Just ordered a pump ..all the posts say take the tank out but if I read it right the pump goes in through the top of the tank . There is a hole in the parcel shelf where a speaker goes right over the location. Am I being stupid and thinking I can remove trim and do it from above without taking out the tank?

 

From what I have read on here that is the best way to change the pump on a coupe, but I don’t think it applies to verts. The cover just lifts off gently because off the heat through the glass it gets brittle, you will also notice the true colour of the fabric of the parcel shelf where the rest has faded with the sun.

 

Thanks for that I could not see why not.

 

I have replaced the fuel pump on a 1997 Coupe through the speaker opening.

I can't recall all of the details. It's not the most pleasant project as you need to pretzel yourself a bit, but it's do-able.

Needless to say (but I'll say it anyway), drain out every ounce of gas possible before you start. Make sure you are in a well ventilated area as there will likely still be fumes present.

It would be an excellent idea to let all the remaining fuel evaporate outside before even beginning the project. (Even though my tank was dry, I could smell fumes and regret that I didn't let the car sit for several days to let them evaporate.)

If you know what to expect with this project, you can save a lot of hassle:

That is, the fuel pump sits on a little pylon. Please look at a diagram first, because my memory of the project is erased a bit by the intervening couple of years, and the gas fumes that were present.
But if I recall correctly, I removed the fuel line(s) and pop off the electrical connection first. I don't remember if there was a pickup hose in addition to the fuel line to the engine, but suspect there is one.

The trick, I recall, is that you can blindly pull the pump off the pylon and replace it that way. You might even be able to remove the ancillary lines after pulling the pump off the pylon, which would make the job easier. I honestly don't recall if that's possible and I probably didn't do it because I didn't know any better. But it would make the job easier than blindly disconnecting things at the bottom of the tank. I do recall that I re-hooked up some things either outside the tank or closer to the opening.

Reconnect everything and after doing so, use a mirror or someone with a tiny head to make sure the pump and the ancillary connections are secure. A mirror or snake camera is preferable, unless it is your own head that is tiny. It is probably best that you do not use your children or spouse's head for this project as there is some danger from fumes involved. They will also have nightmares that should be reserved for yourself.

If you have a tiny head - and I'm not implying that you do - but if you do, then you are a couple steps a "head" of the game.

If I had to do it again, I would see if the rear backlight (glass) could be removed. That would make the job a snap and much safer too.

Good luck and be safe.

 

I am still laughing at the tiny head !! I had not considered the fumes to be such a big problem ...fan I think in the car . On consideration, I may look into taking the tank out . I had though only a few min to get it out once the top plat is off as I understand its only one bolt holdfing it .

Many many thanks ..lets hope I am not a big head !!!

 

Taking the tank out takes several hours to get to it , and is described on the forum as being an ordeal (I haven’t done it myself). Hence the work-a-rounds .


Z

 

Thanks will go in from above !!!!! and let you know !!