JMG2

Took the car out (2000) and got a "resrve fuel" warning light.. which is really weird, since I never let it go under 1/4 tank, almost never under 1/2. Go to gas station, no gas smell (and saw no noticable stain on the garage floor), filling up, I noticed a fairly large spill from under the car. Get down on the ground, and sure enough there's a drip. Close enough to the exhaust that I called a flatbed.
Car's in the garage, and a drip maybe ever minute.

Likely cause? cross over pump? Drip seems to be comming from around center of car, maybe slightly closer to rear/driver side.

Vader_C5

Might also be the filler neck, that was the cause for the fuel smell on my dad's '03.

jcgunn

Possibly the crossover tube. Search the forum for this problem.

JMG2

that was my initial thought, but even hours later it's still dripping.

JamesLeighOfficial

Mine has a fuel leak as well. Leaks when it’s transferring fuel from passenger side to drivers side. It leaks on the drivers side into the fuel tank skid plate then drips out of the rocker panel. I’ve got it in the air now about to start tearing into it but I suspect the crossover tube. My car had been sitting for 16 years, so I’m guessing that one of my lines is rotted/cracked. Like so many of the other parts I’ve replaced lol

Vetteman Jack

Moved to C5 Tech for continued discussion.

JMG2

Thanks @Vetteman Jack

To others that have done this -- how difficult is it to get to the crossover?
I don't have time to do this myself. I'm debating whether to have the local texaco do it (I've devleoped a relationship with them, and they have a decent knowledge of 'vettes) OR, I could ship it back to the shop in NY that did all the engine work (super/cam/etc) for me -- it's withing flatbed distance, so not a huge deal.. I'm leaning towards sending it to the NY shop, especially if this is a multi day thing, since I know he'll keep the car inside,and I know he knows c5's inside and out. And if this is the crossover, definitly a c5 - specific thing.

leadfoot4

First thing, as well as easiest and cheapest thing to do, is replace the fuel filter. A number of years ago, I changed the fuel filter on my C-5, and a short time later, I smelled gas, but only when the car was running. Turned out the "O-ring" on the new filter wasn't sealing properly, and fuel was dripping. As you've already noticed, the fuel lines run right over the exhaust, so in my case, the small droplets were hitting the hot exhaust, and evaporating almost immediately, therefore it wasn't easy to see the problem. And with the engine off, therefore the fuel pump off, no fuel was being pumped, so no leakage. Another new filter fixed the problem.....

JMG2

thanks, I'll check that

rrwirsi

Until you fix the leak, I urge you to park the car out of the garage. Years ago a neighbor had work done on their gas tank and put the car in the garage. The next morning when he got up he hit the open door switch and then BOOM; 1/4 of the house was gone. He survived but barely.

JMG2

Thanks, I'm very wary of it -- keeping a close eye one it. Not a hint of gas smell, and I have speedy dry under the car and monitoring for all leaks. Seems when the car is off, no leak at all.

Stealthy4

ALmost gaurenteed to be the fuel filter on the driver side frame rail. It drips on to the exhaust tube. As previously mentioned, the orings are easily damaged and also damaged by ethanol.

My 97 used to go through a filter every 30-40K miles. If I recall, a Buick Rendevous filter from like 2003 is what ended up solving the problem.

JMG2

this an easy fix? as in, I know that replacing the filter is easy, but is getting to it a nightmare?

Stealthy4

Couple of things:I understand the filter is slightly different for the 99-newer model. But I think it’s in the same area as the 97-98 models. On my 97 it was easy to access. Required a special tool to remove the connector. Pliers could work too. Anyway, it was a bit of a pita due to the quick connectors. But other than that I did it in my driveway on ramps.

leadfoot4

On a lift, it would be a 5 minute job, but when I did it, I backed the rear of the car on to a pair of ramps, then wiggled my azz under the car, with tools nearby. It was awkward, but I got it done.....twice. Once to install what turned out to be the defective filter, and once again, to replace it, with what has turned out to be a good one.

JMG2

ok, I have a lift, I may just pop put it up and see if I can get to it.

JMG2

Ok-- shot in the dark, you have the part nubmer for the filter? I may try this on saturday.

JMG2

Bumping this up for another follow-up --
I bought the fuel filter, but it doesn't come with o rings... anythoughts on what size / lkind of orings to get? I want to throw this on the lift once and be done with it.

JMG2

so I got the car up on the lift, ran it for a few mintues, and not a drip. Now that I look at it, looks like the fuel filter is brand new (which would make sense, I think we changed it when we put the super in), and the cross over tube is bone dry.

What could possibly have caused this? maybe overfill when I put the fuel in, that somehow I missed?

leadfoot4

It happened to me, right after replacing the fuel filter. It appears that "sometimes", they just don't "seat" correctly....or maybe, the filter's internal pressure regulator mechanism is messed up.