Hole In My Fuel Tank Ls430 Reaching Out!

[SunrayMinor]

Hi guys,

Well for a couple of months I have been smelling fuel from the rear of my 01 LS430. After reading the forums in detail, I first changed the seal around the fuel cap, didn't make any difference. Then I filled up the car yesterday with gas, and drove home. When I got home I could smell a really strong smell of fuel, looked down and yep, I could see petrol leaking, well slow dripping to the ground.

So I head to the Lexus dealer, they say it has a small hole in the tank and made worse when the car is full of gas, and including replacing some lines and the whole tank will come to £1100.

Now I am not sure what to do, I have to get it fixed one way or another, do I try and source a second hand tank, do I try and buy a genuine one through a parts wholesaler, or do I get the tank fixed? Looking at the tank in general, it does look rusty around the seems etc, so a replacement may be in order.

Any advice you guys may have would be appreciated, should I buy the parts outside the dealership and get lexus to install them or does someone have a better idea for me?

Thank guys in advance for your help.

Cheers

AP

[Bluesman]

Repairing tanks is possible there are companies that can do it, Why are they replacing some of the fuel lines? has there been damage around that area at all? Mike

[SunrayMinor]

Repairing tanks is possible there are companies that can do it, Why are they replacing some of the fuel lines? has there been damage around that area at all? Mike

Hey Mike,

No they didn't say there was any damage to the lines, maybe it was the parts to go with the tank? the tank it's self was £370 pounds plus some other parts totalling £200 more, and the labour was about £500, so in total £1100.

I am trying to find info on a some people wrecking LS430s and see if I can pick up a good second hand one? Don't know what to do to be honest. Know any good lexus parts people in the UK either new or second hand?

Cheers

[Bluesman]

Repairing tanks is possible there are companies that can do it, Why are they replacing some of the fuel lines? has there been damage around that area at all? Mike

Hey Mike,

No they didn't say there was any damage to the lines, maybe it was the parts to go with the tank? the tank it's self was £370 pounds plus some other parts totalling £200 more, and the labour was about £500, so in total £1100.

I am trying to find info on a some people wrecking LS430s and see if I can pick up a good second hand one? Don't know what to do to be honest. Know any good lexus parts people in the UK either new or second hand?

Cheers

Check these two out on eBay both are being dismantled but on e has rear end damage.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lexus-LS-430-4-3-auto-5sp-BREAKING-FOR-SPARES-AND-REPAIRS-/150984741999?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item232764546f

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lexus-LS-430-4-3-Premium-Pack-auto-BREAKING-FOR-SPARES-AND-REPAIRS-/150984742105?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item23276454d9

Good luck Mike

[SunrayMinor]

Thanks Mike, will follow those leads up in the morning.

Cheers

[lexusdaduk]

a good independent should be able to fit the tank at a fraction of the cost when you have sourced one.

[steve2006]

Has the fuel tank been relocated on the LS430 to under the car? Reason I ask is the LS400 had the tank mounted behind the rear seat upright so is never exposed to road crud and water.

[abdallian]

Hi couple of years ago I narrowly dodged a bouncing brick ( or something hard) on the M4. It went under my then 2001 LS430 and lo and behold a massive gash resulted. I manage to get the whole thing replaced parts and labour included for £600 and it was a brand new tank.

[39buss]

Petrol tanks can be welded. I'm surprised that Lexus don't have plastic tanks. If you want to go down this route I can tell you how with out blowing yourself up but it's a long drawn out process and in my case cost nowt as I did it at work.

[dandydons]

Or you could try a company that specialises in fibreglass coatings - I had a leaking petrol tank years ago - cant even remember what car it was - a toyota of some kind though and got a company to coat the whole tank -looked good as new and never leaked again. cost was about £50 including them removing and reinstalling tank - but it was about 15 years ago.