Strong petrol smell and slow to fill up

[PomBstard]

Car's a 98 NB 1.8 - standard all round as far as I can tell. Usually smells strongly of petrol when the door or boot is first opened, and the tank is a complete b'stard to fill as anything more than a dribble results in the petrol pump clicking off.

I'm presuming I've got some sort of block or dodgy non-return valve causing the filling problem, but would that lead to both problems? I thought I read a similar topic on here recently but can't find it and the PH search facility is having another rest.

Its not a recent thing, been doing it for about 6 months, its just that now I have a garage and can tinker again

[JonnyFive]

Remove the carpet around the fuel filler area, you can see the pipes from there.. Make sure the clips haven't come off.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Difficult to fill is a common thing on these cars, especially around that time. My old '98 Mk1 was the same. They usually fill normally if you angle the pump nozzle back toward the rear of the car i.e. so the nozzle is pointing forwards and the pipe goes back over the boot. Also make sure the nozzle is all the way in.

[lilwashu]

Early UK Mk2s can have this problem - mine did and was infuriating. Autolink UK sorted it for me with a new filler pipe with no valve, about 15 quid I think.

[PomBstard]

All clips in place, and original looking at the date on them. Have tried all nozzle positions (!!) so might just have to resign myself to it taking about 30sec a litre.

Strong smell of petrol not linked?

[MX-5 Lazza]

PomBstard said:

Strong smell of petrol not linked?

Probably not. I'd get it checked out at a garage. Could be anything from running very rich (what's the mpg like?) to a corroded fuel tank.

[PomBstard]

Runs fine - got 41 mpg on recent trip to Canberra and back - and petrol smell only noticeable when it's been stood for a while. I'll get the tank checked.

[NiceCupOfTea]

My dad had that in his 98 mk2 - common problem.

[NiceCupOfTea]

My dad had that in his 98 mk2 - common problem.

[Eighteeteewhy]

Do you fill up at the same garage every time?

The reason I ask is I had this problem with my BMW, so I changed where I filled up and it was fine. It seemed like the cut off sensor on the pumps was set too sensitive at the first garage.

Just a thought.

[PomBstard]

NiceCupOfTea said:

My dad had that in his 98 mk2 - common problem.

Petrol smell or slow filling or both?

[MX-5 Lazza]

PomBstard said:

NiceCupOfTea said:

My dad had that in his 98 mk2 - common problem.

Petrol smell or slow filling or both?

I'm guess it'll be the slow filling as it was quite common around that time.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Here's a recall notice from Mazda USA. I believe there was a similar recall from Mazda UK.

[PomBstard]

MX-5 Lazza said:

Here's a recall notice from Mazda USA. I believe there was a similar recall from Mazda UK.

Thanks - knackered non-return valve would make sense. I'll get a replacement and go from there.

As I'm getting good economy and no sign of liquid leaks, I'll get the tank checked for potential vapour leaks, and then make sure noone smokes in the boot.

[NiceCupOfTea]

Yes, slow filling. He had other cars so lived with it (especially as the local Mazda dealer couldn't be bothered to do anything about it ) but I would have got it sorted.