Hi. We've got a 56 plate Panda Multijet. Mileage 56,000. I've just noticed a small puddle of diesel under the car, just after my wife arrived home. There is a steady drip from the left hand side of the engine just under the air filter housing, only when the engine is running. I think that's where the fuel pump is. Has anyone had this problem before? It would be handy to know before I start dismantling the air cleaner housing. I suspect that it's one of the plastic supply pipes which has rubbed through from vibration.

Any help welcome.

Colin

pulhamdown said:

Hi. We've got a 56 plate Panda Multijet. Mileage 56,000. I've just noticed a small puddle of diesel under the car, just after my wife arrived home. There is a steady drip from the left hand side of the engine just under the air filter housing, only when the engine is running. I think that's where the fuel pump is. Has anyone had this problem before? It would be handy to know before I start dismantling the air cleaner housing. I suspect that it's one of the plastic supply pipes which has rubbed through from vibration.

Any help welcome.

Colin

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Check the diesel filter Colin, I would also remove the air cleaner assembly regardless to check everything over, it would be unusual for fuel supply pipes to 'rub through' - probably something minor but you need to get in and have a good look. Wear eye protection as well when checking with any pressurised system, or fuel system. !

A small batch of panda diesels were affected by leaking fuel pipe (return from memory) and were recalled under warranty, worth a check.

How long have you had the car, last serviced or worked on?

captainslarty said:

Check the diesel filter Colin,

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The fuel filter is on the other side of the engine, out in the open, and bone dry. The leak is on the right hand side of the engine, as you look at it from the front. I've just spotted a recall in 2007 to check the fuel pipe rubbing on the air filter housing. I'll take the air filter housing off in the morning.

Colin

T14086 said:

How long have you had the car, last serviced or worked on?

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We've had the car from new, last serviced in November, and nothing done since.We moved about six months after buying the car, and the new owners of our house had a problem with forwarding mail!

Colin

Well no harm in asking, I remember the recall and done a few myself but it was a few years ago now and if your car was affected it should of been picked up whenever you went into a dealership. As I said it only affected a small batch...1000 or so.

I've just had a better look under the air cleaner housing, and sure enough, there's a pipe rubbing on the air filter housing support pillar. When the pipe is moved away from the support pillar, there is a spray of diesel. I suspect it is the return pipe, since there is not a huge volume of diesel. So it looks like a trip to Arnie's in Perth in the morning!

Thanks for all suggestions.

Colin

Well, after several calls to Fiat Customer services, I'm back where I started. £220, reduced from £250, to supply a pack of three pipes, and fit one. The one that's gone is the short one between the filter and the pump, but they only come as part of a pack of 3: Tank to filter, filter to pump, and return from pump to filter. How crazy is that. I can't imagine why anyone would ever need either of the two long pipes, other than accident damage, so why sell them in a pack of three? Especially, when a clip fitted at the factory would have saved the problem happening in the first place. My only option now is to take it to a local repairer, where at least I won't be paying main dealer labour rates.

Colin

hi pulhamdown your lucky
i needed the plastic pipe that goes into the pump
fiat would only sell this for £452
i went to vauxhall and got the same bit off a corsa cdti for £3.53
sorry i didnt see this thread earlier

Hi. Just thought I'd report back on my progress. I took the car to my local one man garage, and he repaired the pipe. Total time taken 45 mins; cost £20.00.

Result!

Colin