LR3 = Modern Day Pinto:
#31
factory may not have clipped it together properly
The link below is to a good video related to the many various fuel line fittings.
I am beginning to think that at the LR factory, the workers were not fully pushing the male end into the female and hence the clipping action was not quite totally happening - well maybe on one side and hence enough for it to not leak and hold together for a few years but under impact, the one clip would eventually let go and the fuel pressure would push the ends apart. If so, then since it is a factory assembly workmanship thing, then only some of the 3's would be affected.
This is a video where the fuel line let go; the solution was a new connector.
I am beginning to think that at the LR factory, the workers were not fully pushing the male end into the female and hence the clipping action was not quite totally happening - well maybe on one side and hence enough for it to not leak and hold together for a few years but under impact, the one clip would eventually let go and the fuel pressure would push the ends apart. If so, then since it is a factory assembly workmanship thing, then only some of the 3's would be affected.
This is a video where the fuel line let go; the solution was a new connector.
#32
I had the same problem a few days ago. The fuel line connector at the front of the gas tank let go for no reason on a highway, pumping LOTS of fuel all over the undercarriage, including the catalytic converter, leaving me stranded in the middle of nowhere 'til a Trooper came by and radioed for a tow. It was a dry hot day on smooth pavement, so there was nothing to knock the connector loose.
Bbyer might be right, as my LR3 had the tank replaced under recall, it's possible the tech didn't fully seat the connector. But that was years ago.
I suspect LR's creative engineering is at play here. The fuel line is anchored to the front of the tank just upstream of the connector. Downstream, the fuel line is free to bounce around. I think this wiggles the connector loose over time (it's just a plastic press fit).
In my case, when I looked underneath, the connector LOOKED like it was attached. I couldn't reach in there to check because the cat was too hot. After my tow home, I was able to wiggle the line and saw a lot of play in the connector. The connector "clicked" when I pressed it together, leak fixed! I used Best4x4's zip tie trick to anchor the fuel line to the EVAP pipe, but added a third zip to pull the other zips together, putting slight compression on the connector. I also added a 4th zip downstream to reduce bounce.
I've seen this issue on other forums. It's not uncommon, and dangerous enough to warrant a recall. With fuel all over the cat and electrical connections it's lucky I didn't go up in flames. From now on I'll be including "check fuel line connectors" in my routine maintenance.
Bbyer might be right, as my LR3 had the tank replaced under recall, it's possible the tech didn't fully seat the connector. But that was years ago.
I suspect LR's creative engineering is at play here. The fuel line is anchored to the front of the tank just upstream of the connector. Downstream, the fuel line is free to bounce around. I think this wiggles the connector loose over time (it's just a plastic press fit).
In my case, when I looked underneath, the connector LOOKED like it was attached. I couldn't reach in there to check because the cat was too hot. After my tow home, I was able to wiggle the line and saw a lot of play in the connector. The connector "clicked" when I pressed it together, leak fixed! I used Best4x4's zip tie trick to anchor the fuel line to the EVAP pipe, but added a third zip to pull the other zips together, putting slight compression on the connector. I also added a 4th zip downstream to reduce bounce.
I've seen this issue on other forums. It's not uncommon, and dangerous enough to warrant a recall. With fuel all over the cat and electrical connections it's lucky I didn't go up in flames. From now on I'll be including "check fuel line connectors" in my routine maintenance.
Last edited by CoopLR3; 05-21-2017 at 11:55 PM.
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bbyer (05-21-2017)
#33
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