After you lovely people talked some sense into me, I have decided I AM keeping my coupe.

It suddenly occurred to me t'other day that I am in the RAC and they can have a look at the fuel leak. Even if he can't fix it, he can tell me what needs to be done.

A patrol man is coming out to me "within 3 hours". Yesterday it was 6 hours so I cancelled.

Now I know that Gaz still works on Coupes at his MG garage, I have somewhere not too far away to take it for the cambelt, for which I am saving up.

That only leaves the respray. I think some places will do it cheaper if you do the prep yourself. I might even have a go with rattle cans, I couldn't make it look worse.

Cheers everybody for being so supportive. I appreciate it so much!

Good to hear you are keeping her but please don't try doing paint yourself it will only make a respray cost more just save and then shop about

The RAC man had a good look under the car and under the bonnet and in the boot, with the engine running, and he could not find a leak. So if there is one it must be very minor. The main thing is he said it's safe to drive it. He thinks the petrol smell is just the exhaust, that it might be running rich?

What do you think of his verdict?

When I have it resprayed I will try to also find a passenger door, because mine is dented. I drove into a post really slowly but it was enough to bend the metal. It's not that noticeable but I know it's there.

People in my family keep nagging me to sell it, my sister scornfully calls it "The Batmobile" and every time I tell my Mum about a mechanical problem she says "perhaps it's time to sell it". My brother in law is a Honda mechanic and he says spare parts will soon get scarce and I ought to sell it now. They just don't get it do they?

My mother in law actually said I should sell it "because it winds the neighbours up". As if I give a toss about the neighbours and what they think. Apparently there was a rumour going around when I first bought it that I must have won the pools. I suppose a Fiat Coupe is a bit of a jump up from a 1996 Skoda Felicia with red paintwork faded to light pink!

My MIL really hates me having a Fiat Coupe. When she first saw it she immediately said "I think Fiona's still got her e-type" (Fiona is her daughter). She does have an e-type but it's hardly ever running, it needs a complete re-wire now, it's a money pit as well as being a death trap!

Also check that the fuel pipe fittings on the fuel filter are tight - under a cover under the floor in front of the back right wheel.

My coupe had a fuel smell around it when sitting - turned out to be the fuel filler cap seal. £2 and 30seconds work! Smell gone and a much bigger/better psssssssssssssssssssssssssssssffftttttt when you open the fuel cap now.

Do you access this from inside the car or underneath it?

In the boot. Lift up the carpet and it's under a circular disc held on with 3 screws on the right near the seat back.

I'm glad you're keeping your Coupe Annie

You access the fuel pump from inside the boot, under the cover; the filter is accessed from under the car.

But the seal on the filler cap is the first place to start - MOT fail and easy to do.

VIS model, fuel filter is inside the swirl pot so the single feed pipe and design rarely leak.

Great news,its the right choice. I mean what else were you going to get? All vehicles eat money.

VIS, eh? My bad

An imperfect Fiat Coupe is still ten times more exciting to look at and drive than a perfect boring car.

You're so right! Sometimes I browse at other cars and nothing really cuts the mustard.

And one day, with a respray, she will look fabulous.

I've seen a filler cap seal on eBay for £14, but says it is for the 1.8 coupe. Will it be the same?

Come to think of it, I don't get so much of a pffffft! when I lift the fuel cap any more ...

I assumed it was fuel line or pump because some bodgers replaced them last year.

From when I was looking...


But ebay doesn't show any tonight.

The part you found doesn't look, from memory, quite right - though it may well fit. As I recall it, the seal is a flat doughnut, with a slit along the outer edge.

They don't have it listed on ebay now but I think this was it:

https://www.triumphparts.gbr.cc/product.php/2368595/

Jbt's got the seal on his Facebook page.

url/link ?

Thanks, I bought a few from these guys and they're perfect and cheap

my car feels happier that it's sister car (your car) will remain in the family...

Good to see it's a keeper & of course the help & backup you get from this forum.

Added that link to the 16v parts page, thanks.

You are such a lovely bunch, thank you for all your positive comments. What would I, and my Coupe do without you, eh?

and what would WE, do without you...?

Coupe "lerv".....in action