Fuel line recall info.

[Pangea]

Having had a conversation with Matt J70 about broken fuel lines I thought I would put up this info. Its taken from
a factory recall booklet which I own. Its a US market item but Im sure this would apply anywhere in the world. There
are a couple of other pages on the steering column bolts too.

[J70]

Thanks Nick.

To quickly share the "had a convsersation with" bit at the beginning with what I've found out.
But first I would say to all the chaps - "Please go check yours"

1. Am doing the worlds longest (and probably most anal) annual service on my car. (Am really enjoying it actually) and Sunday was "fuel filter day" . In re-assembling the drivers side one I noticed the hose coupling (blue one) on the top of the filter was cracked.


I assumed it was me and my hamfistedness. Much swearing ensued. Then I looked at the passenger side one, and thats cracked too, and I hadnt touched that one at that stage. Bad photo, zoomed in on phone, with flash etc.


So it wasnt me. So am changing both. (Felt sort of vindicated, the purpose of servicing the car is preventative maintainence, and I found something, so am fixing it. Hence a good thing once I get over the dissapointment)
I'm still not sure if I broke the drivers side one or not. I dont think I did, but I'd cable tied it up high in the bay out of the way so only had a good look at it during re-assembly not before.

Obviously at that stage I didnt know if the issue was overtightening or heat. Heat - I'd change the other 2 (shorter ones) at the far end of the fuel rail (saw some pics of a 355's fuel filters and they looked to be wrapped with a heat shroud material). Overtightening - and I'd leave the shorter two alone because they've probably not been off the car, dont leak, arent cracked and I dont like fixing what isnt broken.


2. Did a small amount of googling, and several models were recalled for this issue - nuts cracking due to overtightening. If you go here http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/apps/recalls/ and type in '92 and say '99 and Ferrari its lists this issue for several models.For example, for the 512TR it says
POSSIBLE FUEL LEAKAGE
As a result of repetitive tightening during filter renewals the pipe union may deform and leak fuel with the risk of an engine bay fire.
Recall the affected vehicles and replace the original light alloy pipes with steel examples. Replacement pipes are coloured yellow to distinguish them from the originals which are blue.
http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/apps/reca...Text=Blank&tx=

What was interesting though, is that Jeff's (irarreF) car has yellow ended hoses.


3. So I emailed my local main dealer, Greypaul in Nottingham, who were kind enough, same day, to send me the records for my car showing that there hadnt been a recall for 348's of the same age of mine (First Reg May 92)
(I wasnt after getting it done for free, I just wanted data to post up for the other chaps had anything come up)

4. I contacted QV in London, who do replacement hoses. They didnt actually have stock right then, but are getting some, so I thought I'd explore other options.
Prosport have some in stock, 2nd hand, but given the notices above that the issue is from tightening/retightening, I didnt want 2nd hand.
I've found a couple of online hose people, one of whom is reasonably local to me and have a counter service, so I'll probably shoot over there on Saturday am.
Am sure I could communicate to an online hose supplier what I want, but they are handed, the pipe is too stiff to twist, so I want perfect copies - hence "show and tell" beats online.

Once I have a solution to hand I'll post up and share.
Please forgive the insulating tape, have wrapped loops of the same colour round near the MAF's so I dont put back on the wrong sides.


Oh and for reference... with regard to the thread I started a couple of weeks ago in Ferrari Talk.
This is how I prepared.

[irarref]

Cheaper than than new pipes from Ferrari and would cut quite a dash at the annual FOC dance... ;-')

[J70]

Cheaper than than new pipes from Ferrari and would cut quite a dash at the annual FOC dance... ;-')

Hehehe, thats a great idea except https://youtu.be/qOyF4hR5GoE?t=1m8s

[PAUL V]

I had the same issue with mine Matt, i went into this and you can not get the 100% correct hoses made up over the counter as if i rememebr right it is the radius of the fittings on the fuel rail.

I will just go and dig out my invoice for mine and let you know where i had them done.

[PAUL V]

Here is the invoice, i had all 4 lines done 2 long ones and the 2 short ones, i just sent them my old ones as samples.

I believe Think Automotive is who makes them for QV anyway.

[J70]

Thanks Paul.
I think they will be making some more shortly too.

[Carlo348]

Mines a june92 model and had the same as you. It was picked up on engine out 2 had been done and other 2 were starting to crack as you've shown. All 4 were in the region of £1100! Went same route as Paul got all 4 for £250...crazy f tax. Will be interesting to see whether they suffer in the same way..hope not.

[Quigs]

Surely if this is a factory recall, you shouldn't be paying for any of it?

[J70]

Surely if this is a factory recall, you shouldn't be paying for any of it?

I think I am right in saying that of the 348's only the very early ones were recalled.
(Other models were also recalled)

But, if you think about it, and I guess its a question of reasonablness, my car is on its 7th cambelt, and who knows how many fuel filters* - so they have been off/on 10+, maybe more, times in 23yrs, and one has failed the other cracked and about to.
Feedback I'm getting from other owners offline is that they are/have changed theirs in the previous 2-3years so at 20yrs old.
Is that a reasonable lifespan? Especially with a frequently serviced and inspected car - I think it probably is.
If we stick to the service schedule, I guess we should all this issue before it becomes are problem.


(*Filters is down as every other service, though I guess many times that would co-incide with the belts)