Ah, crap!!!! Help! ... I got trouble ...

[96Qowner]

I just found a leaking fuel hose. The last time I drove the Q it had a gassy odor and left the scent in the garage for hours. I did a quick perfuntory check under the hood and didn't see anything, but since I planned to put 3500 miles on it for a trip to Atlanta next week, I took a better look today.

Dammit, I have a little drip every five seconds and it's built up a pool of a couple ounces under the plenum.

So here's my somewhat desperate question: Is it even feasible to think about replacing that one hose so I can get it to Atlanta for a full job?

It's one at the back of the engine, about mid-block, buried deep under the plenum. It's about 3 inches long and kinda angles down and to the center and connects to the line that eventually leads to the top of the fuel filter. It looks like if you disconnect a harness on the passenger side and move it aside, you have a shot at getting to it, but maybe not with human sized hands, and I have no clue how you manipulate the clamp screws.

So, any of you guys who can visualize this hose, please tell me if it's totally out of the question. I'll gladly pay a guy for his hours of grunting and huffing and cursing me under his breath, if it's even doable. Then I can get it to T3 and get the entire job done. Otherwise, I'll be stuck here with a good tech who's never done a Q45 plenum job before, and probably doesn't want the experience.

Help!

[elwesso]

I dont see how you could replace that... If anything maybe try and wrap it with electrical tape maybe to slow it down.. Last thing you want is the fuel to get on hot engine parts..... =boom

[DAEDALUS]

If it's a screw clamp see if you can reach the screw with a long driver--you may be able to stop the drip for at least a little while. Try going in from behind the plenum.

[gniknave]

Sounds like a problem similar to what I had. Like DAEDALUS said, I just used a long screwdriver and tightened the clamp. I found it easiest to do this with the AAC removed.

[elwesso]

If you dont remove it, you can just unbolt it and move it out of the way...

Be sure to be careful as the gasket is brittle, but there wouldnt be a big enough air leak to cause major problems, at least until you did your job at T3.....

[96Qowner]

I found this old thread on a search.

http://nicoclub.com/zerothread?id=46453

It sounds like my same hose leak. I'm taking it into the Nissan guys today and crossing my fingers that he can get it stopped long enough to get to Atlanta. I'll keep you posted.

Three months, eh? Heheh. I think I'll get at mine right away. Little pools of gas evaporating away in nice hot sparky metal parts under fuel hoses sorta gives me the willies.
Modified by 96Qowner at 9:35 AM 12/6/2005

[Q45tech]

Byron, Doing a serious rehab [140k 92Q] from Virginia as I write.......the usual plenum work/valve cover reseal. fluid changes misc things, 1st gear start/rear sway bar .....already has the new Michelin 235 Pilots .......$3500 or so.

Just drive straight thru the air flow will probably remove the vapors unless it is more than a cold ocassional drip.

[96Qowner]

Thanks, Dennis. It was -25 here this morning, so the Nissan guys are kinda busy today with cold weather problems, besides it being my tech's day off, so it'll be tomorrow before I know if he can stop that leak.

I've been using the search button, and found some old threads with what appears to be the same hose leak, the one connecting to the hard line that leads to the fuel filter. I also first noticed the gas smell after leaving it out in the extreme cold, apparently temperature related like the others. I let it warm up for 15 minutes this last time, and it built up a gas puddle of an ounce or two, and didn't stop leaking. Of course, air temp was probably hovering around zero, so it's hard to know how warm the engine compartment got. I timed the leak at one drop every 5 seconds or so (Saturday). I went out on Sunday to sop up the puddle and found most of it evaporated (at -15 degree air temp).

So, yeah, it occurred to me that, at speed, it most likely will evaporate as fast as it drips. And if it will stop (as most of the others posted did) when the engine compartment warms, or at least can be diminished with a clamp tightening, I'm good to go, I think. (I'll be riding with a fire extinguisher, too, heheh).

Any more input and advice from anyone is welcome - I need all I can get right now. It's get this leak patched enough to get there, or give up, take the other car, and leave the plenum job to the Nissan techs. And I leave Friday morning - no time to screw around with much.

[Q451990]

I'd try tightening the screw if you can get to it. Then take it to T3. It'll be worth it to have Byron do the work.

Heath

[squeefoo]

When you shut the car off, pop the fuel door and loosen the cap to relieve any pressure.

This kept the puddle to a minimum when mine did the same.

[Q45tech]

Really quite a common problem........fuel/coolant drips in old cold hoses........everything needs changing after 7 years........not matter of if, but when. Mine were changed 4.5 year ago for the 2nd time at around 200k......those now have 74k on them, time to plan for another set of under plenum hoses.

$1000 every 5 years is only $200 per year.......those prorates get up to $3,000 per year fast..... [$3,000 transmission/7= $400/yr] :shocks $200, tires $400, brakes $500,suspension $300,fluid changes and flushesspark plugs.Bearings, bushings and mounts.AC $2500/10=$250 per yearPreemptive KS changes when plenum is open

[DougQ45]

One drip every 5 seconds is minor compared to the leak I had few years ago. But when left at idle, the 2 minute warm (and lower fuel pressuer versus under throttle) permitted me to get to work for a few days. Just keep an eye on it, with the fire ext!! The valley catches all, boils it off. Good luck---GO TO T--3, if you are that close.

[elwesso]

Ill tell you from experience its good to go big or go home with the plenum hoses.....

Do everything at once.. Fuel hoses, coolant hoses, KS, injectors EVERYTHING... Ive contemplated, if I had the space, time and garage, to just remove the engine and completely rehab everything at once... And be set for 100k...

[96Qowner]

Awright! The disturbing fuel leak is fixed with the judicious use of a ratchet with phillips head. Or at least, that's what I'm told - haven't picked the car up yet. The tech nodded and muttered "Nissans" (he's another old Honda tech) when I showed him the hose and the problem getting to it. Heheh.

So I'm good to go to T3 - talked to Doug and he's got the time next week. Gosh it'll be good to get that under-plenum stuff replaced. After that, all it looks like I'll need is Tokicos all around and some replacement work on the suspension.

Dennis, I hope you'll fill in the guys at T3. Doug was fairly matter-o-fact about it. I didn't make it clear that I'm traveling 1500 miles to get the work done at a shop that specializes in Q's. I'll probably want to get as much done as I can in the time they have. It sounds like a rail flush would be a good idea, for instance, etc.

I'll be firming things up with him tomorrow, now that I know I can get there.

[DAEDALUS]

1500 miles! Wow.

[Q45tech]

1500 Round trip?..[edited I just now noticed you are driving from N. Dakota]...........we have had clients from Mass, Michigan [upper], Minn., Iowa, Kansas, Conn, NY, NJ, PA, OH and all closer states.......not so many [9-10] recently [in the last year], as others have sprung up around US to do the chain guide proceedure. We still get many out of State Q45a retrofits.

Still T3 appreciates the confidence and attempts to make the trip as painless as possible......... [edited I will do my best to meet with you during your visit]

Just don't faint when you see the S. Cobb Shop, it sure isn't as pretty as a dealership......the other one is prettier just doesn't have the depth that Byron has. Lots of self pressure when someone drives that far to make sure perfection is achieved.........no leaks and no phone calls when someone is 750 miles back home.

The Virginia car is still getting things done to it this morning, but should be out today by noon.....the alternator was on it's last legs....skrunch, skrunch as it turned.

We are less than satisfied with his dealers previous work standards [ethic] [he had every record printed out].......some scarey repairs had to be FIXED.

I drove the Q not bad shape considering its age. The engine tests and feels good, good power balance and other parameters. Same with transmission.

An interesting thing was with new Michelin Pilots [supposedly Hunter 9700] balanced 2 tires has over 100 grams of clip on weights and were Extremely out of balance due to weights..........after rebalancing them some tires took less than 10 grams total [normal Michelin levels on good wheels].

Something rotten in Denmark as they use to say.......somebody in Virginia didn't know how to mount/ balance tires. 2 were close considering the new breakin and drive but 2 were extremely seriously wrong ????????

[96Qowner]

Heheh, don' worry about "pretty". Around here, the prettiest shops have the most "professional" customer relations, the most efficient forms, and the coldest, most uncaring air of superiority and infallibility. Makes me feel like a income source, all warm n fuzzy, yeah.

But I've recently realized that somewhere along the line I've become a persnickety car owner. I actually DO want to be told what I should fix or replace to keep everything running smoothly. I, like you, tend to think of car expenses as long-term investments. Over many years a car will cost you a given amount in repairs and maintenance. Whether you spend the money early or late, you still spend it. And if you spend it late you pay more, because the unmaintained stuff breaks or ruins other stuff. Besides, as long as a guy is going to have to pay it anyway, why not get it out of the way and enjoy a perfectly running car the WHOLE time?

As I've boasted before, I still have a perfectly (well, almost) running 1990 Accord with 376,000 miles on it - original owner, bought new. The engine runs as smoothly or more so than the one in the 92 Accord Wagon I bought to replace it. Unfortunately, I just couldn't bring myself to put another timing belt in the old noble thing. I'm hoping some ricer will want it for a project car. It just needs an H22 swap and a suspension. (Oh, and the fuggin rust, too). Sigh.

[96Qowner]

Everything went smoothly on the 1500 mile trip down. No gas leaks. Tightening the clamps worked.

And now I have all new hoses, courtesy of T3! No more worries about that. What a nice shop - nice open and helpful guys. They took good care of me and my car.

All you Southeasterners should think about a day trip to Atlanta and T3. Rent a car for the day and pick yours back up for the trip home.