Hi all

I've stumbled across a new problem, I've got a fuel leak coming from the rear of the left tank... My biggest fear is a leak from the actual tank... But this particular one is pretty slow. It seems to be coming from the pipe in the boot that comes from the left tank. The metal tube that comes into the boot doesn't seem to be connected directly to the tank as it flexes, feels like there's a rubber pipe between it and the tank, which is where the leak is.

Now, how do I access this pipe and remove / fix it? What panels need to come off? I can see part of it from under the car, just behind the rear left muffler.

Many thanks for any help, I really appreciate it.

 

Pics of the leak and the location. Underneath it looks like the body took a knock of sorts in the area of the leak. Any ideas are welcome.

 

My memory is a bit foggy on this but I think if you remove the rear muffler and the heat shield, all will be revealed.

I'll take a peek at my own Series III tomorrow to...hopefully...refresh my memory

Others will chime in sooner, I reckon

Cheers
DD

 

Many thanks Doug, I'll have a look at that tomorrow and see what I find. Thanks again, you're a great help.

Cheers!

 

As usual Doug is correct. With the rear muffler removed, you can pry out a small 3 sided heat shield piece to see lines running towards the tank.

If you are going to change it, you will also need to remove the tank cover (to gain access to the hoseclip on the tank.)

You are right in assuming there is another flexi hose in there. Its a crazy set up. It goes tank--> flexi --> steel line --> flexi --> switchover valve. 4 connections in less than 2 feet.

On our XJ12C we are right in the middle of replacing everything from the tank to the engine with stainless steel braided hose. Absolute minimum joins.

My car was weeping from the exact same piece, but mine was due to corrosion.

 

Many thanks Sarc, I've had a look at mine, the cause also happens to be corrosion, the slight body damage doesn't look new at all, strange how only the one side rusted that badly, I noticed it when I got the car, the other side is just fine.

Thanks again

 

Yes indeed strange. Our car was exactly the same. Left side weeping, right side fine.

Anyway, if you are going to do one side, may as well do the other side while you're at it. Thise pipes are clearly the weak link in the system. The next weakest are the metal ones that go out of the trunk floor, one either side for feed and return (although the return line may be specific to my S2 XJ12C)

Have a quick look under with the rear wheel off..... You can see the metal pipe underneath. Ours were pretty corroded as they are fully exposed to the elements at that point.

 

[QUOTE=Sarc;1450901]...Anyway, if you are going to do one side, may as well do the other side while you're at it...QUOTE]

Ah, Yeezzz, the old While Yer At It.......

It's true that you Need to do this NOW and not ignore it because you're already there, but "While I'm At it" is Exactly why my car was down for the better part of a Year instead of only a couple months (she's Awesome now)!

"While Your At It" is Project Creep in Spades! But it has to be done so there you are! Just be aware what you're in for so there aren't so many Nasty surprises.
(';')

 

Thanks for the heads-up Sarc, the return lines on mine are just fine, no rust, still covered in that black spray-on sealant stuff.

 

Alright, glitch #1, I've taken off the bolts on the bottom of the tank cover, removed the bumper (at the expense of 6 rivets) and removed the nuts and bolts hidden by the side bumper... But the tank cover wont budge, any idea what I'm missing?

 

Check on the inside of the rear tire well.. plus the one on the exhaust tunnel side.


Took this photo of a spare panel I am getting ready to throw out... the dirt inside the wheel well hides some bolts...