Gas Leak?! HELP!!

[Uncletruck]

They always do that to you- when it rains it pours. I got one the other day with my Malibu, which is my daily driver thus I need it to work.

I went to replace the front oil seal that was leaking, and decided since I had the timing cover off for that I'd put a new timing chain on too. Well, got all that done in about 6 hours, started her up, everything looked great. I was happy 😀

Get in the car an hour later and turn the key to start. Nothing. No click, not a thing. I'm thinking what the F$#@? Oh, I didn't tighten down the battery cable enough when I put it back on. But wait- the dash lights and stuff are on...

Cables are tight. I check the battery voltage, 13.2 which is certainly ample to crank. I'm then thinking maybe the battery cable posts are shot. I go to NAPA and get 2 new posts. No difference, still nothing. I get out my 200 amp charger/booster starter. Put it on, the car cranks and starts right up. OK, maybe the battery really is kaput. It was older so I get a new battery at Autozone, and feel good as this will be a good investment for the winter. Put it in. Nothing. I'm really getting confused now. Put the 200 amp charger starter on again, boom, starts right up.

I test the resistance of the battery cables from the battery to the starter and to ground, they are fine. Must be the starter solenoid then. I pull the starter, go back to Autozone, and get a solenoid for it. Put it on, she starts right up. Yay!!! I try it 10 times continuously, starts right up. It's fixed.

Hour later go out... nothing again! Now we were in to major swearing! I put an ammeter in line with the positive battery cable to see if there is something draining the battery while the car is off. Noting, no current draw, battery voltage at 13.5. Put charger on again, it starts right up, voltage goes to 14.2, so the alternator is charging the battery.

At this point I can't take it anymore and go to bed for the night. I'm left with nothing but the starter motor itself. I pull the starter again the next morning and freewheel it off the charger. It sounded like grinding teeth, and was slow as cold syrup, but it ran. Well, wait... it ran three times, then nothing. Off to the Zone again for a new starter, only $45.00 with exchange and it included a new solenoid. I freewheel it on the charger- WOW- the thing wanted to roll across the driveway! I'm like holy S%*&!

6 hours for the timing chain, and 8 trying to figure out why the engine won't crank. (And another hour to type this post LOL) Up until putting the new timing chain on, I never noticed any problems with the engine cranking over. Just that little extra resistance of the new chain threw an unsuspected starter motor over the edge.

So now you don't have to feel so bad. 😱 The gas vapor you were smelling before? Likely holes in the gas tank. When you jacked the car up, the holes probably opened up more, exposing the real problem, and a potentially dangerous one. Be grateful 😀
-Mark-

 

[PILOT]

Mark - I completely hear you man. They are amazing vehicles when they run, but when they go for a sh*t, look out! My neighbours (Im on a farm, so they aren't close) probably laugh at me when I start cussin' the bloody thing.

I'm trying to solve this engine bog, and I'm at the point where I'm going to put a 327 Chev with a new Carb in. That'll teach it a lesson, and my bank account!


'Averagewhiteboy - I'll take the Cragars 🙂 Just kidding, stick with it if you can, financially. It's well worth the time and money.

 

[averagewhiteboy]

It just sicks bacause I brought the car up this time to actually get it inspected and insured, ready for the road. The car was really getting somewhere, then BOOM! This. You've gotta be kidding me. Don't you already feel grateful enough getting new damn brakes and an exhaust?! lol. Now you're demanding a new fuel tank?? Screw you!!! lol. I really like the thing, but I honestly want to get rid of it at least once everyday. If it was a Monte SS I'd really work with it, but it's only a base model GP with a V6. It wouldn't be that much of a loss. lol.

 

[gman]

Gas Leak?! Help

I think you are looking at the old car hobby the wrong way. It's a 30 year old car. Things go wrong. That's the bad part. The good part is you drive a unique vehicle that does not look like all the other cookie cutter cars out there. As a backyard mechanic, you can fix a lot of stuff on the car yourself. Try that with a new car. In my part od the world-Canada it cost about $100.00 to take your computer controled car to the dealer and anything goes wrong. Much as I like the convenience of a new everyday driver, I love my old cars for the looks you get and the fun. But hey, that's my opinion

 

[averagewhiteboy]

I'm with you on that one. Definately. But the problem I'm facing is the thing isn't even inspected. And to get it inspected, just inspected, it needs a cat-back, and almost 95% full brakes. Hopefully not, but we'll see when we take them apart. The good thing, however, is we've gone to the same dealership for cars and service for 30 years, so they cut us breaks on stuff. Like if it needs brakes, they'll pass it anyway, and just tell me to get them changed very soon. So that's not too big of a deal. And I already figured on getting the brakes, exhaust, and inspection/insurance done in a few weeks, then suddenly, that happened too. And making barely above minimum wage, and owning another brand new car as well, money isn't my strong suit. Plus, we live in a town house community, so tinkering on smelly old rusty vehicles isn't usually super enjoyed by many, but oh well. I just don't have any place to really store it anymore since the place I had it at before is 30 minutes away, and I already got a warning by a state trooper for driving it. Thank god it was just a warning though. Oh well, it'll all work out here soon. I got alot of little things done, and the one side is all fully painted, so it's comming along. Check my progress page out too, I'm putting pics up tonight!!

8) 😀

 

[SV6 REGAL]

You not the only person whos G body gas tank has started to leak.Filled my Regal up last (FULL) and notice a stain in driveway the next day.Now that gauge reads under the F mark no more leak but I think I wil replace the tank just to safe.I quick tip to those in the rust belt get your car oiled(krown or Rust Check)


http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2355922/1

 

[PILOT]

I'll check for sure. When I got my Regal certed, there were many unexpected things I had to fix. I got lucky though, I knew the mechanic so it helped. I still spent almost $1000 to get it on the road. It was a tough decision, but I love the car. Now I'm planning on sticking a 327 Chevy in it, headers, dual exhaust. It needs some rims, but I might just leave the ones on it now, and make it a sleeper car. Hah, they won't know what's coming~!

 

[Uncletruck]

Theses are just examples, nobody who owns any classic car has it easy. You have to expect the unexpected problems with any classic car you own or would like to own. It's what seperates the men from the boys, or in car terms the man who enjoy the hobby and the troubleshooting and rewards inviolved, or the kiddie who puts a fart can and Japanese looking "Honda" windshield insignia on the '96 hand-me-down Civic from his mom and thinks he is a car expert.
-Mark-