Ouch!
Driving along happily yesterday and my diesel tank dropped out. Bracket on protector plate had rusted through but surely the tank is not supported by it?
Am desperately hoping tank is salvageable. Plate had it though
Did havea FULL tank of diesel which I watched horrified as it drained merrily down the road. Thankfully it drained into a road drain about 6 feet away so not too much on road and sand put on what was left.
Completely ruined my day
Caroline.
Yours should have the plastic tank so hopefully it was not damaged, they are very expensive. Yes, the tank is supported by the tank straps and deflector plate. Not all plastic tanks have the deflector plate. The straps are your problem.
If any breather connections etc have broken they could probably be plastic welded successfully.
Eddie.
Sorry to hear about your tank problem , anyone else reading who has a plastic tank is advised to check the condition of your tank straps, where they pass through tank protector brackets/supports is a breeding ground for corrosion unfortunately I am on set no 3 on a 1991.
Gordons Stainless Steel tank Straps option might be the better replacement option.
surely an MOT inspection should have bought this to your attention well before..
surely an MOT inspection should have bought this to your attention well before..
Do they go onto the ramp for an MoT? If not, surely it must have been iffy at the last service. I'd be getting my services done elsewhere.
If it makes you feel better I once had an engine fall out of an Isetta. I can laugh about it now
Commiserations.
MOT should involve visual inspection from underneath, but unless tester starts being a bit violent or over keen with corrosion assessment tool ( rubber hammer) unlikely to be picked up on MOT. Though in reality probably one was broken anyway then the other gave way with weight of full tank.
Do they go onto the ramp for an MoT? If not, surely it must have been iffy at the last service. I'd be getting my services done elsewhere.
If it makes you feel better I once had an engine fall out of an Isetta. I can laugh about it now
Commiserations.
Thanks Ian, I have just started getting my services done elsewhere and he found a brake problem that should have been sorted a long time ago. Fuel consumption now considerably better than it was, at least, it was until I watched it pouring down the drain the other day!!
Were you driving the car at the time? That could have had really nasty consequences
Yes I was, but it was an Isetta, I can't remember the best speed it could achieve....45mph?? Also it was three o'clock in the morning and there was no traffic about. I was on my way to London from Glasgow.
No stupid action goes unpunished
Do they go onto the ramp for an MoT? If not, surely it must have been iffy at the last service. I'd be getting my services done elsewhere.
If it makes you feel better I once had an engine fall out of an Isetta. I can laugh about it now
Commiserations.
Thanks Ian, I have just started getting my services done elsewhere and he found a brake problem that should have been sorted a long time ago. Fuel consumption now considerably better than it was, at least, it was until I watched it pouring down the drain the other day!!
Were you driving the car at the time? That could have had really nasty consequences
Yes I was, but it was an Isetta, I can't remember the best speed it could achieve....45mph?? Also it was three o'clock in the morning and there was no traffic about. I was on my way to London from Glasgow.
No stupid action goes unpunished
That would have been one long drive
Hopefully the wind was behind you
Do they go onto the ramp for an MoT? If not, surely it must have been iffy at the last service. I'd be getting my services done elsewhere.
If it makes you feel better I once had an engine fall out of an Isetta. I can laugh about it now
Commiserations.
Thanks Ian, I have just started getting my services done elsewhere and he found a brake problem that should have been sorted a long time ago. Fuel consumption now considerably better than it was, at least, it was until I watched it pouring down the drain the other day!!
Were you driving the car at the time? That could have had really nasty consequences
Yes I was, but it was an Isetta, I can't remember the best speed it could achieve....45mph?? Also it was three o'clock in the morning and there was no traffic about. I was on my way to London from Glasgow.
No stupid action goes unpunished
That would have been one long drive
Hopefully the wind was behind you
Would have been if I'd got there.....
Quite a few years ago the petrol tank also fell out of the back of my 463 due to corrosion of the straps.
I had just filled it up at Glasgow Airport and was on the M8 when it let go .It didn't separate completely but got dragged along the ground which tore a hole in the bottom of it and released 20 gallons of unleaded onto the motorway.
I pulled over onto the hard shoulder and decided to phone the AA to pick me up but when I explained the situation the AA alerted the emergency services and I was shortly joined by several police cars and three fire engines. Then the council arrived with a load of signs and shut the inside lane of the motorway while the fire brigade sprayed foam all over my G !!
At the time I remember thinking how much is all of this costing and are they going to send me the bill 
. Luckily I didn't have to pay for it but I did have to buy a new plastic tank and sender which was painful.
That must have been an embarrassing moment, how many other 4x4's went past?
I hope all G owners with plastic tanks take a minute to assess condition of tank straps.Straps really are too thin for the job and where it bends through the tank protection plate just rusts away and can't be seen.
Quite a few years ago the petrol tank also fell out of the back of my 463 due to corrosion of the straps.
I had just filled it up at Glasgow Airport and was on the M8 when it let go .It didn't separate completely but got dragged along the ground which tore a hole in the bottom of it and released 20 gallons of unleaded onto the motorway.
I pulled over onto the hard shoulder and decided to phone the AA to pick me up but when I explained the situation the AA alerted the emergency services and I was shortly joined by several police cars and three fire engines. Then the council arrived with a load of signs and shut the inside lane of the motorway while the fire brigade sprayed foam all over my G !!
At the time I remember thinking how much is all of this costing and are they going to send me the bill . Luckily I didn't have to pay for it but I did have to buy a new plastic tank and sender which was painful.
That sounded fairly serious. Petrol would have been far more of a risk than diesel! Did the foam clean it for you or did you have to wash it afterwards. II have gone for stainless straps on Gav's advice for the reason that Jason stated .Hopefully it won't happen again. I was lucky as I was in a 30mph area and was able to stop immediately so the tank has a little scuff mark on it but nothing else. That would have been terrifying.
As for ian's Isetta, if you had the wind behind you, surely you could have still made it to London even with the engine on the deck??
Quite a few years ago the petrol tank also fell out of the back of my 463 due to corrosion of the straps.
I had just filled it up at Glasgow Airport and was on the M8 when it let go .It didn't separate completely but got dragged along the ground which tore a hole in the bottom of it and released 20 gallons of unleaded onto the motorway.
I pulled over onto the hard shoulder and decided to phone the AA to pick me up but when I explained the situation the AA alerted the emergency services and I was shortly joined by several police cars and three fire engines. Then the council arrived with a load of signs and shut the inside lane of the motorway while the fire brigade sprayed foam all over my G !!
At the time I remember thinking how much is all of this costing and are they going to send me the bill . Luckily I didn't have to pay for it but I did have to buy a new plastic tank and sender which was painful.
That sounded fairly serious. Petrol would have been far more of a risk than diesel! Did the foam clean it for you or did you have to wash it afterwards. II have gone for stainless straps on Gav's advice for the reason that Jason stated .Hopefully it won't happen again. I was lucky as I was in a 30mph area and was able to stop immediately so the tank has a little scuff mark on it but nothing else. That would have been terrifying.
As for ian's Isetta, if you had the wind behind you, surely you could have still made it to London even with the engine on the deck??
Now that you mention it, I could have rigged up a few shirts with my hockey stick as a mast and sailed there
I had same issue with the tank straps on my G500 a short while ago. They had rusted through and snapped without warning when I was out locally. Fortunately I managed to stop in time before any serious damage was done to the tank which was about 3/4 full of petrol! Fitted replacement straps and new protector plate. Definitely seems to be a problem with the G - the straps are out of sight and mind and take the full brunt of the winter road salt from the back wheels. Maybe MB should fit stainless?
I had same issue with the tank straps on my G500 a short while ago. They had rusted through and snapped without warning when I was out locally. Fortunately I managed to stop in time before any serious damage was done to the tank which was about 3/4 full of petrol! Fitted replacement straps and new protector plate. Definitely seems to be a problem with the G - the straps are out of sight and mind and take the full brunt of the winter road salt from the back wheels. Maybe MB should fit stainless?
I am beginning to think that for us "part-time" non spannered & dungaree'd GWOA members, it would be very useful for the site to have a "Watch Out!" list in the Members Area.
Yes, that would be a good idea. Still now I know for next time- although I hope there won't be a next time!
As usual it was Gav to the rescue!
Just in case this helps others: I read a few years ago that there was a parts supplier in Germany that produced stainless steel tank straps for the G. Also, there are several other manufacturers of tank protection plates. The key is to find the one that do not use the same location points as the tank straps, ideally the chassis via separate means.
http://www.gfg-shop.de/shop/product_info.php?info=p1077_--DESERT-Tankunterfahrschutz-463.html
I have fitted this one to my G simply because I punctured my RR tank once and it was a resolute pain to sort out, so I went overboard on 'solving' the issue for my G. Luckily the tank straps haven't failed on mine yet, but the point is that even if they do, the tank won't fall to the ground as the guard will hold it up.
Ph
Yes, that would be a good idea. Still now I know for next time- although I hope there won't be a next time!
As usual it was Gav to the rescue!
Hello
Yes, that would be a good idea. Still now I know for next time- although I hope there won't be a next time!
As usual it was Gav to the rescue!
Hello
HAHAHAHA
Tetchy Gordon!!
TBH.. It was me that pointed Minxy to you for the Stainless Straps ;)
Us Northeners have to stick together pal
Eyup Gav
Just in case this helps others: I read a few years ago that there was a parts supplier in Germany that produced stainless steel tank straps for the G. Also, there are several other manufacturers of tank protection plates. The key is to find the one that do not use the same location points as the tank straps, ideally the chassis via separate means.
http://www.gfg-shop.de/shop/product_info.php?info=p1077_--DESERT-Tankunterfahrschutz-463.html
I have fitted this one to my G simply because I punctured my RR tank once and it was a resolute pain to sort out, so I went overboard on 'solving' the issue for my G. Luckily the tank straps haven't failed on mine yet, but the point is that even if they do, the tank won't fall to the ground as the guard will hold it up.
Ph
PH - that is what GWOA is for. Thank you. Nice idea, well made by the look of it.
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Do they go onto the ramp for an MoT? If not, surely it must have been iffy at the last service. I'd be getting my services done elsewhere.
If it makes you feel better I once had an engine fall out of an Isetta. I can laugh about it now
Commiserations.
Thanks Ian, I have just started getting my services done elsewhere and he found a brake problem that should have been sorted a long time ago. Fuel consumption now considerably better than it was, at least, it was until I watched it pouring down the drain the other day!!
Were you driving the car at the time? That could have had really nasty consequences