Hi, couple of things i need help with, firstly there is a strong smell of petrol in the car when the car is first started, soon as the engine warms up it goes completely... any idea's????? second thing is i have a slight noise when in 2nd gear, like a very faint rattling, slightly noisier at low revs, clutch release bearing is making a faint noise when i lift my foot off the pedal but goes completely when pressed down, could this be related??? all help greatly received :)

open the bonnet, and check for fuel smells when you start the engine, prime location for fuel leak would be under the fuel pressure regulator (top had looking thing between cylinders 4 and 6 on the passenger side of the plenum)

 

Rattling could be associated with the clutch release bearing like you say. if your good with a socket set, not too hard to change and if you can, change the clutch / rear crank oil seal while your there.

hi, will check the under fuel pressure regulator tomorrow and see if i can sort that out, the clutch bearing will have to be done by its new owner as im reluctantly putting her up for sale, thanks for your help :)

can anyone suggest another place for the petrol smell, it seems to be coming very strongly through the heating system but only when cold, soon as the engine warms up its gone completely, the car is being sold this week so i really need to get it sorted by then, thanks in advance for any help given

can anyone suggest another place for the petrol smell, it seems to be coming very strongly through the heating system but only when cold, soon as the engine warms up its gone completely, the car is being sold this week so i really need to get it sorted by then, thanks in advance for any help given

 

check all fuel lines, is the basic techniques, start at the pipe leading to the fuel filter on the passenger side, up onto the fuel rail, the small pipe leading to the FPR, there is also a fuel pipe at the front of the engine, that joins the two fuel injector rails together it could be that one, its under the throttle linkage.

as above, i had this issue last two winters solved it now tho. the rubber shrinks in the cold weather and the line is springy enough to keep it sealed. soon as teh engine and the hoses are warm no problem. obviously when you turn the air on it pulls air into the cabin hence the smell. check the lines as said make sure your engine is cold this will give the best chance of spotting them. it may be a simple as a few turns of a screwdriver worth spending an hour or so throughly inspecting the lines. dont forget that one under the throttle cover as already said. its very common to leak and a little ******* :D

check all fuel lines, is the basic techniques, start at the pipe leading to the fuel filter on the passenger side, up onto the fuel rail, the small pipe leading to the FPR, there is also a fuel pipe at the front of the engine, that joins the two fuel injector rails together it could be that one, its under the throttle linkage.

 

as above, i had this issue last two winters solved it now tho. the rubber shrinks in the cold weather and the line is springy enough to keep it sealed. soon as teh engine and the hoses are warm no problem. obviously when you turn the air on it pulls air into the cabin hence the smell. check the lines as said make sure your engine is cold this will give the best chance of spotting them. it may be a simple as a few turns of a screwdriver worth spending an hour or so throughly inspecting the lines. dont forget that one under the throttle cover as already said. its very common to leak and a little ******* :D

 

As above mate; it's a common problem - just spend a short while tightening up the hose clamps with a screwdriver. That should cure the fuel smell - unless you have a split hose somewhere.

 

Richard:thumbup:

just went outside seeing as its dry today and the first place i looked was underneath the throttle body and there it was, a small hose connecting to a plastic curved pipe was leaking a tiny amount, took the plastic injector cover off and managed to get a small screw driver in there, tightened it up and no more petrol, thanks guys :)

Np matey, common thing on these cars for some strange reason. might be an idea though to eventually renew all the fuel lines in the engine bay.

 

Reason i say this, is a member of the forum came to me with a fuel leak, turns out it was leaking because the clip had been tightened up at some point to stop a similar leak, and had actually split the rubber fuel pipe more.

 

So although for now its a quick and easy fix just to tighten the clips, in the long run you might actually benefit more from just renewing the tubing with some fresh stuff, there isn't a lot even though some of them are fiddly. just remember its easier to replace a bit of tube once its been warmed up as its way more flexible.