Gasoline leak! Options

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I bought my '94 Celica used in 2000, today I noticed gasoline leaking from under the car! Glad no one smokes, though I did see it dripping from the exhaust. I was just saying to myself the other day that Toyta sure builds a solid car, never had anything unexpected happen... until today. Hopefully its just a minor hold, though I could smell gas vapours when I opened the windows. Its sitting at a local repair shop, since the dealership I take it to isn't open until Tuesday. If its minor I'll let them fix it, otherwise I'll take it to the dealer.

[Guest_Matthew_*]

hzahahsaha


dude whatever you do don't take it to the dealer...

they will tell you that its some specific toyota part that only toyota sae certified mis techs can do

and then charge you more than twice of the local guy

[Supersprynt]

You may have run over a rock or something - it happens to all cars. Sh*t happens theres nothing u can do but fix it. Dont worry tho, my Celi had 185,000 miles on it and hardly burned any oil. Had mine 2 yrs (130K - 185K) and had to do nothing but oil changes, new tires (rims), rotation. Only thing that went was my piggy back system (aftermarket).

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**Update**

So the guy says he can't find it, and I have to admit later that evening I went to the garage and the leak had stopped. Now he assumes that I overfilled the tank at the pump and that he said there is some internal overflow valve which likely was leaking the excess gas.

However, he did state it was a visual inspection only since he didn't want to remove any compoents of the fuel system since he said many of the lines looked rusty and he thought they might break if an attempt to remove the tank was made. Unfotunately when I drive witht the windows open I smell gas, so I'll take it to Toyota (dealer I'm with is pretty good, they don't seem to have ever looked for work to do) and get the fuel system lines checked, maybe check the PCV valve. Teh car was in the rust-belt of upstate ny before I moved out west, so doesn't suprise me to hear the lines are rusty.

[Guest_Matthew_*]

i would get multiple opinions

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Went to the dealer today, I know many of you don't like them, but I think you have to give them some credit for knowing the cars they sell. Anyway the mechanic sid the tank was rusted and there was a leak, and many of the fittings, lines, hoses were rusted or cracked, thats what I get for having the car 9 years in the rustbelt. They were able to find a used celica tank (miracle I think) (1/2 the price of a new one). Should get the car on Thursday, I'll let you know the final damage, though the initial estimate is $1000 CAN ($700 U.S), but should be lower since the tank is cheaper and they said they were conservative for labor time (damn I'd like $65 an hour).

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*Final update*

The total for the repair a sweet $1020 CAN ($700 U.S.). The used tank was $350 CAN, and labour $530 CAN + 14.5% sales tax. Just for curisoity I called another parts dept. they said a new fuel tank is $650 CAN. What a mark up, I'm sure it costs them less than $100 to manufactuer.

Hopefully no more problems until I sell it in a year.