HELP! I just got home a short while ago having just filled up my fuel tank at the gas station 1 mile from my house. I thought I smelled fuel on the drive home, but I have a bad head cold and runny nose right now and was unsure. Now, still smelling fuel wafting from the garage into the house, I checked under the car. There is spilled fuel EVERYWHERE. It is leaking at a good rate and seems to be coming from multiple locations, funneling itself across suspension components, skid plates, etc. There's probably half a gallon of fuel already spilled. I've opened the garage for ventilation. I have an electric water heater in the garage, so there shouldn't be any pilot light to worry about. It is 6:15PM now and all the Nissan service departments are closed. Just yesterday my Service Engine Soon light came on and I took the car to a local service department. I told them that I thought I smelled fuel earlier and asked where the gas tank was. The day before, I discovered that there was an aftermarket amp installed in the vacant compartment behind the driver's seat where the factory subwoofer would go in the Touring model. The amp is screwed through some sound deadening and directly to the metal below with 1" drywall screws. I bought the car this way from a dealer last month. The Service Advisor told me there was nothing to worry about and if the fuel lines/tank had been punctured, the reading would have been more severe. They told me the CEL was caused by some computer setting that was too sensitive and that it would require a 1-1.5 hour appointment in their shop to update the computer. I made the appointment for this Friday morning so that they could address some other minor TSBs like fraying seat bolsters, grease streaks on the windows, etc. They sent me on my way. WHAT IS HAPPENING? WHAT SHOULD I DO? Should I ciphon the fuel out of the tank (all 20gallons of it)? Should I take the car out of the garage? Is it even safe to START the car right now? Where IS the fuel tank? I'm very worried now and completely unsure what to do. Please help.

 

Where'd you bottom the car out?

 

Funny. There was no "event" prior to the onset of this disaster. The only things I would even think to point out are the fuel smell yesterday and the discovery of the amp screwed to the sheetmetal in the factory sub compartment. A little compassion and a bit of help are needed here, with a focus on the HELP part. How would you feel? Geez.

 

The gas tank is directly under the drivers side sub compartment. Sounds like you drilled into it. Good luck with the repair, it won't be cheap or easy.

 

Again, I didn't drill into anything. There was an aftermarket amp installed there when I bought the car last month. I didn't know it was there when I bought it. Thanks for the information. It sounds like I need to have a conversation with the Nissan dealer I bought the car from tomorrow. What should I do in the mean time? Put the screw back in place?

 

man that sucks.. sorry to hear that. I have no clue what to do though.. you might try calling the people that checked your car. Or call the dealer and maybe convince them to get a tow truck and do something.

 

Well, if nothing else, I would HIGHLY recommend removing that amp before taking it to the dealer. If your dealer sucks like mine, they will blame the gas tank failure on the amp simply because it is aftermarket and in the same area as the gas tank.

Put the car back completely stock if possible; the dealer will blame everything they can on you... except for Performance Nissan, those guys seem to love warranty work. I wish I lived near Duarte.

 

Asked & answered your own question. Sorry, good luck.

 

I appreciate your advice, however this doesn't sound to me like the right thing to do. I purchased the vehicle in this condition. If I remove it and don't mention it, they're bound to find the holes in the gas tank and match them up to the holes in the compartment. Wouldn't you agree that I am only jeopardizing my credibility by changing ANYTHING from the way I bought it from them? Of course I'm nervous about this (who trusts car dealerships or mechanics as a rule of thumb?) but I feel like I have to be completely forthright and just put up one hell of a fight if they try to weasel out of their responsibility to do the right thing.

 

Are you trying to say that when the dealer sold you the car, an aftermarket amp was already installed?

 

Yes, exactly.

 

Yes, that is what he has been saying all along.

 

I've heard of people running a screw into a gas tank like your previous owner did.

Put the screw back in with some sealant only around the head (don't put it on the threads!)

Not a permanent fix, but it'll get you around until you can fix it.

 

OK, I just wasn't sure. I thought that is what he was saying, but when does a dealer EVER install aftermarket audio equipment? I've never heard of it before... Regardless of if it came with the car or not, I would be willing to bet that the sharp ends of the screws right next to the gas tank are the problem. Best of luck.

 

There is most likely a hole at the top of the tank from the screw. it will eventually stop running out, i would move the car outside and let the fuel run out. wash the garage floor and relax man, no worries about the house blowing up or the car.

 

I would get the gas cleaned up right away - perhaps use some cat litter to absorb the gas. If the screw went in from the top it probably only significantly leaks when full. I don't think you need to ciphon out the gas.

Probably best to keep it outside and well ventilated. If the gas is visibly leaking I would consider getting it towed rather than driving it.

Sorry to hear of your troubles.


/Jerry

 

The leak has slowed to a drip......drip.......drip now. I have sopped up what I can with paper towels and placed a metal pan under the drip area to catch the liquid. My understanding is that fuel is much more dangerous in vapor form than in liquid form so containing it should be good. I will probably back the car out of the garage for the night for best ventilation. I know my local Nissan dealer's service department closes at 6PM, so I figured they all did. Still, I called the dealership where I purchased the car last month and asked to speak with a manager. I got the Sales Manager, whom I believe is the same one from when I bought the car. I relayed the information to him and asked what he thought I should do. He told me he wouldn't drive the car and said I need to speak with the Service Department. Much to my surprise they were still open for another 10 minutes. After 10 minutes on hold, I spoke to someone in service. He said that they would have the car towed to the dealership. I reminded him that I live about 120 miles from them and he seemed to still believe that was the right thing to do. He told me they would have to see it to know for sure what had happened. He told me I would have to speak with the used car manager tomorrow at 7am. I asked him, "so you guys are going to take car this for me, right?". He responded that of course they would fix this since I bought the car from them. I am very nervous about tomorrow, but hopefully "Bob" is a good guy and takes care of me. [fingers crossed] [/fingers crossed]

 

of course they will fix it...for $$$. Thats their business - auto repair.

 

If it was sold to him (used) in this condition, they should fix it at no cost.

Maybe the guy who installed the system knew what he did and traded in the car to this dealer and never told them about it. The tank was never completely filled and it was never noticed? Just a theory.

 

You shouldn't have any problems, just be serious about them taking care of this problem, even if you have to press charges, bc if you bought it in that condition, no worries man. The problem is there's, selling a dangerous (leaking fuel) vehicle will be a problem for them in any court room. Especially, if you bought it in good faith.