oops!... punctured fuel tank vent and vapor lines....

[sccolbert]

It's unfortunate that my first post to this board is one forged out of my stupidity and impatience...

that said, I have read (lurked) much on this board and have found it a great resource and I am glad to finally become active in it.

Now for the stupid part:

93 ATX with a no-go fuel pump. I decided to take the access door approach rather than fight all day dropping the tank. In the process of cutting the hole with tin snips, I nicked the fuel tank vapor and vent lines. I didnt cut all the way through them, just puncture a small hole. The fuel supply and full return lines are still perfect and untouched. Is there any way for me to simply patch these two lines with some form of tape or another? One of the lines terminates in the wire looming just after the fuel filter (i am assuming this is the vent line). Where does the vapor line terminate? and for that matter, what is its function?

Thank you all in advance for any help or answers!

 

[HotRodKid]

if they arent nicked to bad, top off the holes with some fuel proof epoxy. lay it on for a decent length of the tubing so that it doesnt flake off, and youll be good to go again

 

[dpsutphin]

You can also put a small piece of rubber hose over the line and clamp it down. Just don't get it too tight or you might crush the line. I did the same thing with mine, and this fix worked fine.

 

[hawkeye18]

JB Weld also works great for this. When finished, the JB weld will be stronger than the line! The vapor line comes off the fuel rail on the engine. Liquid fuel will also go through that line when, for example, you let off a full throttle event. It's just the return line for the fuel system (it's a looped system)

FWIW, a dremel with a cut-off wheel is, IMHO, the best tool for this. The cut-off wheel can't go deep enough to puncture or cut anything, and it gives you the cleanest, smoothest line. You know, for future reference lol.

Welcome to the (active member roster of the) forum! I hope all the rest of your adventures go smoother than this one did... but they probably won't. Murphy is one of the top posters here...

 

[ilikepoultry]

if they arent nicked to bad, top off the holes with some fuel proof epoxy. lay it on for a decent length of the tubing so that it doesnt flake off, and youll be good to go again

epoxy is NOT a good idea
if ANY of that falls into the tank, you're effed, my friend
that won't be good in that new fuel pump... not good at all
and say it doesn't harden in the pump... it'll get further and closer to the engine, possible drying in an injector... i would have done the "throught eh bottom of the back seat" approach

 

[HotRodKid]

epoxy is NOT a good idea
if ANY of that falls into the tank, you're effed, my friend
that won't be good in that new fuel pump... not good at all
and say it doesn't harden in the pump... it'll get further and closer to the engine, possible drying in an injector... i would have done the "throught eh bottom of the back seat" approach

1) epoxy is a great idea (so is rubber hose, but that may or may not be more work depending on whats available in teh garage)

2) it cant "fall" into the tank becuase:
a: were talking about small holes, and epoxy doesnt drip easily
b: the small holes are 6 inches or more away from the tank
c: to access the tank, the epoxy would have to fall UPHILL and around a corner

3) if the epoxy made it into the tank, it would get stuck in the fuel filter before it made it thru the pump

4) you realize he DID do the "thru the back seat" approach, right? hence him managing to nick the lines with a pair of tin snips

have a nice day

 

[sccolbert]

thanks for all the replies guys.

The holes were a little bit too big for epoxy, and since they all just vent to the atmosphere at one point or another, I just taped them and called it a day...

The bummer of this whole ordeal is that it turns out my fuel pump wasnt bad at all (i was getting 10 volts to the pump so I just assumed it was bad). A few blows with a hammer to my CCRM later and everything works fine. At least I wont have to worry about the pump for the rest of this cars life.

Ah well, live and learn.

 

[hawkeye18]

At least I wont have to worry about the pump for the rest of this cars life.

You, sir, are WRONG WRONG WRONG! Fuel pumps are really flaky on this car for some reason. I replaced a fuel pump at 102,*** miles. I replaced it again at 109,*** miles, then again at 116,*** miles. I'm at 140,*** miles now and so far so good. I am very glad I decided to go the thru-the-seat route the first time, as fuel pump changes are not quite thirty minutes, tools out to tools up now.

What kind of tape did you use? I hope you at least used duct tape! Gorilla tape, or that über sealing tape - whatever that stuff is - would be best.

 

[sccolbert]

You, sir, are WRONG WRONG WRONG! Fuel pumps are really flaky on this car for some reason. I replaced a fuel pump at 102,*** miles. I replaced it again at 109,*** miles, then again at 116,*** miles. I'm at 140,*** miles now and so far so good. I am very glad I decided to go the thru-the-seat route the first time, as fuel pump changes are not quite thirty minutes, tools out to tools up now.

What kind of tape did you use? I hope you at least used duct tape! Gorilla tape, or that über sealing tape - whatever that stuff is - would be best.

what kind of fuel pumps are you putting in there?

 

[hawkeye18]

Walbro 155lbh. I just got a few bad ones... the one I got in there now is kickin' strong, though!