hi
i got a punto 1.2 mark1 when the car drives and i open the driver window i smell petrol. i checked but cant find any leaks the smell comes from the middle of the car. when i stop the car there is a strong smell by the petrol tap but no leaks.
any ideas
thanks

I'm not quite sure about years and different models, but I know that the early models have a fuel filter just forward of the fuel tank - Have a look underneath and you will see the plastic fuel tank at the back, under the rear seats, then the piping leading to the filter canister (metal construction). My guess that since this smell is coming from the middle of the car it could be something to do with this. Possibly a split or badly connecting pipe, since they are made from hard plastic. I would advise taking it to a friendly garage to sort this out though, as with all modern cars the fuel is pressurised!!!!

Hi there, the fuel filter is under the car, just in front of the drivers side rear wheel, it's probly rotted through?

Hope this helps.

Cheers Trevor.

Check the filler pipe in front of the rear wheel below the petrol cap.

My rear wheel has rubbed a hole there and petrol sometimes seaps out. A little bit of petrol makes a lot of smell.

to chnage the fuel filter do you need to empty the petrol tank? of can you just unscew it and screw on a new one?

In reply to 01goddak:
"to chnage the fuel filter do you need to empty the petrol tank? of can you just unscew it and screw on a new one?"

I've never done it myself, I'm just going on what the Haynes manual says:
"Note that residual pressure will remain in the fuel lines long after the vehicle was last used, when disconnecting any fuel line, first depressurise the fuel system".

It goes on to advise to disconnect the battery (obvious ) and then says put a container under the union being disconnected and have a large rag ready to soak up the fuel, then loosen the union slowly to allow the pressure to release.