forg0tmypen

I always fill the car half way then it'll go to empty then ill fill half way again. Today I decided to start a new system of filling up each time, then running it to the warning light. Well when I got home I noticed a large gas puddle under the car and a strong gas smell. It is leaking pretty heavily from under the passenger side. Dripping from where I presume the gas tank is! Any ideas?!

I've read an amp mounted behind the passenger seat can puncture the tank? I just mounted an amp a few months ago. But today was the first time I've filled up completely. Thanks.

sevinn

Seems like you might have punctured the passenger side tank. There is nothing protecting it other than the metal plates on the bottom, however I'd like to think if this were the case you'd be seeing a cel for an evap code.

ChevyDave

probably the answer.

i also read someone with the same sorta problem, actually gas on the garage floor, seems on passenger side. it was a she.. she had dealership work on it, her husband worked there (if i remember right).
they figured it out and it was not caused by a puncture like you might have done. unfortunantly i dont remember the outcome and i did a quick search and i didnt find it.

maybe someone will remember who it was and the outcome. it happened in the last year.

Travelor

Could a drill bit have punctured the fuel tank when mounting the amp?

we zoom

I had a gas leak on my 2004 C5. The dealer replaced it under warnaty. The plastic gas tank had cracked in a seam.

DSOMC6

Wow that sux. It sounds like you may be in for a rt side tank replacement.

Most that mount an amp behind the seat use a piece of plywood and construction adhesive and screw into the plywood.. Never drill or screws into the panel as the gas tank sits just behind it. Good luck.

talon90

In this photo the gas tank on the driver's side can be seen in the cutout behind what would be the rear wall behind the driver's seat. It is labelled as 25. The passenger's side tank is in the same location on the other side. It is less than an inch from the back of that wall to the side of the gas tank. Do you think you drilled in to it?

1FUNC5

this is why you are supposed to glue a board behind the carpet and then screw amp into the board....

forg0tmypen

Well fellas, it seems as though I did drill into the tank when mounting the amp. The rear carpet behind the passenger seat and the floor carpet were soaked in gasoline. Both pieces of carpet came out today, the amp and seat came out as well. I cleaned everything as best as I could. I then blew some air into the holes and sure enough, air came out of the other hole. I drilled 4 holes, and only the top 2 punctured into the tank...got lucky. I only lost a 1/4 tank...would explain why I needed to really top off the car to see it leak.

Here are some pics:




The plan now is to repair the tank. I took the car to a local high end performance car shop that works on Corvettes and they said if I can open up the backing to reveal the holes, they have a special process to repair the tank. A plastic welder. I also plan to buy all new carpet and have everything vented really nice to get rid of the fumes. Car reeks of gas inside the cabin.

Last thing, Ive had a recurrent CEL on for the past few months (evap leak)...ever since I mounted the amp...must have been a clue.

Powertech

Louis, I have a perfect set of C6 fuel tanks in stock. Not to say platic welding won't work but to go through the hassel of dropping the tank out of the car, well no need to do things twice. Shoot me a PM.

Joe

glenB

Don't know how you plan to 'open up the backing', I'm guessing you could use a hole saw to gain access and then plastic weld the tank..... it seems like a good plan A....... a half *** plan considering the possibility of dissimilar plastics and the expansion and contraction properties of the tank, but it could work, and if not, plan B


I agree with Joe, do the job right the first time and the only time.

BTW, you're not doing your fuel pump any favors by running the fuel so low. The surrounding fuel acts as a coolant for the pumps.

MikeyTX

This .................

Random84

sucks to see that- but hopefully others can learn from this costly mistake.

Just be glad you don't smoke.

Powertech

Using a hole saw to cut the sheet metal out behind the seat in a Z06? You certainly can't weld that shut so close to the tank. Was this your idea or the shop the car is at? You and I both know where "corner cutting" got you the last time.

MikeyTX

Only in his case, he was corner screwing ...................... Had to say it.

Wayne O

I'm sorry for the damage but consider yourself lucky....leaking fuel could have created a total disaster (to both the car and your home). Others will learn from your post which is good. I hope the repair goes well.

forg0tmypen

Hey Joe, my car isn't at a shop currently, it's with me still. I drove it to a shop, but they only looked it over and sent me home until next week. I have a ton of things I need to ask/talk to you about. I've been trying to get in touch with you for the past 3 weeks. Id like to talk to you about the spare gas tank, but I can't send or receive PMs on the forum anymore...has to do with the previous situation. If I could have you call me on Monday that would be great. Have a great weekend.

Joe doesn't mean what you think he means... And thats not very nice...This has been a stressful event for me, seeing my car just flooding gas like that isn't exactly part of the Corvette ownership experience.

torquetube

The steel stamping behind the seatback is not a removable "backing," it's part of the frame itself, welded and seam-sealed in place. Tearing it up to simply to avoid dropping the tank is a non-option.

You _have_ to drop the tank. It's not that hard.

With the tank out, you can install nutserts or similar fasteners into the holes you drilled for the amplifier.

Also, reconsider your fueling regimen. If you never fill above 1/2 tank, the right tank is always empty. An always-empty tank appears to promote oxidation of the contacts on that tank's fuel level sender, which results in the dreaded "service fuel system" warning on the DIC.

cclive

I agree about the fueling regimen...if anything, I would just reverse the process. Fill it full and then re-fuel when it gets to half...if you want to just put in half a tank at a time. I have done things like this that I regret...best wishes to you.

speedraider

Louis, I just bought an Ozone generator and if you are ever over this way (Orlando), it will remove all odors from the car. I just used it on my grand cherokee and it amazing, how good it worked.