General Fuel leak - not good

[Madshorty]

Have been smelling petrol fumes from inside the Sei for the last couple of weeks and finally got it checked today.

Apparently my fuel tank is leaking and Fiat want £260+VAT just for the part (thats a trade price!).

is there also the possibility that i have a cracked pipe as the smell seems to be blowing in through the vents as if it was coming from the engine bay?

Anyway it means i now have no car and am looking at a hefty bill.Has anyone had this before and how much did it cost?

thanks

 

[Bushboy]

You can get a new tank from ebay NEW for around £60-70. Dont pay fiat prices

 

[AppleSei]

Check the FAQ's reg. the fuel tank recall, you may be entitled to a free replacement, providing it hasnt been done before

 

[peterdg55]

Check the FAQ's reg. the fuel tank recall, you may be entitled to a free replacement, providing it hasnt been done before

hi you probably wont get much luck getting a new one on recall with it being a 2001 model (same as mine) but i got a new one fitted at my local back street garage for £120. don't pay fiat to fit any garage will fit it for you.

 

[AppleSei]

hi you probably wont get much luck getting a new one on recall with it being a 2001 model (same as mine) but i got a new one fitted at my local back street garage for £120. don't pay fiat to fit any garage will fit it for you.

You didnt try hard enough then, many have been fitted free of charge even newer vehicles than yours.

Cinquecentos have also had theirs done for free

 

[peterdg55]

You didnt try hard enough then, many have been fitted free of charge even newer vehicles than yours.

Cinquecentos have also had theirs done for free

probably didn't try hard enough but didn't fancy driving around in a time bomb while fiat decided to replace it

 

[randomizered]

had mine done free by fiat. Mine was never in the recall, and is 2001

Kristian

 

[Madshorty]

Checked the FAQ's and my car wasn't part of the original recall. To be honest I haven't got the time (or the energy!) to deal with Fiat as they are so poor down here.

I've managed to get a fuel tank from a local motor shop for £68inc VAT which I think is good.

Just need it fitted superquick - I miss my car already!

 

[rallycinq]

Only takes an hour to do. Spray the bolts with plus gas a few times before starting.

Cheers

D

 

[Madshorty]

I've now had the new tank fitted and it's not leaking

but.....

Now if you take the car on a short journey (5-10miles) and then leave it for an hour the inside stinks of petrol. We can't see any fuel coming out underneath the car and it doesn't smell when your driving, just when you come back to it.

Any ideas?

 

[fingers99]

Sometimes, but not all the time they'll do that anyway. Worthwhile checking that all the hoses are connected properly.

 

[Madshorty]

Where should i be checking as I cant see any fuel leaking underneath the car and the fuel gauge has only moved 1mm or so.

The smell is so strong its like inhaling it straight from a can.

 

[fingers99]

There are a lot of hoses and connections associated with the fuel system. First of all, I'd check the delivery and return hoses from the tank to the fuel rail. Then, it'd be worthwhile checking the connections at the tank access plate (under the rear seat squab). Finally there's a sort of syphon pipe at the side of the tank which runs up to the filler kneck and -- I'd guess -- some kind of emmissions device, too.

If you didn't do it yourself and had a reputable garage do the work, I'd be inclined to take it back.

 

[Madshorty]

I can't really take it back as it was fitted for free as a favour. The ribbed pipe going up to the fuel filler has been checked as have the lines that run centrally down the car. The access hatch has also been checked but as the smell is so strong in the car in may be worth checking again. If you open the bonnet you can't really smell fuel so is there any lines near the blower system that could be blowing the fumes into the car?

 

[AppleSei]

I can't really take it back as it was fitted for free as a favour.

why not? theres a new problem that has occured since the tank was fitted and youre obv. not happy

 

[Madshorty]

I was just wondering if anyone could shed some light or had experienced this before so I could look at it first and see if I could work it out.

The bit thata really stumped me is that you can drive the car and smell no fuel, you stop the car and there's still no smell but if you come back an hour later it's there!

 

[ycming]

may be when u r driving your car there are constant airflow inside (heater) , so u don't smell it.

 

[Sei_rory]

I had a similar issue with mine a new tank and mine was fine. i would check the hoses tho

 

[randomizered]

When I had mine replaced for free by fiat, it leaked. I took it back and they siliconed around the pump seal.

I still leaked so they put ANOTHER new tank in. Apparently a few aren't formed proberly and leak around the sump.

Pull the rear seats up, remove the plate and drive along, preferebaly like a maniac and round some roundabouts, to throw the fluid about a bit.. Then hop in the back as soon as you pull up, you will see any leaks


Kristian

 

[Madshorty]

......preferebaly like a maniac

lol.....I shall try that 2moro, thanks for the advice!