Technical Replacement Fuel Tank Help!

[demoscott]

Hi,

I got my Seicento MPI Model 2 months ago. I've been having to fill it up with only 5 litres everytime the fuel warning comes on because any higher it leaks fuel. Looking at the tank, its been patched up and quite rusty. So I'm looking to change it. Had some shocking quotes today for up too £600 but i've seen on other threads that i can get the SPI Tank and with some fiddling it work.

If anyone has done this or knows a mechanic near Blackpool, Lancs who can, please get in touch.

Sorry i know this has been dicussed in the past.

 

[GrumpyOldMan]

A new tank is £52.30 from EuroCarParts at the moment. Any garage should be able to fit it for you but if it helps I had mine done at Cabus Autos just the other side of Garstang to you. Can't remember what he charged but it wasn't a lot, about £60 maybe.

 

[demoscott]

Is yours the MPI model or SPI. As I'm being told mines the MPI which means the more expensive tank :S

 

[Eklipze3k]

http://www.eurocarcare.net/fuel-tanks/046511894.html

Fitting is easy, grab a Cinq haynes or the technical manual from here and do it yourself

Edit: I realise it says out of stock, but if you call and speak to Big Mick he's great with Centos and will be able to help out and advise.

 

[GrumpyOldMan]

Is yours the MPI model or SPI. As I'm being told mines the MPI which means the more expensive tank :S

I might be wrong but I think all tanks are the same. The one difference that there may be is the bracket for the fuel filter. Again, I might be wrong about that. I picked up a tank from the scrapyard and had the garage fit it and I have no idea what car it came from as it was already out.

 

[trogdor]

Hi,

I had to do this with my last seicento as it was also a later MPI model. The SPI fuel tank will fit fine, the only difference is that there is a bracket that the filter? or maybe pump? from the SPI bolts too. You can just ignore it as it doesn't get in the way of anything.

The issue you will have is that you will need to take the MPI fuel pump out of the tank and fit it to the new one. It is bolted in at the top of the tank where the fuel sender is on the SPI models. Its a bit of a bugger to change as the fuel sender is part of the assembly and its not that easy to get out of and through the hole! Wiggling and some swearing required! (P.S. this is why the MPI tank is more expensive as it comes with a replacement pump inside or I hope it does!)

I would possibly recommend checking the pump over as I had to replace mine a few weeks after fitting the tank as it basically disintergrated, its spring loaded and sort of fell apart. Give the filter inside a clean or swill with petrol too. Luckily you can access the fuel pump from the hatch under the rear seats.

It wasn't that hard a job, the worst part was shearing the mounting bolts that hold the tank straps (or do they have bolt holes around the edge?) in place, make sure you use plenty of wd-40 or whatever. In my case I made adapter plates thatbolted to some other holes as I would of needed to remove the rear cross member to get the sheared bolts out and I wasn't going to do that!

Er........ good luck I guess!

P.S. this was serveral years ago so could be remembering stuff slightly wrong but its deffo possible!

 

[cc1]

Mpi fuel tank versus Spi.
New tank Spi



Differences are:
Filler connection, extra plate near filler pipe. Shape of feed pipe to charcoal canister. New shape of the tank top right and studs for pipe clips.

 

[hf turbo]

Is the tank slightly bigger in capacity

 

[cc1]

Mpi fuel tank versus Spi.


Differences are:
Shape of feed pipe to charcoal canister.

I think that's the breather pipe actually.
Tanks are the same size.

 

[David C]

The issue you will have is that you will need to take the MPI fuel pump out of the tank and fit it to the new one. It is bolted in at the top of the tank where the fuel sender is on the SPI models.

It is a fuel pump on SPI models too, not just a level sender.

...and yes it is a bugger to get out. Went through the same with my Cinq a few years ago.

 

[cc1]

Pump is easy to get out and put in. There is a knack.


FIRST STAGE



SECOND STAGE

 

[Eklipze3k]

Yeah I've only done the pump assembly once but don't recall it being all that hard to remove/replace.

 

[trogdor]

It is a fuel pump on SPI models too, not just a level sender.

...and yes it is a bugger to get out. Went through the same with my Cinq a few years ago.

Fair enough, I was lucky not to need to touch the tank on my SPI seicento. And my sister never filled the tank of her cinquencento to find out if it had a leak!

So what is the bracket on the side of the SPI tank for? Filter?

To be honest it wasn't THAT hard to change, it was more the pump disassembling itself while doing that and trying to get it stay together and get it through the hole, (Probably why I needed a new one not long after!) I think that one was easier to change!

 

[Ouby]

So what is the bracket on the side of the SPI tank for? Filter?

Yup, inline filter for the SPI.
MPI doesn't use one (maybe due to higher fuel pressure ) -just has the little pre-filter in the bottom section of the fuel pump assembly.

Certainly wouldn't recommend anyone buying a 2nd hand tank - you might be lucky but it might be as rotten as the one you're changing & new SPI tanks aren't that expensive if you shop around.
Take care disconnecting the two breathers on the top of the tank as it's easy to snap the nozzle off. Twist slightly anti-clockwise & then lift out. The locating tabs are spaced differently so they only go in the new tank in same position as the old tank.

 

[centralcentos]

Hi I'm in Wigan and I have a brand new tank I'd be more than pleased to sell it and help you fit ..its a bare tank so your pump would have to go in it ...funny enough thing is ..I had a seicento years ago a bronze one ..that had the same issue only at the time with the price of fuel I could only put a fivers worth in ? was great fun

 

[mrcinquecento]

Yeah I've only done the pump assembly once but don't recall it being all that hard to remove/replace.

Hardest part was getting the thing to turn initially in an old tank. From there it just takes persistence and a lot of wiggling to get in and out, far harder things to do i reckon.