Strong fuel smell in my testarossa (any ideas?)

I would get under the the car and check for leaks around the fuel pumps and fuel tank hoses. Also make sure that the gas cap is on tight. Another fuel leak problem that I have seen are the fuel accumilators.

 

There was a fuel line recall a few years ago. Something about a fitting that cracked or something like that. Check the archives or the NTSB recall web site.

 

The fuel line recall was for the later 512TR model, doesn't apply to this car.
I would check the fuel accumulators and the small braided rubber fuel return hoses from the engine.

Brian
Patrick Ottis Co.

 

Were you running the A/C? If so, take the car to your mechanic and have him check the R/H fuel tank as Ferrari runs the A/C lines through a heat exchanger in that tank to cool them.

 

i had an identical problem on a different car, it turned out to be a leaking fuel hose.

john

 

I'm no mechanic, but I'm guessing what you're smelling is gas.

 

The day I purchased my 87TR I drove it home from Monterey to Grass Valley, about 175 miles, and when I parked in the garage we smelled gas. The gas odor came and went intermittently,and I removed the belly pans to check hoses. One of the black rubber fuel return hoses was cracked at the tank, so for 5$ and 30 minutes, problem solved. Good Luck!

 

Jason, my 86tr last summer just started having this problem. As the months continued the smell got stronger and it was a cracked line. A fuel pump makes a whiny noise from inside the cabin. There are two on the car, the warmer or hotter it getts, the louder the whiny noise. I would rule out the fuel pump. You have a leak along the hose somewhere.....stop driving, and getting it checked out......fire on a ferrari is not a good idea.

 

Once it cools down it stops, but they are ready to crap out at ay time. Odds are its one, and not both. If you have a full take of gas(cool) it will keep the noise to a min for about 20 minutes of driving before the bearings in there get warm. Odds are its a fuel pump, but also a hairline leak is causing the smell. Not expensive options ot fix. But dont waste time on it, it will only get worse and very quickly.

 

No problem brother, hope thats all it is and you get fixed.

Let us know how it went.

 

When fuel pump "whine" is louder than normal the cause can be a cloged fuel inlet strainer. On the 328 the strainer is in the tank inside of where the fuel line to the pump attaches.

Mark

 

Have you pissed off your girlfriend or wife recently??

 

The figure in the TR WSM showing the US version TR fuel system is the same as Fig 48 in the TR US OM (and also see Fig 47 in the OM):
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

No trouble. Rather than running the engine to look for the leak, I'd recommend that you remove the fuel pump relays and add a jumper wire from terminal 30 to terminal 87 in their respective relay sockets (one at a time) per the WSM -- it's best to have everything else "off" if you've got a leak when the system is pressurized.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Carry a fire extinguisher, this can be very serious