Technical horrible petrol smell inside car.....

[blair]

Hey!

I'm getting a horrible petrol smell inside the car. In fact, it's like whatever smell is outside is multiplied and fed into the car! The only way to stop it is to put on the air recirculation, which is not ideal. Any idea what might be wrong?

The car has just been serviced, and dealer told me that the air box was cracked, although I have no idea what an air box is. Any help would be much appreciated, thanks!

 

[alexh365]

Airbox is the big black thing onto of the engine with a pipe going into what looks like the front bumper.

I'm assuming here you have a 1.2 or 1.4 GP.

Failing the crack in the airbox, then a split in the breather pipe is more common.

This is a 1inch (ish) in diameter pipe traveling from the engine to the airbox from just behind the OIL filler.

Search "breather pipe" in this section and you'll no doubt find a wealth more information.

 

[Andy Monty]

The breather pipe is no where near the Oil filter on the 1.2/1.4 alex

it runs from the top of the crank case to the bottom of the air box


first half of this guide will probably come in handy

https://www.fiatforum.com/grande-punto-guides/234763-spark-plug-change-1-2-8v.html


if its split

new pipes are about £8

http://www.shop4parts.co.uk/?name=store&op=Details&ProdID=4637&sku=11727

and 2 jublie clips a couple of quid each from motor factors...

if you donate to the fiat forum you get 10% off shop4parts orders via the discount code in members offers

 

[B3NNETT]

This is a 1inch (ish) in diameter pipe traveling from the engine to the airbox from just behind the OIL filler.

The breather pipe is no where near the Oil filter on the 1.2/1.4 alex

:idea::chin: skim reading andy?

Love you Alex.......

 

[Andy Monty]

Love you Alex.......

do you now :devil:


no where near the oil filler either

 

[alexh365]

:idea::chin: skim reading andy?

Love you Alex.......

You too man

Tut Andy..Tut Tut

 

[T14086]

guys get a room eh

 

[B3NNETT]

disgracefull post editing andy

however alex, How yooooo doin'?

 

[red]

Last time I had a strong smell of petrol inside a Punto it was ........ petrol.

The fuel filter had corroded and gone porous. Not sure how fumes from back there near the offside rear wheel were getting in the car though.

red.

 

[T14086]

new pipes are about £8

Fiat have now doubled the price on the 'improved' pipe!

 

[GrahamL]

Are there any other common causes of petrol/fumes smell inside a GP?

I'm sometimes getting a petrol/exhaust fumes smell coming through the vents for 5-10 seconds on cold starts (never at any other time).

I've replaced both breather hoses but it's still doing it. Thought it may be loose exhaust manifold (gap closing once it heats up after a few seconds) but tried tightening that up a little too and it also made no difference.

Seems to only happen after just pulling away from cold start, as if the fumes under the bonnet need to be blown up into the vent intake - doesn't happen if I just sit idling and not moving after cold start.

Anyone had a similar problem?

 

[T14086]

check the 'blue' pipe that runs along the back of the engine (my mates one had rubbed through)

 

[GrahamL]

Very interesting, thanks for the tip. I guess that's the fuel vapour recirculation hose and having just checked it there is indeed some damage where it's been rubbing on a plastic pipe next to it:



It hasn't worn right through but there's definitely a flat side now so maybe the sidewall of the hose has gone porous at that spot.

I've taped it up for now so will see if it makes any difference.

Also, the "quick connect" click connector for this hose, at left side of engine, seems a bit loose... it can move in/out about 3-4mm , whereas the one on the engine right side where the hose connects to the solenoid valve is tight. Is that normal?

Thanks again!

 

[GrahamL]

Hmmm just tried a cold start there , with the hose taped up, but still got the petrol smell for a few seconds. I think you're probably onto something with it being the fuel vapour recirculation system though. Maybe I'll try disconnecting the solenoid for a few days to see if that stops it, to at least identify the source of the problem.

 

[GrahamL]

Replaced the petrol vapour hose but still got the strong petrol smell on cold starts.

Tried disconnecting the fuel vapour solenoid and that seemed to stop the petrol smell, although I had a slight smell of exhaust fumes once or twice, again just from cold start.

Anyone else got any further thoughts or suggestions on what to check next?

Thanks.

 

[Magic Johnson]

I've got this too. Only when you're stationary, but it's so strong it almost knocks you out. Windows down is the only way to ease it.

I've just been on the phone to Fiat who basically laughed at me for not knowing what exact breather pipe it is (there's 2, she said), and not knowing the diameter of the pipe. I've asked for a quote on both of them, can anyone tell me what diameter the breather pipe is?

Also, is there anything else this could be? Don't want to start replacing parts unnecessarily.

 

[Andy Monty]

well the easy way to find which one it is to take a look


if you unbolt the air box and lift it up slightly you will see the pipe look here for some pics

https://www.fiatforum.com/grande-punto-guides/234763-spark-plug-change-1-2-8v.html

 

[Magic Johnson]

Followed that guide last night (how easy are the GP's to work on by the way!), sure enough the entire pipe had a split right up the middle from start to finish. Taped it up, and picking up a new (improved!) one from Arnold Clark Fiat parts tomorrow along with my flexible sleeve.

Many thanks!

 

[Andy Monty]

no problem

get yourself a couple of worm drive "Jublie clips" whilst your at it (iirc they are 25mm size i used)

but just take your new hose into a motorfactors and offer it up rather than trying to struggle with the fiat one fit wonder clips


and dont forget to replace the smaller breather tube on the back of the air box once your done as i have forgotten to put it back on in the past

 

[Magic Johnson]

So you have to replace both the tubes?