1989 Colony Park. Leaking gas where the filler tube joins the tank. Any advice from folks that have had this problem? Tank looks like its in a hell of a place to remove it from, so im just wondering what thats gonna be like.
Never having seen the 1989 wagon filler tube area, I'll assume that it's like mine. It's not that bad. Make sure your tank is near empty (below the filler tube level at the tank). Remove the fuel door. Remove the tube screw retainers from inside the filler door. They are usually embedded in a rubber ring around the neck. Remove the smaller diameter fuel overflow tube. Remove the filler door enclosure that also centers the filler neck. Pulling the filler neck from the tank is a PITA. The problem is that you likely have the car on jackstands, so one kinda gets intimated from hauling a$$ to get it out. If you can keep the rear on the ground and reach it, its better. The rubber donut that seals the tube at the tank is what you want to replace. I checked AutoZone and they don't have an online manual for it. Maybe some other site, but I don't know where.
So i dont have to drop the tank? just pull the filler tube out and put the donut on and shove it back in there? if thats the case, it LOOKS accesible since i can reach in the fender well and touch where the tube joins the tank.
I had to replace the one on my 86 Thunderbird. The only source I found was the Ford dealer. I installed one that was intended for an 82 Cougar. The only problem was Ford charged $32 for it. I did it with the tank installed but it took some wiggling to get the filler tube out with the tank installed. Like Norm said if you take the door off you get some more wiggle room there. I lubed the donut a bit with some WD40 so the tube would slide back in easier.
Nope, the tank stays put. Just slit the old one, on the outside to get a good grip (without scratching the tank's treated surface (rust inhibiting plating) and like TBird mentioned, WD-40. Spray the WD-40 before you take the tube out. I don't know if it's gasoline-friendly if it gets mixed with it.
Well, having done this to my 86 Crown Vic wagon, the filler neck will not pull out with the tank still bolted in place. It looks like it would work, but the hole in the wheel well and quarter panel are just a little too small and the filler neck will only pull out about half way before it gets hung up. What I did was first unscrew all of the screws around the gas door. There are 4 screws around the gas tank door, 4 screws that hold the end of the filler neck to the plastic tray inside the door, and 4 inside the back wheel well that hold a gasket on around the filler neck. Then I backed the wagon up onto a couple of car ramps and put a floor jack under the tank. Then I unbolted the the 2 bolts that hold the gas tank straps on. Then I lowered the tank about 3 or so inches with the floor jack (you do not have to disconnect anything from the tank other than the straps). With the tank lowered a little bit you are then able to pull the neck out the hole in the quarter panel. Then replace the rubber donut and reinsert the filler neck. I put a little motor oil on the filler neck before I pushed it back in. Then jack the tank back up and bolt the straps back on and put all the screws back on around the gas tank door.
GREAT news. thanks for the instructions. A ford dealer in another town had the donut and sold it to me for $10 and is going to UPS it to me. so hopefully i can get this gas smell stopped! And i had just bought a new floor jack, first one i ever owned. Crafstman 3 ton, and got it for FIFTY bucks on sale.
So the big wagons are tad different. Excellent instructions! Who needs a camera with a description like that! Thanks 84!
