3200 Petrol Smell In Cabin

[MeltonBrand]

Hi Folks. I've been noticing a smell of petrol in the cabin for a couple of weeks now when the car's been stood for a few days. More noticeable in the boot, so I suspect it's the seal around the sender unit (I had a similar problem in the 916). Is this accessible under the back seat? Does anyone have an idea where I might be able to get a replacement? TIA

 

[Oneball]

The 3200 fuel tank is in the boot. Between the seat backrest/bulkhead and the vertical boot carpet. Just take the carpet out. The filler, filter, pump/sender and evap gubbins is all then accessible.

 

[allandwf]

Did you put E10 in it?

 

[davy83]

I had a petrol smell in the back of my car and it turned out to be one of the electrical connectors on the fuel pump, it had a poor connection making the contact get hot which degraded the seal and it started leaking. I am lucky I found it before it became a fire. Might be worth a look. Also the Fuel filter is to the right of the tank in the boot and its press fit connections so possibly worth having a look there too.

 

[Andy Marshall]

Assuming the 3200 fuel system is broadly similar to the 4200, there are several potential sources of fuel smell on these (I had it!)

1. The tops of the fuel pumps develop hairline cracks over time. solution is to change the pumps
2. The breather mechanism gets clogged somehow - worth stripping and checking
3. The secondary fill/vent pipe from the fuel flap to the tank (a corrugated plastic thing) deteriorates over time and you get teensy teensy holes form in them - This was my problem ( tracked down after I had already replaced the fuel pumps!!!!! )

 

[hashluck]

Do 3200s have a carbon canister? Common cause of fuel smell on 4200/GS

 

[davy83]

Do 3200s have a carbon canister? Common cause of fuel smell on 4200/GS

don't think it does. early car

 

[MeltonBrand]

Unbelievably this turned out to be a hairline crack in the fuel cap. Which of course I only found after stripping the boot and checking everything else for hours with a torch and magnifying glass.

 

[Oneball]

Glad you’ve sorted it.

If you can smell it in the cabin it might be worth checking the seal between the filler neck and the body. Mine was leaking water on to the parcel shelf.

 

[conaero]

Do 3200s have a carbon canister? Common cause of fuel smell on 4200/GS

4200’s do so I suspect the 3200 has them too. Check the drawings on Eurospares website

 

[Oneball]

4200’s do so I suspect the 3200 has them too. Check the drawings on Eurospares website

Yep under the front wheel arch liner.

 

[BennyD]

OP; 3200s always smell of fuel because they don't run long enough to burn it. Evaporation is the inevitable result.

 

[Lozzer]

OP; 3200s always smell of fuel because they don't run long enough to burn it. Evaporation is the inevitable result.