interior of car stinks of petrol after garage visit

fortythree

First a confession. I put petrol in my diesel car on Sunday - D'oh. Luckily I got it to a garage who drained the engine and it seems to be running fine (fingers crossed).

The problem I have is that the car now stinks of petrol. I am sure they have spilled the fuel in the car and it is making me feel sick. I have a wife with asthma and a toddler, and I would not allow either in the car.

The garge is insisting they did not spill any fuel and the most they are offering is a valet, which is worse than useless for this prnblem. It looks like the fuel has been spilled on the underside of the seat which seems to be a polystyrene type material. Is there any danger of this reacting?

Also how do I best go about increasing the pressure on the garage to fix the problem and should I put a claim in with my credit card company under section 75?

Any help as to how to move forward would be much appreciated!

I will be taking the car on a long drive in 2 weeks time so I need to find a solution quickly!

gordikin

Oh dear! How likely is it that when the garage drained your engine/fuel tank (outside the passenger compartment) that they managed to spill fuel on the underside of a seat? Check your fuel cap is in place correctly?

fortythree

Hi Gordikin

They pumped the fuel out from a hatch under the rear seat and clearly they have spilled some fuel in the process. The problem is they flatly deny they have done this.

I have had another mechanic check the hatch is now firmly in place so at least I know no fuel will leak from it. Thanks for suggesting I check this.

Brooker_Dave

fortythree wrote: »

I need to find a solution quickly!

Consider buying an air freshner.

robnye

the smell will go,
if i fill my car up... and then dont drive far enough (ie only a couple of miles), the car stinks of petrol especially on a hot/warm day, until ive driven enough for the petrol gauge to move below full

my car is a 'Y' reg, so i suspect there is a seal no sealed properly, but petrol is not dripping out anywhere (in case anyone asks)

Laz123

Now if you'd put diesel in a petrol car... that's another matter.

davemorton

What would you want them to do to resolve the situation?? A valet seems like a good idea, I cant see what else they can do if no damage apart from the smell has been caused.

pinkshoes

I have asthma and i love the smell of petrol!!

Can't you just drive with the window open a bit??

maninthestreet

fortythree wrote: »

Hi Gordikin

They pumped the fuel out from a hatch under the rear seat and clearly they have spilled some fuel in the process. The problem is they flatly deny they have done this.

I have had another mechanic check the hatch is now firmly in place so at least I know no fuel will leak from it. Thanks for suggesting I check this.

If it's possible to lift the rear seat, and you put your nose close to the area where this hatch is, does the smell of petrol become stronger?

fortythree

I think I must have understated the problem. it doesn't just smell of petrol it STINKS of it. I have had a closer look and it is clear they have soaked the underside of the back seat with it. The seat is made of some sort of hard foam material and it is very stained.

I have spoken to the garage again and they have promised to replace the seat as they now agree this is not just a little petrol spilled where the smell will go after a while.

Enfieldian

Get a lighter and dry it out.