Hi gang, I have a question regarding my 1988 Mondial Cabriolet. There seems to be a strong gas odor everytime I go into the garage. The car has been fully serviced recently and the gas tanks were taken out and repowdered. The fuel injector system has been rebuilt. I checked the gas cap and it appears to be sealed appropriately. I know that older cars can have gas odor, but this is very strong to the point where it makes it difficult to be in the garage. Has anyone else experienced this??? Any assistance will be greatly appreciated!!! Cheers, CG
You have to find the source of this. Breathing gas fumes is not good for you. The Fire danger is very serious as well. Is the car running way too rich? This can be a source of fumes from the exhaust but I think you have a leak somewhere. You have to go step by step. Good Luck Finding It
I would check the filler tube neck to see if it's sealed up,but something is defintiely wrong. 1980's cars do not vent gas. A tech can pressurize the system and find the leak. Dave
Yes, it seems to be running rich. I have had my mechanic check the car and didn't find any leaks. I did smell the pipes and could smell gas fumes. I will have to get it checked again. Thank you for the quick reply!!!
if you can smell the fumes in the pipes- won't that cause a buildup in the cats and then be a 'major" issue??
If the hoses on your vapor recovery or fuel system have never been changed, then they may have become cracked and weep fuel. Another frequent culprit is the fuel accumulator. Suggestion to inspect fuel system - time est 1.5 hours: 1. Lift up Right rear side and remove RR wheel and forward fenderwell. Please then place car on jackstand under main frame member. 2. Against the firewall you will see the fuel accumulator and fuel pump. Inspect and TOUCH the hoses where they are fastened to the accumulator and pump, and see if there is gas dripping from the top drain of the accumulator. Also check the hoses atatching to and the fuel filter. 3. At the very upper back outboard top of the fuel tank there are several (4?) nipples where the gas return line and vapor recovery system attach. Inspect each of these connections thoroughly, as the hoses here can crack and weep gasoline giving you the odor you complain of. Since you just had your tanks done, I am betting something is loose or deteriorating in this area. 4. Examine the hoses thoughout the vapor recovery system where they attach to their respective cannisters and attachments. Good luck and let us know.
Excellent information! Thank you much and I will provide an update once I get a chance to inspect it. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to provide all the feedback Cheers, cg
A picture showing pump and accumulator, and the tank nipples. Look at all of the hoses while you are there. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Can't help you there but you have excellent taste in cars, as does my wife (daughter pictured).... Ciao, dave Image Unavailable, Please Login
Thank you Russ for the diagram. This is very helpful and I really appreciate it! Will keep you posted on the outcome. Cheers, Carlos
Hey Dave, awesome cars!!! I have a 73 Fiat 500 yellow as you see on my signature. The Ferrari is black. Love both of them! I will some pics when I get a chance. Cheers!
It's common for carb'd cars to exude a smell of gas after the engine is shut down and the car is sitting in the garage - this is fuel evaporating out of the float bowls. But, a fuel injected car should definitely not exude a gas smell - they have sealed systems with an evaporative recovery system. Take a look at the floor and see if you see any fuel dripping. And, don't smoke around your ferrari until you find the leak!
Thanks again Russ! I have been pretty busy traveling with work, so I have not had a chance to begin the search. On another note, do you know how to adjust the idle on the 3.2 model? I don't know much about italian cars unfortunately (American cars I can work on ) I found the screw to adjust it, but it is at the lowest level already, therefore, I cannot lower it anymore (currently it idles at 1500, which is to high). Cheers, Carlos
Well, the K-jet the idle is adjusted with the big screw air bypass doofer. If it is idling to high with the idle adjust all the way out , you may have stuck temperature air bypass valve (not uncommon - a volkswagon K-jet part). And if you have never done it, change the O2 sensor. There are a lot better K-jet guys on here than me, hopefully they will chime in. Good luck!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi, maybe your gascables are to short. It can be reset on the throttle. Nr 45 on the picture (2X). You have to pull out the fine metal split and turn the internal screw outwords. Loosen this little bolt on the other side and turn the THREAD SPHERIC HEADS (nr 45 on the picture) against clockwise to give the cable more play...there are 2 like this on your throttle...if it is a Mondial T. I hope it helps.. Guido Image Unavailable, Please Login
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Then a 3.2 has only 1 THREAD SPHERIC HEAD nr 41 on the picture. Guido Image Unavailable, Please Login
Thanks Guido. The number 41 screw was already to the lowest level, unfortunately. I took it to my mechanic today and he adjusted the idle in a minute He took of the air filter box and made the adjustment from there. Now, I just got to figure out where the gasoline odor is coming from. Ciao, Carlos