Merry Christmas!

Well not so much for me!

My TF is leaking fuel. It smells pretty bad (fuel vapours, not rotten eggs which i heard is even worse) and i had a look under it this arvo and there is a very slow leak coming almost from the dead centre of the car. Would anyone know where exactly that would be leaking from? Could it be a line or the actual tank? I don't know much about cars so sorry about the daft question but a bit of infor would be great before i take it to a mechanic!

Any reconmendations for a mechanic would be good too, i'm in perth, WA.

Thank you!

Your fuel tank is at the rear of the car, the middle should be just the fuel line but make sure the leak is from there and not just the fuel following the line and accumulating at that point.

Sounds like your fuel like, as above, your tank is in the rear. Where abouts are you located in WA and I will be able to point you in the right direction to get this fixed. If you get a chance, put your car on some stands and have a look at the fuel leak, it might be a loose conncection of some form or a hairline split in your line. Send me a PM of where you are and I shall see what I can do!

Is she safe to drive?

Maate,
I'd think not as any petol vapours will ignite once an ignition source is found ie: spark from the vehicles electrical system be it plug leads, distributor cap, alternator brushes or discarded cigarettes, cigarettes being lit, gas heater pilot light etc.

Well against all advice i took her for a drive, it leaks much worse when the car is up to operating temperature. I have noticed in 3 days i have lost about 1/4 a tank of fuel. I had another look underneath and it seems to be coming from the bottom of the tank, in 2 spots. One almost centre and another closer to the exhaust side. I'm having a friend look at it tomorrow.

If you have access to the leaks and just want to make sure you can get it to mate house or whatever you could always try rubbing a bar of soap over the spot. Old trick my grand father did and got him home etc. Apparently fuel doesnt desolve soap but havent tried this just an idea or there is good old knead it.. Good for sealing most leaks.. ;)

The tank really needs to be drained then removed from the car, and repaired by an expert. Don't drive it! To stop it from leaking (while parked) you could use the soap trick and back off the petrol cap so no pressure builds up in the tank. You are going to stop driving it, aren't you?

I took the car to Ultratune this morning and found i have TWO cracks in the fuel tank. (grr) And because my alternator was on the way out too i decided to get that replaced too. All up inc labour it's going to cost me $1143.50, Second hand fuel tank, second hand alternator, labour and hire car. Does it sound like that's too expensive? The original quote was for 1496.00 with a new alternator but I'm not in a finacial position to afford one. The alternator is from a TJ sedan with 40000 on the clock. (I got it from the wreckers my self.)

How much are they quoting for a 2nd hand alternator? A new one is between $250 and $300 last time I checked.

Edit: Thats fitted by the way.

How much are they quoting for a 2nd hand alternator? A new one is between $250 and $300 last time I checked.

Edit: Thats fitted by the way.

you mean a reco one is about that much?.... i had mine removed, reco'd and refit buy mitsu for $320

one with 40K would be fine you should see 100K from one though before a reg usually shits itself lol

;1181142']one with 40K would be fine you should see 100K from one though before a reg usually shits itself lol

i 2nd that! mine lasted approx. 108000km

you mean a reco one is about that much?.... i had mine removed, reco'd and refit buy mitsu for $320
No I mean a brand new one fitted from all new parts. Mitsubishi would be one of the most expensive places you could take your car for something like that.

No I mean a brand new one fitted from all new parts. Mitsubishi would be one of the most expensive places you could take your car for something like that.

covered under warranty :D

3 years/75000km warranty when i purchased it

No I mean a brand new one fitted from all new parts. Mitsubishi is the most expensive places you could take your car for something like that.

Fixed

covered under warranty :D
Then why would you say $320?...if it was under warranty then it didn't cost you anything except the time taken to take the car there.

Then why would you say $320?...if it was under warranty then it didn't cost you anything except the time taken to take the car there.

Its written on the receipt numbnuts

;1181181']Its written on the receipt numbnuts
On the warranty invoicing? You sure, none of my warranty invoicing has a price on it, because it was covered by warranty.

On the warranty invoicing? You sure, none of my warranty invoicing has a price on it, because it was covered by warranty.

Maybe your mits dealer does it another way, what you think Boozer just picked a random number out of his head? to confuse everyone on AMC who goes to mits to get an alternator?:nuts:

they guy tried charging me 595 for a fully installed alternator i told them no. i got one from the wreckers for 150.

they guy tried charging me 595 for a fully installed alternator i told them no. i got one from the wreckers for 150.

was told a genuine brand new mitsu one was in that price range. so no surprises there, either way you got out the cheaper way, just hope it hang on for a while.

Settle children

The price the OP got stung for is crazy and insane. Remember he supplied the alt as well. Third Gen alts will generally last 200 + k's, have seen them over 400K's still good, have seen a rare few under 200k die but not often

Fuel tank the max you should pay would be around the 150 mark, drain, remove, refit and refill 3 hours MAX if you have never done one, even at $130 an hour that is still only $390.

Alt fitting, yo have the 3.0 so is easier to fit, 40 mins Max if you are a noob so perhaps 130 there if you want to charge per hour or part there of
So
Labour $520
Parts $130
Total $650

A far cry from the price you paid, you could near have sent the car here with e-go and sent it back for that price lol

Original Quote:
Second hand fuel tank 363
Labour 402.50
Materials 18 Each
Loan car 58
Alternator 595
1466.50 INC GST.

New Quote is now
871.50
+ 115 Labour charge to fit alternator
986.

And the 150 for the alternator.

So basically I've been had yes?

I have a TE for wreck, you could have had the tank for $100, come and grab it

mine was
Labour - 87.00
Regulator - 76.25
Overhaul Alternator - 127.05
GST - 29.04

i wouldn't say you've been had... just learnt an expensive lesson, alot of places will source a part than add a margin on it as well. In future if you occour any issues, post it on the forums, and if lucky enough to be in VIC, there is always the assistance of Madmagna

Maybe i should move there haha! I'm in WA. I'll learn next time! I got had by the dealer i brough her from and tried to be taken advantage of via the mechanic! But somehow i still love my car :D It's a good one!

Thanks for every ones help! At least it'll be all fixed tomorrow.