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Lucky Escape - Fuel Leak


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#1 Wolfstone

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Posted 18 July 2010 - 03:43 PM

Strong smell of petrol in the cabin. Initially put it down to the chavved up MR2 in front. When he turned off a couple of miles down the road the smell was still there. Pulled over, opened the engine lid and fuel was spraying out from the fuel line at the connector close to the coolant tank. Seems that the cable tie that holds the fuel line straight (and secure) against the coolant bracket had worked loose and the subsequent vibration / movement had pulled the fueline out from its connector. Here's a (poor quality) pic to help explain.

You might all want to check your cable ties as they wear at the point where they push through the hole in the coolant tank bracket.

I just feel so fortunate that the fuel didn't ignite.

Posted Image

#2 Whiteboy

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Posted 18 July 2010 - 06:03 PM

Thanks for the tip, i will go and check mine. chinky chinky Steve

#3 rob999

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Posted 18 July 2010 - 08:38 PM

Glad you spotted it Ken and that everythings okay... :)

#4 Nelly Vx

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Posted 18 July 2010 - 08:41 PM

Not even worth contemplating what could have happened good job you checked it out chinky chinky

#5 Zoobeef

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Posted 18 July 2010 - 08:42 PM

Couple of weeks ago one of the americans here set a jeep on fire from some fuel leaked in the engine bay. You nose needs a reward thumbsup (no i dont condone cocain)

#6 Wolfstone

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Posted 18 July 2010 - 09:01 PM

I hope others go and check their connections. How the hell it didn't ignite I'll never know. Needless to say tonight I'm downing a :drink: or two to thank my lucky stars. And no work tomorrow means i don't have to worry about a hangover. Just off to the fridge..........

#7 Wolfstone

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Posted 18 July 2010 - 09:09 PM

Glad you spotted it Ken and that everythings okay... :)


Cheers Rob. It was the scariest moment of my 6 years of ownership.

#8 XXX

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Posted 18 July 2010 - 09:19 PM

Was this the cause of Madfreebird, Josh's, incident with his yellow VX that ended in a pile of molten plastic???

#9 ken355

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Posted 19 July 2010 - 11:46 AM

Could be worse..this could have been you..

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#10 alanoo

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Posted 19 July 2010 - 12:06 PM

Strong smell of petrol in the cabin. Initially put it down to the chavved up MR2 in front. When he turned off a couple of miles down the road the smell was still there. Pulled over, opened the engine lid and fuel was spraying out from the fuel line at the connector close to the coolant tank. Seems that the cable tie that holds the fuel line straight (and secure) against the coolant bracket had worked loose and the subsequent vibration / movement had pulled the fueline out from its connector. Here's a (poor quality) pic to help explain.

You might all want to check your cable ties as they wear at the point where they push through the hole in the coolant tank bracket.

I just feel so fortunate that the fuel didn't ignite. [/IMG]



Got exactly the same issue two years ago :mellow:

#11 Wolfstone

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Posted 19 July 2010 - 05:29 PM

Surely this is a real safety issue but I doubt that Vauxhall would give a monkeys. Posted Image

#12 Mangham54

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Posted 19 July 2010 - 05:32 PM

I am guessing that this is a VXT only issue.... Or do the fuel lines run the same on the NA.... He says as he runs out to check.

#13 Wolfstone

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Posted 20 July 2010 - 02:07 PM

Quick, cheap and potentailly car saving if not life saving mod carried out:

Here are the worn out fixings that hold the fuel line secure and in-line. The tree-branches (not sure what other description to use) have almost all gone brittle with the heat from the engine and then with vibration have snapped off.

Posted Image

Bought some (self-adhesive) cable tie mounts with recessed holes in the centre for bolts (bought from Screw-Fix), plus two bolts (shortest I could find in the toolbox :lol:) and two nyloc nuts and then two new cable ties. Works a treat. thumbsup

Posted Image

Hope this potentially saves any other cars going up in flames.

#14 Kal

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Posted 17 November 2012 - 01:00 PM

Going to give this a bump. Had a meetup with the kent-gents, and mbes2 pointed this exact issue out to me; mine were just floating about and would have been only a matter of time till they worked their way out. Giving it a bump so any new (and old) owners get the knowledge on it. Very thankful indeed!

#15 mbes2

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Posted 17 November 2012 - 02:38 PM

:yeahthat: ............ B)............... :grouphug: "Team VX" = thumbsup

#16 Steelic

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Posted 17 November 2012 - 03:38 PM

Thankyou. . Good to know. . Will replace mine later.

#17 hairy

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Posted 18 November 2012 - 03:10 PM

Blimey, just checked mine and look almost the same as in the top pic - one popped out, the other clinging on for dear life. Sticking some bolts through now.

#18 Rickwoo118

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Posted 18 November 2012 - 03:14 PM

I have checked mine and they are ok. May just put an extra tie wrap around each one to be sure though.

#19 Wolfstone

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Posted 07 March 2016 - 09:43 PM

Bump.....for any new owners to check their fuel lines..  



#20 Tibbles Stryker

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Posted 08 March 2016 - 01:45 AM

Checked the grey one on ebay for sale and from the photos they look bad. Good work for keeping this alive, raised my awareness 👍




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