SneakyMcC Posted July 8, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2004 To heck with it... I'm gonna proclaim the fuel smell cured! Hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray Now just gotta find the gelt for the gearbox oil change and some new front brakes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sven Posted July 8, 2004 Report Share Posted July 8, 2004 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SneakyMcC Posted July 24, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2004 [ QUOTE ] To heck with it... I'm gonna proclaim the fuel smell cured! Hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray Now just gotta find the gelt for the gearbox oil change and some new front brakes! [/ QUOTE ] Bollox! It still smells of fuel This time I was in the car on my own so I could jump out and start sniffing Between the airbox and the upper mounting for the front suspension (any chance of a picture chaps?), is where the smell seems to be coming from. There is a junction of fuel pipes and some kind of black plassy switch that ticks loudly (sometimes). It ticks out of sync of the engine revolutions. It could be some kind of return valve. It actually looks like an inline fuel filter, but these are normally clear plassy, and why would a filter have an electrical conector on it. I'll see if I can blagg my mans didgy camera and post some pics of WTF I'm talking about (just in case the TSN big guns aint out there today). I had a horrid feeling when the wife said she smelt fuel the day after I put the airbox pipes back on (stealer left it undone ). She thought the smell was from the car in front Still, I've had a few good private jobs this week, so I've got a little extra gelt to think about this and the gearbox oil change and brakes (could be cheaper to buy another car ) The wife's holding her hand out already Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SneakyMcC Posted July 24, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2004 Does this make sense? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SneakyMcC Posted July 24, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2004 Here's another view: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sven Posted July 24, 2004 Report Share Posted July 24, 2004 Looks to me like the activated charcoal filter solenoid valve. Which could have everything to do with a fuel smell... Maybe the valve is fecked? You could check the electrical connector, see if that's clean and whole. Best thing would be a VAG-COM, but you could do some checking with a mulitimeter. The charcoal filter should be in the LR wheel housing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SneakyMcC Posted July 24, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2004 [ QUOTE ] Maybe the valve is fecked? [/ QUOTE ] Should I be able to hear this thing clicking? When it is clicking, it can be heard from inside the car (music off of course ) You any idea what this valve does. What reading should I get with a multimeter. If the valve is mullered, where would the smell come from? The LR wheel arch or the point I have photografted under the bonnet ....LR wheel housing.... The beeper for the alarm sounds like it's located there and that has gone kaput? Thanks (yet again) for your input Sven. Summit tells me it'll not be the last time, either Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sven Posted July 24, 2004 Report Share Posted July 24, 2004 Hmm, It's a magnetic valve, so it could make some 'click' sound, but IMO not that loud (I never heard anything). And it shouldn't go haywire IMO. Could also be the filter being saturated? Not sure about life cycle on these... I found the resistance of the valve should be 22...30 ohm. Powerlead is supposed to be 'live' as soon as the ignition is on. (therefore the valve should remain open - from the top of my head - but I'm not 100% sure). Gotta run now, but I'll be back later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SneakyMcC Posted July 24, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2004 Cheers m8. Should I disconnect it to test it or will that leave a register in the fault memory? Mmm, wonder where my multi tester is Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sven Posted July 24, 2004 Report Share Posted July 24, 2004 Meanwhile, Here's an article on the subject. See attachment for layout. Mind, it might also be the other end (vent) that's blocked or something. That *might* cause problems too I imagine... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sven Posted July 24, 2004 Report Share Posted July 24, 2004 And the test procedure. Keep us posted... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SneakyMcC Posted July 24, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2004 Thought you were going out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sven Posted July 24, 2004 Report Share Posted July 24, 2004 I'm fast... Thought you'd be interested in the attachments... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SneakyMcC Posted July 24, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2004 I'll check'em out in the morn. I'll dawg'tired. Thanks again, Be well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SneakyMcC Posted July 25, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2004 [ QUOTE ] Don't you guys ever look at audipages? Check this article out. Check it out and tell me what you find. pw [/ QUOTE ] Stripped all the plastics off the engine last night so I could see where the fuel was leaking from. Yep, BIG PW got it in one. That same fuel pipe he arrowed Lets see what Audi UK will say about this Thanks guys So come Sven, whats my next move Gonna mail the new staeler for a quote, then mail Nikkie Reid @ A8 cust/serv's. But what to say? Thanks again everyone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SneakyMcC Posted July 25, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2004 [ QUOTE ] mmmmmmm, mines in on the 29th for yet another oil leak, I'm going to ask them to have another look for the fuel leak as well. Anyone want a silver 4.2 Quattro sport ??? Plenty of money spent on it !!!!! [/ QUOTE ] audia8s2 the probable reason for them failing to find the leak, is because the plastic engine covers need to be removed, then the engine started from cold (e.g. leave the vehicle with them over night). Also if you twist the point in arrowed in PW's picture then wipe on the underside of the fuel line, you should see it is leaking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sven Posted July 25, 2004 Report Share Posted July 25, 2004 I thought you checked that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SneakyMcC Posted July 25, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2004 I did but there was no white scudgey stuff that I was looking for. No staining, no evidence nowt! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sven Posted July 25, 2004 Report Share Posted July 25, 2004 Hmm, well, you're forgiven I guess... I'd casually ask what the warranty procedure is on a common fault like this, and see how they react. If they're not inclined to do anything, you might consider Paul's solution... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SneakyMcC Posted July 25, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2004 [ QUOTE ] I'd casually ask what the warranty procedure is on a common fault like this, and see how they react. [/ QUOTE ] See? I knew you'd come up wid'summit I'd not thought of Yeah, PW's solution could well be the way to go. But gonna check out the stealer first. I used to have some soloder that melted at crazy low temps. A cigarette lighter flam would melt it (just what you want on a fuel pipe ). But it'd prolly have soldered the joint without getting the rubber hot Started a draft letter already, but it needs focus: Nicki Reid AUDI (UK) A8 Customer Service P.O Box 400 Walsall WS5 4XX 25 July 2004 Re: Leaking fuel lines (reg/no. XXXXXX). Dear Nicki I’m sure you remember us XXXXX’s (are you still having the nightmares?). I now have an even bigger problem that I’d like to ask for your assistance with. Last year we had the cam belt changed on our vehicle (before replacement was due). The next day I notified Jennifer Worby, service adviser Harold Wood Audi (HWA), that there was a strange smell (like a solvent) coming through the air vents. I suggested that we leave it a few days, as there was a probability that there was some grease/oil left from the work carried out that was burning off from something hot. But in the next few days I discovered that a number of things had not been put back on the car properly and in the case of the headlight, the wiring had not been connected at all. This was the final straw, and we decided to take the car to White House Audi (WHA) in the future. There are 2 invoices now for this work, C0104322 (20/10/03) & C010434 (7/11/03), as HWA also managed to cock up the invoicing too! It was recommended by WHA that the aircon be serviced. This immediately changed the smell to one of pure petrol. In hindsight, the solvent type smell must have been the musty smell from the aircon and the smell from petrol mixing together. My problem now, is that I only ever expressed my concerns verbally to Jenny, so there will be no formal record of my concerns. I wish to take issue with HWA as I am led to believe that if sufficient care is not taken when clamping the cam shafts whilst changing the belt on these V8’s these exact fuel line joints get damaged. Please see the enclosed picture. Fuel leaks from the exact point arrowed, but only when the engine is started from cold. I would assume that this leak will get worse with time. I should point out that the exhaust manifold is directly underneath the fuel line at this point! John Fox Audi in Nottingham is about to get a call from one of their clients. JFA changed the cam belt on this clients’ vehicle and JFA has now inspected the vehicle several times to find the leak (at no charge so far). The probable reason for them failing to find the leak, is because the plastic engine covers need to be removed, then the engine started from very cold. If the point in the picture is then wiped on the underside of the fuel line, you see it is leaking. I too have repeatedly tried in vain to find the cause, as I simply could not afford for a dealer to go looking at nearly £100 per hour. This is a fact, not a criticism. It is still vary possible to get exceptional value for money at far more than this hourly rate. Something demonstrated by WHA, but something, which in the past, has eluded HWA. Their recent acquisition by WHA may have sort things out! Yours sincerely, Dear Ol'Sneaky Picture stolen from Audipages.com (Fanx PaulW) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SneakyMcC Posted July 31, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2004 White House Audi have totally neglected to return any of my calls so I'm going down there this morning. If they dont change their attitude, shall have to go some where else. D'ya spose thats what they'd pref? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SneakyMcC Posted July 31, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2004 Crikey! Got off to a flier with this one. 1st the service adviser that I emailed is on holiday, so I got no reply. 2nd, I've been over to the stealers this morning with my ugly face on (shut it you! ) to find out why the mofo's aint called me back again for the 2nd time (2days ), only find out that the serv/adv'r I've been waiting for is no longer with the company as of yest! He has entered my sh!t on ther system but it looks like no one has been to check what work of his needs to be taken over I went in today and told the serv/adv's that whilst I waited for their tech, I'd take the plassy engine covers off to speed things up for them. they were very insistant that they'd do that? When I asked the tech, today, if he'd confirmed the fuel leak, he said " it's not leaking now, but there is a stain there". He aint checked it, cause there aint a stain there ( ) he just looked at the picture I'd given them from PaulW's 'audipages' site (thanks PW ). That has a white stain on the rubber pipe. Plus I never saw them with the bonnet up, but I did see the tech looking at my print out Still, now the vehicle has been inspected, I have been on the blower to A8 cust/serv's. They're closed for the weekend, so Monday the fun begins. Any of you guys having the same prob wana send me something to refer to with A/UK I'd appreciate it (dealer/your name or summit). Things that I was thinking of stressing to A/UK are the fact that both warrenties and servicing nowdays (my car is outside this theory) refer to things like 3yrs/60k mls warranties and servicing schedules of 20k Mls, my car had done 65k when I had the cam belt changed, the equiv to 3yrs modern day motoring... Audi have updated the design (poss nothing new about that on it's own but added to my case?). Other owners have discovered the prob immediately after the belt change. Known area of prob in the Audi specialist establishments. What is the remitt of the repair warranty. Anyone got owt-else to add? Please advise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audia8s2 Posted August 2, 2004 Report Share Posted August 2, 2004 As you know my 8's been in at least twice for the dealer to determine the source of the fuel smell, to no avail. I spent some time on the car on Saturday, replaced the drivers side wing mirror and did the front brake pads, thought I'd have a look at the fuel lines whilst I was pottering, removed the engine covers and started her up, no smell of fuel but I had a "play" with the fuel lines and low and behold bingo, leaking on the crimp on the fuel feed pipe. Why didn't Audi find this ???, took me about 5 minutes, I guess repair is the way to go, fancy having a one peice pipe that runs front to back on the car, Audi/VW designers can be tossers at times........... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SneakyMcC Posted August 2, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2004 I'm waiting for A8 cust/serv to look into it for me. This started when you had the cam belt changed didn't it? IMO it might be best to see what they'll do for you, no? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audia8s2 Posted August 2, 2004 Report Share Posted August 2, 2004 It did start when the cambelt was changed your right but I'm guessing there is no way of proving it, they'll just say it's down to age deteriation. She's in for her M.O.T. tomorrow, so I might mention it again then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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