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Smell petrol in car

G

grsw

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Location
Yeovil, England
Car
Honda Accord 1.8i S
Hi. I have a smell of petrol inside the car but cannot find out why. If the windows are closed the smell goes regardless of the ventilation settings. As soon as I open the windows the smell comes back. I cannot smell petrol outside of the car or under the bonnet so am stumped. It has been suggested the fuel cap may be at fault but it does have a seal on it and appears to do up tight, although it is a Rover fuel cap. Any suggestions where to look would be most appreciated.
Thank you
 
Thanks for the suggestions. I shall go and have a look around and see what I can find. Another website shows where the canister is (roughly underneath the rear left seat). Interesting thought though. It has just occured to me on any other car I have had when you unscrew the cap you can hear the vapour escaping (or air entering, whichever way it is) but I dont recall hearing it with this car. The smell is constant no matter how long ago I filled up. Could be the fuel cap after all. I will let you know what I find.
 
Geoff said:
Thanks for the suggestions. I shall go and have a look around and see what I can find. Another website shows where the canister is (roughly underneath the rear left seat). Interesting thought though. It has just occured to me on any other car I have had when you unscrew the cap you can hear the vapour escaping (or air entering, whichever way it is) but I dont recall hearing it with this car. The smell is constant no matter how long ago I filled up. Could be the fuel cap after all. I will let you know what I find.
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Hi Geoff, I filled up this morning and you're right, there is a 'hiss' when I turn the GENUINE HONDA filler cap. I would get rid of the Rover rubbish and source a Genuine Honda cap made specifically for the car. Alternatively, you could light a match and have a look underneath.....ONLY JOKING, I take no responsibilty for anything exploding due to this member lighting matches underneath the fuel tank. Phew, glad that's cleared up... :D
 
BondJamesBond said:
Alternatively, you could light a match and have a look underneath.....ONLY JOKING, I take no responsibilty for anything exploding due to this member lighting matches underneath the fuel tank. Phew, glad that's cleared up... :D
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:rolleyes:
 
Problem solved. Behind the rear seats under the carpet the cover above the fuel tank was loose. All tightened up and no smells!!
Thanks for the replies guys. Much appreciated. I bought the car for £350 with 10 months MOT on it and as far as I can tell only three things wrong with it - overheating (fixed - thermostat) - smell of petrol (now fixed) - air conditioning not working (not looked at it yet). Needs a good polish and headlights realigned and it will be in exceptional condition for its age. £350 ? Well 175k on the clock might have something to do with it!
 
Geoff said:
Problem solved. Behind the rear seats under the carpet the cover above the fuel tank was loose. All tightened up and no smells!!
Thanks for the replies guys. Much appreciated. I bought the car for £350 with 10 months MOT on it and as far as I can tell only three things wrong with it - overheating (fixed - thermostat) - smell of petrol (now fixed) - air conditioning not working (not looked at it yet). Needs a good polish and headlights realigned and it will be in exceptional condition for its age. £350 ? Well 175k on the clock might have something to do with it!
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Sounds like a great buy, Geoff, glad you sorted the petrol smell without resorting to my method. :D It's a Honda therefore @ 175k is just run in! Mines got almost 100k and purrs like a kitten.
 
Ok seems my petrol smell problem seems a little more problematic! Last Wednesday evening I went to fill it for the first time since ive had it - up till now just put in the odd £20 here and there - and when it reached about three quarters full all of a sudden we had petrol gushing out from underneath !!!!!! Well I got it home and sat it on the drive for a few days whilst I got a lift to and from work until the weekend when I was able to crawl in underneath. Not much room around the tank is there? Can see where the filler tube joins the tank and seems ok. The breather pipe goes further round the back and cant see where it joins but according to a diagram I managed to get from the internet it joins directly above where there seems to be staining on the underside. Cant even get my fingers up around that area so looks like I might have to take the tank off the car to get to it. Looks like rather a lenghy process though and not something Ive attempted before. Glad I didnt get in underneath with a match to have a look!! Think I might ask around people I know see if anyone I know has the knowledge or experience to help.
 
Could this be an ethanol in the fuel problem?
 
Ah well at least you are getting closer to a solution.

Not sure what you mean by aircon not working? I've just recharged mine using the Halfords EZ Chill DIY regas kit and it worked a treat.
 
:lol: there's a current thread about this stuff eating its way through bits of older fuel systems.
 
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