Right been meaning to post about this for about 5 days now, but since the hot weather kicked in, ive had a strange fuel smell in the cabin when ever the car has sat at idle for a while, when moving it slowly clears.

 

Now when it happens, if i pull up and open the bonnet there is no smell from the engine bay, just in the cabin, and if i stick the A/C on, god its like im sniffing the pump at a petrol station the smell is that bad.

 

In fact its kind of worrying due to having the kids in the car as well, ive checked all pipe work under the hood and cant for the life of me work out where the smell is coming from. this happens once the engine is warm.

 

so in short

 

Smell of fuel in cabin, but not under bonnet.

 

Smells worse when A/C is switched on (well when the fan is on as my AC is disconnected)

 

Im not losing water, the interior of my car is not soaking wet. so its not the heater matrix. any one know what else it could be?

Edited April 22, 201114 yr by vodkashots

you checked for fuel leaks at the back of the car? rotten tank etc?

you checked for fuel leaks at the back of the car? rotten tank etc?

 

tanks fine, smell is coming from the front of the car, basically you cant smell crap out side the car, its only inside you get the fuel smell, and its coming from the air vents?

I would pull the covers where the fuel tank is and check the hoses coming out of the tank.

hmmm.. yeah for the sake of a few mins maybe worth removing the inspection plate/pump access panel from the spare wheel well and having a poke around?

Have you checked all your fuel hose clips Ian? i had similar and it was the bottom jubilee on the FPR dripping onto the rocker cover, but would go when warm.

hmmm.. yeah for the sake of a few mins maybe worth removing the inspection plate/pump access panel from the spare wheel well and having a poke around?

 

Yeah going to do that tomorrow, really dont need to be getting the kids sick from inhaling petrol fumes.

Have you checked all your fuel hose clips Ian? i had similar and it was the bottom jubilee on the FPR dripping onto the rocker cover, but would go when warm.

 

naa its not the clips matey, there is absolutly no smell of petrol in the engine bay, even when you can smell it in the cabin. still nothing in the engine bay, it was first thought when it started happening.

maybe a leaking injector fuel rail. I had this on mine, The small rubber at the front?

just checking here, but can people see what im posting LOL

 

No smell in the engine bay, checked all the usual fuel leak places in the bay, the fuel filter, the FPR (pipe under it) the fuel rail (bit under the throttle bodies) nothing no smell what so ever in the engine bay, though a strong smell in the cabin. gives me a head ache its that strong.

They are a sod to nail all the leaky points in the fuel system under the bonnet.Mine have had leaks from the join before fuel filter, tiny pipe under middle cover, near regulator etc.I replaced everything with new hoses and new clips, with lots of pics of how the clips should be it was not a doddle, but alright.Would be a mare with no pics....

Well its eaither the front or the back.

 

Tank, pipes to your filter, pipes to your dampers then to your injector rail.

 

I cannot be anything else

just checking here, but can people see what im posting LOL

 

No smell in the engine bay, checked all the usual fuel leak places in the bay, the fuel filter, the FPR (pipe under it) the fuel rail (bit under the throttle bodies) nothing no smell what so ever in the engine bay, though a strong smell in the cabin. gives me a head ache its that strong.

 

We here you lol, but i couldnt smell the fuel leak i had under the bonnet, but only in the car and mainly coming through the vents, via the engine bay. Check all your clips again you might be surprised.

try having a sniff under the bonnet, see if you can smell anything :whistling:

Well its eaither the front or the back.

 

Tank, pipes to your filter, pipes to your dampers then to your injector rail.

 

I cannot be anything else

 

 

:lol::lol::lol:

Well its eaither the front or the back.

 

Tank, pipes to your filter, pipes to your dampers then to your injector rail.

 

I cannot be anything else

 

I know thats whats so confusing about it, shall rip the boot carpet out tomorrow and have a ganders at the tank area, tank and straps are in good condition though, so unless its at the pump end, im really not sure what else it could be.

just checking here, but can people see what im posting LOL

 

No smell in the engine bay, checked all the usual fuel leak places in the bay, the fuel filter, the FPR (pipe under it) the fuel rail (bit under the throttle bodies) nothing no smell what so ever in the engine bay, though a strong smell in the cabin. gives me a head ache its that strong.

 

If you are getting the smell when the heat/air is on and nothing is leaking under the hood.....When you turn the fan blower on without the "fresh air" coming in..you are pulling a small "vacuum" in the interior. That will pull the gas smell from the tank area..especially in the rear seat area where the kids are.

If you are getting the smell when the heat/air is on and nothing is leaking under the hood.....When you turn the fan blower on without the "fresh air" coming in..you are pulling a small "vacuum" in the interior. That will pull the gas smell from the tank area..especially in the rear seat area where the kids are.

 

what if all the windows and the roof is off, lol in this weather, there is no way im driving around with the roof on :flowers:

 

But yeah i understand what your saying. think ill just jack the car up, and then chase all the pipe work to and from the engine till i find whats wiffing of petrol so badly

I would say its in the engine bay. Petrol leaks are a bitch to find, might not even be leaking just vapours.

 

took me a year to find mine, Well i didnt i just bought new pipes and clips and job done for under a tenner

I would say its in the engine bay. Petrol leaks are a bitch to find, might not even be leaking just vapours.

 

took me a year to find mine, Well i didnt i just bought new pipes and clips and job done for under a tenner

 

well plenum is coming off soon, as ill be changing it for my polished one, once i get my throttle bodys buffed up to match. will renew all the fuel lines when its off.

have you tryed seaching with a lit match??? haha and am i write in thinking there is a fuel pump under the car below the rear seats? can you get the car in the air and have a smell underneath the car as this is where your fuel lines run

Did you put the cap on the gallon can?-:ph34r:

Have you done anything to the carbon canister? That has a fuel outlet that should let fumes escape under the car but if it's blocked it may be backing up and coming out the engine bay area?

have you tryed seaching with a lit match??? haha and am i write in thinking there is a fuel pump under the car below the rear seats? can you get the car in the air and have a smell underneath the car as this is where your fuel lines run

 

i remember that joke

 

"Person wanted to find gas leak with lit candle, must be willing to travel"

 

Steams, i forgot about the carbon canister, it would make sence for it to smell worse when the weather is hot as well lol