[s-cars] Unlocatable fuel-like smell

[manuelsanchez@starpower.net]

Ian,

The PO of my car had this recall performed. I developed a
smell as you describe, except mine was at the fitting at the
fuel rail, where the hard line becomes flexible. Thinking this
was part of the recall, I took it to my dealer and they
indicated that my portion at the rail was not part of the
recall and that I would have to purchase a new fuel rail
($600USD if I remember), as the later model cars like yours
and mine don't have a separable section like the earlier
cars(can't remeber the cut-off date).  

Per listers suggestions I took the fuel rail and leaking line
to several heavy equipment hydraulic repair shops, none wanted
to touch it with a ten foot (er meter) pole.  Anyway, I spent
about as much time off work trying to find a place to fix it
that I probably could have bought the new rail.

My local wrench suggested we cut off the crimp fitting to see
if there was a barb at the end of the hard line, as I had
nothing to loose we did and sure enough there was. I placed a
25 cent hose clamp on it and it has been leak free since (1 year).

I don't know if you have the same barb on the side over that
nice hot exhaust manifold, but if you do and can't get to the
dealer in time you might want to consider this as a stop gap.  

Oh and don't sue me if it catches fire, I haven't any $ left
after the last round of mods.

-manny
95.5 S6 Avant



Date: Thu, 20 Oct 2005 16:05:04 +1300
From: Ian McKee <ian.mckee at tait.co.nz>
Subject: [s-cars]  Unlocatable fuel-like smell
To: s-car-list at audifans.com
Message-ID: <43570960.6010404 at tait.co.nz>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

My 96 S6 also has a fuel smell - mostly when colder, and very
noticeable
inside the car.
I have traced it to a very minute leak on one end of the metal
fuel line
as it runs across the top of the firewall inside the engine
bay where
the line meets the braided hoses to become flexible to go to
the fuel
filter.
When the smell is present, I can feel a very small amount of
fuel at
this junction, and I can very slightly twist the braided hose
on the
metal pipe and make it better or worse.
I haven't fixed it yet ( does anyone have any ideas!), but was
planning
on talking to a hose doctor who may be able to crimp the fitting a
little more.

Ian