rather dangerous situation if left as is.If you don't hear that sound of the air being drawn in, than you have a leak somewhere.