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Hi all,

I've come across a similar thread in the General Discussion forum and have tried posting however the thread wasn't getting any attention I was hoping to get some help from you knowledgeable folk as to how best to approach this problem I'm having...

The car's an NA6, imported from Japan. I'm the second owner. There is a really bad fuel smell that is emanating from the boot and since there were holes in the rear parcel shelf left from a previous roll bar/cage, the smell goes into the cabin as well. I had Jason at Top Tune take a look at it, but without the either of us knowing where -exactly- the problem lies it will cost me an arm and a leg to get it fixed (time cost, quoting Jason)

I'll give as much information as I can from my own inspection:

1. The and the fuel filler and the fuel hose/line (running into the rubber thing behind the metal panel) doesn't seem to be standard.
2. I've checked the clamps on both the metal and rubber sections of the hose/line, they seem fine. So does the hose/line (from visual examination anyway)
3. When I press into the rubber panel thing, the fuel smell immediately comes out. I don't know if this is normal, I'm an absolute newbie MX5 owner... it seems kind of strange though.

So, what should I replace?
What else should I be looking at for symptoms to isolate the problem?
Where do you think the problem is? (I'm hoping it's only the line or filter or what not, and not behind that rubber panel thing where the tank is)

Your help is much appreciated!

First thing I would do is have a look behind the \"rubber panel thing\" and see whats going on there. I've never taken the rubber panel off so I dont know whats behind it, but maybe you have a tear/hole in the rubber that is letting the odour in. But even so the metal filler pipe should be sealed to the fuel tank behind the rubber panel so you shouldn't be getting any odours through there.

I had a similar problem, and it was a small crack in one of the small rubber tubes going into the fuel tank.
Check all the connections around there and use your nose to check for where the fumes are strongest.
It's usually something quite minor, and is usually caused by a bad fitting or a perished rubber hose around the fuel filler tube or where it connects into the tank.

By the way, don't have a fag hanging out of your mouth when checking the fuel tank. OK?

I was going to advise against using a match to check!

With the rubber lines, always give them a good wiggle to see if they weep as the cracks can sometimes not be visible.

Benny wrote:By the way, don't have a fag hanging out of your mouth when checking the fuel tank. OK?

A cigarette you mean?

Craig wrote:

Benny wrote:By the way, don't have a fag hanging out of your mouth when checking the fuel tank. OK?

A cigarette you mean?

No, I meant a fag.
Let's face it, if you had a fag hanging out of your mouth, it would be really hard to see anything inside the boot!

A lit cigarette would also be bad to be hanging from your mouth when trying to check the fuel leakage, but not as inconvenient as having a fag hanging out of it.

all this talk of \"fags\" etc...

not surprising from a bunch of mx5 / hairdressers car drivers

Thanks guys, I'll make sure I don't have a fag with me while checking the boot

If it comes to replacing the fuel hose/line, should I go back to Mazda? Or Mania? I remember someone saying that once they replaced the fuel hose/line assembly for an Australian one, that seemed to have solved the problem.

Thanks for all your help guys.

The fuel smell problem got fixed today by David at Mania. Turned out when he pressure tested the fuel hoses, the fuel filler wasn't holding any pressure as there were a ton of holes at the neck. That caused the fumes to spread throughout the boot and into the cabin.

After a new fuel filler section was put in, magic happened (sorry I'm a bit drunk tonight.

Cheers

deez wrote:Thanks for all your help guys.

The fuel smell problem got fixed today by David at Mania. Turned out when he pressure tested the fuel hoses, the fuel filler wasn't holding any pressure as there were a ton of holes at the neck. That caused the fumes to spread throughout the boot and into the cabin.

After a new fuel filler section was put in, magic happened (sorry I'm a bit drunk tonight.
Cheers

Glad to see it is all fixed!

Boags

deez wrote: sorry I'm a bit drunk tonight.

That what happens when you sniff petrol

Boags'MX5 wrote:

deez wrote:Thanks for all your help guys.

The fuel smell problem got fixed today by David at Mania. Turned out when he pressure tested the fuel hoses, the fuel filler wasn't holding any pressure as there were a ton of holes at the neck. That caused the fumes to spread throughout the boot and into the cabin.

After a new fuel filler section was put in, magic happened (sorry I'm a bit drunk tonight.
Cheers

Glad to see it is all fixed!

Boags

So how's the result???

Super - thanks for asking