Fuel Tank Breather System - Coupe

[newsh]

I'm getting a smell of fuel in the car which is worse when I fill right up. If the car is parked for a while then it stinks when I get in to drive.

I have no carbon canister (sorry Dave) and the line for this at the moment just vents under the car. it's been like this for years and been ok and pretty smell free

I've just had the boot carpet out and the tank cover off and I can find no obvious evidence of leaks.

I took the breather chamber (not sure what it's called?) out and checked all the pipes were tight. If I blow through the valve that goes to under the car (top left in the pic) it makes a moaning noise (that will be the noise I get when the car is really low on fuel then..) The plastic top of the breather chamber with the 2 pipes coming off it has some kind of little flap valve in it too.

Question is do I really need all these pipes and valves, it's all very complicated and just looks like stuff to go wrong. Can I just vent the tank with a pipe through a grommet behind the bumper or in the wheel arch? I guess it needs to let air in so there's not a massive vacuum in the tank but also let pressure out?

As I've still got the carpet out I'm keen to do something about it now.

[Error404]

I believe there is some kind of rollover valve in there somewhere that means it doesn't piss fuel on you when you're hanging upside down in a hedge, maybe its stuck? I'd be interested to cut one of those tanks open to see whats in there

[newsh]

Ok, sounds important I guess the rollover valve might be in the white top with the pipes going left and right, there's some kind of little "flap" thing in there and a massive ballbearing which seems to be moving ok.. I'll take it off again and put some pics up. Just hate the smell of old petrol, can't get it off my hands now

Once the top is unscrewed the tank just looks like it has a baffle up the middle.

[newsh]

Here's the top removed from the breather tank. The other pic is of the valve which looks like it should be one way but blows both ways very badly.. I've bypassed this to see what happens now. I also found a bit of cloth covered hose which was white and crusty, possible from fuel seeping out?

[newsh]

Think I've found it!

This little pipe moves if you wiggle it It's the vent at the back corner of the petrol tank, nearest to the rear washer fluid reservoir, seen in the second pic down at the start of the thread..

Now how do I fix this? I'm thinking of trying the old soap trick for now but what about chemical metal? Or seam sealer?

[newsh]

BTW, that's the vent at the back corner of the petrol tank, nearest to the rear washer fluid reservoir.

[Bowie69]

Exactly the fault I had a few weeks ago: http://www.s2forum.com/forum/showthr...t=69506&page=6

Not leaked since

[Vorsprung durch Technik]

Keep meaning to check mine in the final edition cabriolet. What is it with B3 Chassis cars. They all seam to suffer this eventually. Would be good if someone could put up pictures of the B4 arrangement to see what differences there are.

Anyway Bowie69 had these systems and it turned out to be exactley the same problem.He used some chemical putty that goes off and he reported it worked a treat. Have a look at his thread.

[Bowie69]

Yeah mine was probably caused by being a bit vigorous trying to get the hose off when I was chasing water leaks from the filler cap area (turned out to be the rear quarter window seals, still not sorted, but it is summer now )

[Vorsprung durch Technik]

You beat me to it. Just goes to show new members threads should be read especially in this case.I rembered it straight away. Top Gear Top Tip

[newsh]

Excellent chaps always good when someone's been there before

Bowie, I've ordered some of that quicksteel and will make a repair.

[Vorsprung durch Technik]

Our cabby stinks when you first get in so will follow you shortly if it's the same culprit

[Bowie69]

Glad I could help

[newsh]

[newsh]

Just been for a drive, no smell of fuel

Jobs a goodun!