Chimaera Fuel smell
Discussion
So I've had my Chim for around a month now and it has a niggly fuel smell in the cabin. Strange thing is it's only noticeable with the roof off or the windows down when I'm driving along, it doesn't smell when stationary and idling.
I've had it on the ramps and checked the pipework from tank to engine and back again and their are no leaks. The smell is strongest in the boot after a run.
I suspect I don't have a leak but their are fumes escaping from some where. Any suggestions where to start looking before I pull the tank and start there.
I've ordered up a fuel cap and sender gasket, I'll do those first because they are easy.
I've had it on the ramps and checked the pipework from tank to engine and back again and their are no leaks. The smell is strongest in the boot after a run.
I suspect I don't have a leak but their are fumes escaping from some where. Any suggestions where to start looking before I pull the tank and start there.
I've ordered up a fuel cap and sender gasket, I'll do those first because they are easy.
Yes, the smell is definitely coming from the boot and getting into the cabin, no smell at all under the bonnet.
I've pulled all of the carpets and none of them are wet, no patches of fuel either in the boot, while it was on the ramps I check the short length of flexi pipe from the tank and it appeared fine.
I can't see down the back of the tank so may need to pull it put to see if there is anything happening behind it.
I've pulled all of the carpets and none of them are wet, no patches of fuel either in the boot, while it was on the ramps I check the short length of flexi pipe from the tank and it appeared fine.
I can't see down the back of the tank so may need to pull it put to see if there is anything happening behind it.
Edited by keeling54 on Saturday 14th May 21:04
Thanks for all of the replies.
Looking through the old receipts I got with the car it appears that the hose were all replaced a year or so ago by Taylor TVR, I messaged the previous owner and she said it had started to smell of fuel in the boot straight after the hoses were replaced, they took it back and Taylors sorted it. I may give them a call on Monday to see if they remember the car and ask them what they did.
I've pulled all of the carpet and the carpet doesn't smell and the smell disappears when the car is parked up and the boot left open.
As I bought the car as a mini project and I left myself some budget for odds and sods, I'll pull the tanks a described above and give everything the once over.
Looking through the old receipts I got with the car it appears that the hose were all replaced a year or so ago by Taylor TVR, I messaged the previous owner and she said it had started to smell of fuel in the boot straight after the hoses were replaced, they took it back and Taylors sorted it. I may give them a call on Monday to see if they remember the car and ask them what they did.
I've pulled all of the carpet and the carpet doesn't smell and the smell disappears when the car is parked up and the boot left open.
As I bought the car as a mini project and I left myself some budget for odds and sods, I'll pull the tanks a described above and give everything the once over.
I've solved the fuel smell, I took the tank out and found a bodged repair in one of the indentations on the back of the tank, it appears the tank has at some point rubbed up against one of the body securing bolts and worn through, the bodger has then applied a load of black mastic over top and put the tank back.
The previous owner had the car looked after but a so called 'TVR specialist', looking through the bunch of receipts I got with the car, all of the hoses were replaced with R9 last year, I can't believe they replaced the hoses and then bodged or worse ignored a badly repaired tank and just refitted it.
[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/WhMof1NR[/url]
The previous owner had the car looked after but a so called 'TVR specialist', looking through the bunch of receipts I got with the car, all of the hoses were replaced with R9 last year, I can't believe they replaced the hoses and then bodged or worse ignored a badly repaired tank and just refitted it.
[url]|https://thumbsnap.com/WhMof1NR[/url]
Steve_D said:
That PU sealant may not be what you think.
From the factory the upper two chassis bolts were dome head and had a mound of sealant applied over the top.
What you have found may well be that.
If the previous garage had replaced hoses there would be no need for them to remove the tank.
The tank can simply be ali welded but would need to be done with the tank full of water for safety reasons.
After the repair glue a ring of firm rubber araound the fix so the bot does not rub again.
Steve
They had the tank out because all of the nuts and bolts are new. Not sure how they would get to the fuel return without removing the tank. The domed bolt had a square piece of rubber stuck on it. From the factory the upper two chassis bolts were dome head and had a mound of sealant applied over the top.
What you have found may well be that.
If the previous garage had replaced hoses there would be no need for them to remove the tank.
The tank can simply be ali welded but would need to be done with the tank full of water for safety reasons.
After the repair glue a ring of firm rubber araound the fix so the bot does not rub again.
Steve
I've temp fixed it with JB weld. I've also put a spacer around both bolts to stop the tank contacting again. My plan is to find some one to professionally weld the hole and also pressure test it just in case.
Onto the next job now... A leaking diff. Again, I have a receipt for £600 for a refurb carried out in 2021. Not sure where it was carried out though.
Onto the next job now... A leaking diff. Again, I have a receipt for £600 for a refurb carried out in 2021. Not sure where it was carried out though.
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