1992 Gas leak

[stomkat]

This is the next in a number of problems I've had since purchasing this car.

Within a month of purchase (used) a computer chip melted down in the dash, causing me to have to drive 100 miles on Xmas night with my flashers on because it took out all my lights. The mechanic said I was lucky the dash didn't catch fire. $1300.

The muffler ($300) and starter ($200-300) went last year. Passenger side window motor went also. I just don't use it.

Had the air conditioning checked last year (it has never worked), and it seems the cheaper part to replace has melted to the more expensive part, and it's going to cost $600 to get it fixed.

Last summer a rattle began on the driver side of the motor. It only happens sometimes, and sometimes louder than others.

Now, I had noticed the car was using more gas than usual. The last few times I've started it, it wouldn't start on the first try (that's a first!). I went to the car today, same thing...two tries to start. I got gas 1 week ago, full tank. Have driven 55 miles (I don't go out much). Normal tank of gas lasts 320 miles. I'm at 1/8 over half??? Smell gas inside car. Smell gas outside car.

There is gas leaking in front of the rear driver side tire, under the back door! It was leaking bad when I came out of the store, but when I just checked it after returning home an hour ago, it isn't leaking. I'm sure it still is, but I can't tell how much because it's been raining for 2 days. Of course, I'm broke until the end of the week and wondering how much THIS one's gonna cost me.

It sounds like I hate the car, but I don't. I love it.
It just seems like I'm dumping a heck of a lot of money into it (more than the average upkeep: tires, oil changes, brakes, etc) over the last 4 years of owning it...

[fredjacksonsan]

I had the same problem on my '87. It had a slow gas leak on the lower corner of the gas tank on the passenger side. Got MUCH worse when I ran over a sled in the snow (no kid on sled!).

A used gas tank from junkyard was $125, not a tough job. 4 screws to remove gas filler assembly, then two bolts securing the straps around the tank. <-- Those were the tough ones, would have been killer without air tools. After that, drop the old tank being careful of the fuel pump wires/lines, remove the fuel pump from the tank (check filter while it's out), and reverse procedure.

[Niftynorm]

Check the connections for the gas filter, as it is in that area.