Garage smells like gas when car has full tank

[jsfinn]

Re: Garage smells like gas when car has full tank

Philthyphil - Thanks.

I did some googling last night on the price of a new tank. They all seemed to be around $1200, so with his markup, I can understand it being $1500. He did find a used tank from a junk yard today for $400 or $500 which he'll have tomorrow.

I talked to the shop owner yesterday about using JB Weld and he said he'd do it but couldn't guarantee anything and I don't blame him. I might not be explaining the crack well, and I wish I had a picture to show you but if he used JB Weld, it seems like either the sensor would get welded to the tank too (so it could never be replaced if it did go bad), or the sensor wouldn't seal right after the tank was welded, or the tank would keep cracking lower down on the tank under the weld.

If I get a chance to see the old tank again, I'll get a picture.. the crack is really in a bad place.

 

[Tyme2fish]

Re: Garage smells like gas when car has full tank

It sounds like your mechanic is doing you right.
Just "git er done" correctly so's you can light up a big stinky cigar in the garage and not blow yourself up!!

With the price of gas now, you'll save enough to pay for the repair in 2 days!!

 

[thefairlaneman]

Re: Garage smells like gas when car has full tank

Its sucks to have to pay 1/2 of what a car is worth fixed just to get it fixed.The OBD11 system is a gravy train for mechanics. 500 bucks for a used tank is most likey more than the junkyard has in the entire car. The rest is 100% profit. In this case I would go ahead and have the OBD11 system checked as part of the repair. If the CEL comes on after you pay for the tank and before the inspection is due you will be screwed.

 

[jsfinn]

Re: Garage smells like gas when car has full tank

Tyme2fish - I agree. I think this guy is treating me right. I've been to him for small things like inspections - this is the first time I've been to him for something major. He's a newer shop and close by so I really want him to work out for us.

thefairlaneman - I think you're right, too. He's planning on taking the fuel pump out of the bad tank and putting it in to the junkyard tank because we know the old pump works and we don't know anything about the junkyard fuel pump. He's going to inspect the sensor from the old tank and decide if it should be replaced with a brand new one or not (the sensor is $200 - but he's got it now so it may be worth it to just replace it while it's all taken apart now anyways). Either way, I'll have extra parts when this is done.

My wife is getting antsy to get her car back and I bet the shop owner would like his lift back!

 

[Philthyphil]

Re: Garage smells like gas when car has full tank

Our books and our jobbers books only show aftermarket tanks for 95-97 galants, sorry. did find one on evil bay for 127 dollars but it's in CA. Still 500 is I think over the top. The wreaking yard prob has 200 in the whole car and being in the back where cars don't usually get hit hard I bet there are lots of them around. If it was mine I'd fix it, but I'm a retired mechanic with access to a great full service shop lots of connections in the trade and time to do it. You prob have to get to work and don't have the equipment to do it. So ya gotta do what ya gotta do, still suprised it did'nt throw a code. My friend who has the shop had to get a tank for a Supra once from Japan, could not find one in north america, it was over 900 his price. Ya know I'm glad I retired, its a hard compicated job now. Sorry could not help more. Wonder why it cracked, where you are rust should not be a prob, we here in Ontario get lots of rusty tanks, lines ,etc.

 

[jsfinn]

Re: Garage smells like gas when car has full tank

Philthyphil, you helped me a ton! Thank you!

We get some rust here but not like other places. We get 5 or 6 snow/ice storms each winter and we tend to put down 300 times more salt on the road than we probably need.

I saw a few on ebay but they were for the wrong car - maybe there is a newer one... but I don't want to wait for it anymore. My wife wants her car back BAD!

I also looked on Criagslist. There is a similar car not too far away that someone is selling for parts for $700. Back when the tank looked like it was going to cost $1,500 that was a possibility but I don't know what I would do with the rest of the car...

The tank is plastic, so no rust there. The lines coming out of the tank look like they are either powder coated (no rust), rubber (no rust) or aluminum (?)which have a little corrosion on them but nothing terrible and I think they are all replaceable with the tank attached to the car.

You're right though. I try to do as much work as I can myself, but I'm not a mechanic and sometimes you just have to give in and pay. This time the shop is getting my money - I don't feel cheated though, so I'm happy about that.

 

[Philthyphil]

Re: Garage smells like gas when car has full tank

Thats why no aftermarket tanks, it's plastic, did not know that my mistake. Metal rusts and plastic gets old and brittle. No perfect solution. Still like you say gotta get on the road again.....cheers

 

[jsfinn]

Re: Garage smells like gas when car has full tank

$1037.49 and we're back on the road again.

New (used) tank, New Vapor Sensor, 6 gallons of gas, and Labor and it's done.

I'll probably try to wash under the car pretty well this weekend. I think the gas smell is gone and it's just my imagination, but I want to make sure to spray down anything that had gas on it just to make sure.

Thanks to everyone for their words of wisdom and knowledge!