Following on from my fuel leak, I've now got a fuel smell problem. Had a look at the (always non in formative Haynes ) manual, looking to see if perhaps fuel could have found it's way to the heater intake side. Nonthin conclusive on the book. Anyone tell me if it's possible. There's a bit of fuel marking around the air filter housing, and lower, possibly on to the steering rack . No sign on Haynes of where the actual intake is , but it could be around this position . Once car is on road, there's little smell of fuel, but when car has stood for a while, it's strong.

Didn't see your original post, but my 2p worth. You need to wash the whole bay out and remove the insulation which goes around the block under the engine cover. The rest of the insulation is difficult to remove, but if you've had a leak then it's likely that fuel has got into it which would explain why you get the smell after standing. You could wash it with detergent in situ. The air intake to the heater is through the scuttle and you can follow the water pipes from the cooling system, but I can't see the heater being a problem itself - you need a source for the smell and getting rid of this is the only answer.

Engine cover was removed to find source of leak, and is not contaminated. My only conclusion is that the smell comes from the undertray ,and contamination on the air filter side, hence the suspicion of air intake to the heater .I'm going to try a detergent wash on the affected side and see if that reduces it . The smell does seem to come from outside when the car is parked outside.So possibly it's from the road ,as there is signs of diesel on the road outside .

Do the 1.4s have a charcoal canister in the wing area somewhere? Could possibly be damaged or a vent pipe has come adrift?