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  Soarer Central * Mechanical - Common * Fuel Smell in Cabin - Tried resealing fuel filler neck, no good * Archive through January 19, 2012 Previous Previous    Next Next  

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Alistair Moorby
Tinkerer
VIC
soarer TT

Posts: 33
Reg: 12-2006

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Tuesday, January 17, 2012 - 08:55 am, by:  Alistair Moorby (Aldmo87) Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

So I picked up a TT Soarer the other day.

It had a very light smell of fuel, but it was so faint I mistook it for an air freshener or something.

I filled it up for the first time, got back in the car and my head was spinning. The smell was so strong.

The smell got weaker as the tank became empty.

I did a search and found a common fault with the fuel filler not being sealed properly. I pulled it out, have it a good clean and resealed it. The smell did not go away.

The smell is definitely not coming from the engine, and when I open the boot the smell is very strong.

Also when I open the fuel tank cap I don’t get that ‘Psshh’ vacuum sound, which I normally got on my other cars.

Not sure what to do next. Is the fuel filler neck the only place that is faulty on the Soarers?

What should I do next?
Alistair Moorby
Tinkerer
VIC
soarer TT

Posts: 34
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Tuesday, January 17, 2012 - 09:31 am, by:  Alistair Moorby (Aldmo87) Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Also the fuel gauge seems to be inaccurate.

When I filled it up it showed full, it seems to run accurately until about 1/4 tank, then it jumped up to half way for 25 km’s, then down to 10L, then accurately down 9L, 8L > down to 6L.
I was expecting it to drop down to below 5L and give me the error but instead it went up to 10L.

I have a jerry can in the boot with 5L in case I run out.

By the way, the 5L jerry can went in last night, the fuel smell has been happening for about 2 weeks so it’s not the cause.

Is the TT suceptable to the same fuel gauge accuracy problems as the V8?

All the tutorials I read about cleaning the fuel dipstick think refer to V8's only.
Drew Rechner
DieHard
South Australia
:-(

Posts: 571
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Tuesday, January 17, 2012 - 09:37 am, by:  Drew Rechner (Drew1jz) Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Have you noticed any leaks inside the boot in the well or under the car?
Alistair Moorby
Tinkerer
VIC
soarer TT

Posts: 35
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Tuesday, January 17, 2012 - 10:01 am, by:  Alistair Moorby (Aldmo87) Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I have not had a good look under the car, but when I took the spare tyre out I found this.

It was like someone had spilled a bottle of oil in the boot.

It didn't smell like petrol. I soaked it up the other day. And now that I remember it I will grab some degreaser and give it a good clean tonight.



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Shane Haverkamp
DieHard
nsw
soarer TT

Posts: 706
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Tuesday, January 17, 2012 - 04:06 pm, by:  Shane Haverkamp (Havabeer) Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

what fuel where you running on when the gauge started playing up. E10 mucks with my gauge for some reason, makes it jump all over the place. maybe yours will just need a clean have a look in the "how to" section for the cleaning of the fuel tank level.
Alistair Moorby
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soarer TT

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Wednesday, January 18, 2012 - 09:27 am, by:  Alistair Moorby (Aldmo87) Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I was running 95 RON. Thing is I just bought the car 3 weeks ago.

When I took it for a test drive the guy had air freshener in there so I couldnt smell anything.

Also the petrol tank was just about empty, and when it's empty you can't really smell it. Anything over halfway is shocking.

I ran out of petrol last night too, (had the backup 5L in the jerry can), it showed 6 L left, then went to Fuel Empty, when I tried to take off from the lights a couple of seconds later it was spluttering.

I put 10L in the it showed 22L on the dash!

I will pull the gauge out of the tank this weekend and give it a clean.

I am also going to try reseal the fuel neck. I sealed it with some silicon stuff that is supposed to go as hard as metal. I will give it another go with something else.
Mike Triggs
Goo Roo
Western NSW
3.0GT G-Pack

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Wednesday, January 18, 2012 - 09:57 am, by:  Mike Triggs (Mikeandimah) Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Alistair, you may have a problem with the compliance restrictor- I seem to recall some threads about this issue some time ago. Our car isn't fitted with one but I do get a faint smell of fuel for a little while after filling, goes away after about 5 lites has been used- tend to fill pretty high, rounding up to next whole litre past "click". having my parcel shelf out at the moment, I notice a few "unfilled holes" between cabin and boot, maybe for harnesses and equipment not fitted to my model, I'm going to blank them all off, might help a tad with road noise too.
Adrian McGuire
DieHard
Queensland
soarer 2.5 turbo

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Wednesday, January 18, 2012 - 10:34 am, by:  Adrian McGuire (Adro) Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

check the breather pipe on the fuel tank isnt blocked. it will be a clear silcon pipe on the drivers side of the boot. remove the boot trim on that side and you should see it easy. mine was blocked which was forcing the expanded fuel gas into my boot then into the cabin. after taking the breather pipe of and hitting it with the air gun a heap of sand came out and its now all good.
Alistair Moorby
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soarer TT

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Wednesday, January 18, 2012 - 11:52 am, by:  Alistair Moorby (Aldmo87) Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Adrian, I can see a solid metal pipe on the drivers side, this goes from the fuel filler back around the furl tank.

I assume this is the breather tube? It looks like it has been cut and there is a piece of rubber hose and 2 hose clamps holding it down.

I checked it and it doesnt seem loose.

I will take it off and make sure it's not split.

Is there another breather hose? You mentioned a clear silicon pipe? I will have another look.
Adrian McGuire
DieHard
Queensland
soarer 2.5 turbo

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Wednesday, January 18, 2012 - 12:44 pm, by:  Adrian McGuire (Adro) Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

na thats not the one. there should be another one in there somewhere that runs to the floor of that little compartment. my car is a 92 tt so if you have a different car it might be in the other side possibly.
Alistair Moorby
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soarer TT

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Wednesday, January 18, 2012 - 01:27 pm, by:  Alistair Moorby (Aldmo87) Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I also have a 92 TT, I'll have a good look tonight.

Where does it connect to on the fuel tank? Up high or low?

Does it just pull off?
Adrian McGuire
DieHard
Queensland
soarer 2.5 turbo

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Wednesday, January 18, 2012 - 02:21 pm, by:  Adrian McGuire (Adro) Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

if you look at the picture you posted up. about were the ends of your rca cables are directly right on the other side of the bit of metal that is there. its just a plastic bit of piping. im not sure where it connects to the tank as ive never bothered looking that for around but you should see a bit of metal piping the same as the filler neck breather coming down and joining to a plastic bit. ill just go and take a photo of mine and pm it to you.
Adrian McGuire
DieHard
Queensland
soarer 2.5 turbo

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Wednesday, January 18, 2012 - 02:31 pm, by:  Adrian McGuire (Adro) Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

pm sent. it looks like it comes from the filler neck.
Alistair Moorby
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soarer TT

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Wednesday, January 18, 2012 - 02:39 pm, by:  Alistair Moorby (Aldmo87) Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Thanks,

I just took a photo of mine all I can see is the metal pipe from the filler neck.

I have not received your PM yet, so I'll compare the 2 photo's when I get it.
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Alistair Moorby
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soarer TT

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Wednesday, January 18, 2012 - 02:54 pm, by:  Alistair Moorby (Aldmo87) Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hi Adrian,

I am stil missing you PM. Would you mind uploading the pic here, or sending it direct to
alistairmoorby@gmail.com
Tom Richards
DieHard
nsw
V8

Posts: 944
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Wednesday, January 18, 2012 - 03:05 pm, by:  Tom Richards (Tomr) Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

at the bottom of the filler neck (you need to remove it from the tank) there is a "flap" to seal the neck. When refilling the weight of the fuel opens it. Maybe it is stuck open/damaged.
Alistair Moorby
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VIC
soarer TT

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Wednesday, January 18, 2012 - 03:06 pm, by:  Alistair Moorby (Aldmo87) Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Good point.

I will remove it tonight and have a look.
Adrian McGuire
DieHard
Queensland
soarer 2.5 turbo

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Wednesday, January 18, 2012 - 03:16 pm, by:  Adrian McGuire (Adro) Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

check your junk mail. your not looking high enough. it joins right up the top of the filler neck.
Alistair Moorby
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soarer TT

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Wednesday, January 18, 2012 - 03:33 pm, by:  Alistair Moorby (Aldmo87) Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

OK I snapped another photo.

I can see a white tube (I think it is metal) coming from the fuel filler, looking on the outside of the car there is a small hole, it looks like it's purpose is to allow dribbles of petrol to run down it and out underneath the car, rather than run down the side of the car.

I wouldn't think this is a breather tube as it would get raid and water in it if you accidently left the fuel filler door open.

I replied to your PM and will wait for the pic.


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Alistair Moorby
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soarer TT

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Wednesday, January 18, 2012 - 03:47 pm, by:  Alistair Moorby (Aldmo87) Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Thanks for the pic Adrian,

So you mean the pipe that I have drawn the arrows pointing to?


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Adrian McGuire
DieHard
Queensland
soarer 2.5 turbo

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Wednesday, January 18, 2012 - 04:15 pm, by:  Adrian McGuire (Adro) Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

yeah thats the one.you might be right but ive just noticed since i cleaned mine out the smell has gone away from my boot and the cabin.
Dan McColl
Goo Roo
Victoria (The Nazi State)
Pretty Red Thing and The Black Rattler

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Wednesday, January 18, 2012 - 05:59 pm, by:  Dan McColl (Hoon) Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

That one is just a drain from the scupper if you overflow the tank, so it can drain out that hose instead of all over the car.
Alistair Moorby
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soarer TT

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Wednesday, January 18, 2012 - 09:27 pm, by:  Alistair Moorby (Aldmo87) Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

OK found the source of the smell.

Fuel is accumulating in the spare tyre well.

Not sure where it's coming from, spent a little while soaking it up and took the plugs out of the wheel well. So it would drain out.

It's not coming from the filler neck. Only fills up when I'm driving around.

Fuel pump problem?

I am going to have to take the tank out and investigate. I'll do it over the weekend, I'll try to drain the tank driving around tomorrow.

It would be awesome to pull the tank out and find a hole, but as it only happens when driving I some how doubt that will be the case.
Alistair Moorby
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soarer TT

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Thursday, January 19, 2012 - 09:50 am, by:  Alistair Moorby (Aldmo87) Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I booked it in to get taken care of by my mechanic.

I decided I would rather not waste another Friday and Saturday fixing it myself.

I would probably waste a tank of fuel tyring to find the leak as well $80. And there's no gauruntee I would find the problem.

I have also asked the mechanic to change the upper control arms and lower bushes.

Thanks for all the input guys. I will post up here when I find the exact cause.
Tom Richards
DieHard
nsw
V8

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Thursday, January 19, 2012 - 11:13 am, by:  Tom Richards (Tomr) Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

could be the seal where the neck is attached to the tank. maybe the nuts were not tightened after compliance. leak must be at the top of the tank to only leak when driving, and also to leak into the spare wheel bay.

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