Urgent Help Needed

[nms]

Car is playing silly buggers. Went out for a drive, on the way back filled the car with petrol and drove the final 6miles or so home. Parked up, went out 20mins later, car would only start by giving the starter motor loads and pressing the gas, once you let your foot off it would cut out. Could smell petrol so opened petrol cap and fluid right up to the top, even overflowing slightly. Assume the two things are connected and think I read about this before, but can't seem to find the thread. Can any one help?? Will I be needing the RAC etc?

[rmaurer]

nms said:

Car is playing silly buggers. Went out for a drive, on the way back filled the car with petrol and drove the final 6miles or so home. Parked up, went out 20mins later, car would only start by giving the starter motor loads and pressing the gas, once you let your foot off it would cut out. Could smell petrol so opened petrol cap and fluid right up to the top, even overflowing slightly. Assume the two things are connected and think I read about this before, but can't seem to find the thread. Can any one help?? Will I be needing the RAC etc?

Sounds like the problem I had, have a look at this thread:

www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?f=6&h=&t=164050

I tightened the cap up tightly and ran the car until the petrol level in the tank dropped... Loosening the cap after this restored normal running. Hope that helps.

[nms]

That is exactly the post I was after, thanks. Why when I go to search all dates in the cerb forum using keyword petrol did that one not appear. Odd. Anyway been out just now and kept firing up the car when it cut out. Opened the petrol cap and huge whoosh. Ran rough for 5mins, but will now idle. Still sounds a little rough though. Hoping in the morning will be fine. Small amount of petrol was around the cap in the section in the boot. Do I need to clean this off with something as soon as, to prevent any permanent damage to the paint work??

Thanks again for your help.