Fuel Pump Location Q

pocketrocket07

New Member
Apr 30, 2007
39
0
0
Minnesota
I have a good idea of where the fuel pump is and the fact that I need to drop the tank. What my question is that where in relation to the sending unit panel is the pump drop in arm. I would like to just cut and seal the metal in the hatch so I dont have to drop it out. If anyone could give me some measurements or even a simple diagram so I can do it this way. PLease help me out, thanks in advance!!!
 

dugums

Better, Faster, Stronger
Apr 10, 2007
699
0
16
Chicago, IL
pocketrocket07 said:
I have a good idea of where the fuel pump is and the fact that I need to drop the tank. What my question is that where in relation to the sending unit panel is the pump drop in arm. I would like to just cut and seal the metal in the hatch so I dont have to drop it out. If anyone could give me some measurements or even a simple diagram so I can do it this way. PLease help me out, thanks in advance!!!

I may be able to grab a pic for you in the morning...
 

cuel

Supramania Contributor
Jan 8, 2007
1,536
0
0
Baytown, Texas
Why? It only take a couple minutes to drop it. There's a drain bolt on the bottom of the tank to get the fuel out, to. It'll take longer to measure and cut the hole than drop the tank.
 

pocketrocket07

New Member
Apr 30, 2007
39
0
0
Minnesota
The lines are stuck under the car and if i wanted to replace the drop in assbly i would have to order it from toyota. only problem is that toyota shows no record of any assbly in the nation and estimate nearly 2 months for one to come in.

Thanks dugums i really appreciate it. happy turkey day too....
 

dugums

Better, Faster, Stronger
Apr 10, 2007
699
0
16
Chicago, IL
cuel said:
Why? It only take a couple minutes to drop it. There's a drain bolt on the bottom of the tank to get the fuel out, to. It'll take longer to measure and cut the hole than drop the tank.

Not after you factor in the time to go to toyota and get new tank straps....
 

cuel

Supramania Contributor
Jan 8, 2007
1,536
0
0
Baytown, Texas
PB Blaster for the nuts and bolts. If you tear up the straps, you're doing something wrong. Besides, if they are so rusted they broke when you where taking it apart, you needed new ones anyway. As far as the stuck lines, just take the fittings apart from under the car. They're easy to access from between the diff. and tank. Line wrenches work wonders....

There's a 16 year old guy on this forum who pulled his own tank, installed a new pump, and reassembled it all by himself, in his driveway. He's not in auto shop, and has very little experience working on cars. If he can do it right, with just basic hand tools, why can't you??
 

dugums

Better, Faster, Stronger
Apr 10, 2007
699
0
16
Chicago, IL
cuel said:
PB Blaster for the nuts and bolts. If you tear up the straps, you're doing something wrong. Besides, if they are so rusted they broke when you where taking it apart, you needed new ones anyway. As far as the stuck lines, just take the fittings apart from under the car. They're easy to access from between the diff. and tank. Line wrenches work wonders....

There's a 16 year old guy on this forum who pulled his own tank, installed a new pump, and reassembled it all by himself, in his driveway. He's not in auto shop, and has very little experience working on cars. If he can do it right, with just basic hand tools, why can't you??

Why be critical of the way someone else wants to do something? There are many shops that choose this approach. It is a very fast and easy way to do a fuel pump. You also have the benefit of having access to it more easily in the future.

He asked a simple question. I thought it was pretty clear that he understood that one method of doing it was to drop the tank. He preferred not to.

It is not true that if the straps are going to break on disassembly that they need to be replaced anyway. A rusty bolt can do its job just fine, but will sometimes break if you take a wrench to it.
 

cuel

Supramania Contributor
Jan 8, 2007
1,536
0
0
Baytown, Texas
Ok, cut it then. Make sure all your measurements are perfect(measure twice, cut once).

At least sand and paint the edges so that they don't rust. Only cut three sides, so you can fold it back in place when you're done. Silicone the seam so you have somewhat of a seal.

Mechanics don't do this, butchers do. If anyone tried this in my shop, they'd be fired on the spot.
 

ForcedTorque

Join the 92 Owners Group
Jul 11, 2005
6,099
2
38
59
Satsuma, Alabama, United States
cuel said:
Ok, cut it then. Make sure all your measurements are perfect(measure twice, cut once).

At least sand and paint the edges so that they don't rust. Only cut three sides, so you can fold it back in place when you're done. Silicone the seam so you have somewhat of a seal.

Mechanics don't do this, butchers do. If anyone tried this in my shop, they'd be fired on the spot.
My take on this is that if the job is as simple as dropping the tank, and you are are not confident you can do it, why would you be confident in doing a job like you want to do on a part so important to your safety?

I tend to agree with Cuel here, but have a slight issue with his last statement. Everyone here is NOT a mechanic. We all are learning what we can if we keep one of these cars, but are not all professionals. But, yes, I'd look at this method of pump replacement as Jackleg mechanicing. If I owned a shop, I would not want my employees doing that.
 

dugums

Better, Faster, Stronger
Apr 10, 2007
699
0
16
Chicago, IL
I am surprised there is such a strong reaction to this. It does not seem like a hack-job to me if done accurately and sealed correctly. Of course, everyone is entitled to their own opinions, I am just genuinely surprised that people are THAT upset by what seems to me a non-issue :dunno:...

I am not the OP, but my fuel pump was installed this way. I was fine with it, because about 10 years ago, my '88 had a bad pump. I ended up buying TWO Toyota pumps that went bad rather quickly (certainly a freak occurrence that doesn't need to be planned for). Anyway, if I had thought about accessing from the hatch then, it would have been much faster than dropping the tank 3 times.

Maybe I just don't know enough to be upset...
 

pimptrizkit

thread killer
Dec 22, 2005
1,572
0
0
vancouver Wa
we might not all be mechanics, there's always circumstnaces... snow.. eh..

it's a cake to do though, slide under the car 17 & 14 disconnect the pressure line, and then pair of pliers to do the return abnd vent


pop the gas cap 3-6 bolts for the most there and then jack up the tank to support it a bit, loosen the 17mm nuts off and pull the pins,
the hardest part is puttin the straps back on cause it feels like you have to stretch them back out over the tank, all in all pin them first and then get the nuts on

i can do it in about 1-2 hours depending on weather, and how prepaird i got my self. yes in a drive way too .. just no snow..
 

doom26464

Research...research
Mar 31, 2005
863
0
0
38
Saskatoon SK, Canada
www.cardomain.com
I started doing mine but the i broke 2 heads off the bolts they where soo rusted. Im scared to touch any more for fear of them breaking the heads off. Also the fuel lines look pretty rusty so im scared I might break thoses as well causing a whole headache of problems.... I dunno if I can get in there with an easy out or not but man pulling the tank scared me off and I have pulled a whole engine without fear:aigo:
 

cuel

Supramania Contributor
Jan 8, 2007
1,536
0
0
Baytown, Texas
ForcedTorque said:
I tend to agree with Cuel here, but have a slight issue with his last statement. Everyone here is NOT a mechanic. We all are learning what we can if we keep one of these cars, but are not all professionals. But, yes, I'd look at this method of pump replacement as Jackleg mechanicing. If I owned a shop, I would not want my employees doing that.

That last statement of mine was in reference to any "professionals" that would do that to a customer's car. If a customer wanted to be real pissy about it(I would), they could make you replace that portion of the floor to bring it back to stock condition, and be perfectly within their rights. If someone feels comfortable doing that to their own vehicle, well, that's their choice. I just feel very strongly that cutting the body of the car when its completely unnecessary is a bad idea.