First real post here- just ordered a Widebody last week. Anyways, a few years ago I noticed a lot of wrecked SRTs/Hellcats being parted as turnkey engine packages, almost always came from burned cars that had been in front impacts, wondered about possible fuel tank issues, etc., as interiors were gone, often engines looked fine. I did some searching and found a few too many stories/videos of the plastic gas tank 'hats' that hang the fuel pump, cracking/leaking under rear seat, after impacts (front end hits/potholes). Just wondered if that part had ever been reinforced? The videos I saw of leakers, were white plastic with very deep square shaped lightening pockets, and the fuel tube apparently is molded in. So, if a crack gets to the hole, it's spraying fuel. Years ago, I hemmed and hawed about getting one, and I tend to read a lot. Seeing that issue was a little too common on c the Challenger/Charger/300 (shared part), it just sounded to me like maybe the pump was too heavy for the design, and inertia from harsh impacts combined with weight of the suspended pumps, would be about the only way these might crack if the tank itself was not impacted. I actually emailed NHTSA and sent links, but got basically nothing back. As a non-owner, I can't really file a report. I just wondered a couple things: 1- If anyone in here had seen any of these fuel tank 'hat' cracking issues, or 2- If they've been upgraded in the past couple years. I haven't heard of Pinto-like tendencies or anything, but I'm a bit of a worrywart-especially about gasoline. If I ever get my 69 Mustang redone, I guarantee it will have a different fuel tank/filler. I love the looks of the 69 Mustang, but honestly think a Pinto had a safer fuel tank/filler. I had a co-worker with a 455 olds racecar, he was changing his fuel pump one day, dropped his trouble light and nearly died. He lost his car/garage/months in burn unit. Gas is unforgiving stuff, even if a little of it gets out. Just got into bigger model airplanes last year with like 50cc motors and see so many old nitro guys flying gas now, and treating it like nitro/alcohol. A nitro model plane fuel can burn invisibly, but never seen fumes explode- gas will, even a little if no breeze clearing vapors. I have a hand cranked pump, see guys changing batteries on electric pumps wire-tied to gas cans and just cringe. I can't help but get on my soapbox and tell about the guy with the trouble light. Years ago, I figured if I ever got a Challenger (have 3 Mustangs plus the 69 in pcs), I'd maybe fill the square pockets with epoxy to stiffen them up, but maybe it's a non-problem. Anyways, I love these cars. It's really kinda heartbreaking that this is the last year- I feel like its 1970 again- I was just a kid then, but always a car nut, and everything after 1970 kinda went downhill faster than the compression ratios. My 2nd oldest son ordered a 1320 8 weeks ago- it got built on 4/27. I really don't have room/funds to throw at yet another car, but just have to do it. I ordered a basic Widebody stick in that B5 blue color. It will probably be my last new car, as I'm almost 60 and keep cars 'forever', but just know if I don't, I will be kicking myself later. It's a last chance to get one of the last of the modern classics... just the worry wart in me still wonders if that the fuel hat is really a possible problem. Tthx in advance for any insight.
Over the years, there have been some reports about fuel pump leaks, but they have been rare and there has been no recall. I wouldn't worry about it. My 2009 SRT is 13 years old, with no problems.
years back reading up after seeing so many post-crash interior fires, found the video above and a few too many more- just did some more reading and 2 people found the leaks were from melted wire connectors, letting gas thru around the molded in wires- and one guy attributed it to folks sitting in back seat-his 300 broke twice- the fuel hats are right under the seat, and sounds like rear passengers bouncing can actually press on the fuel hat cracking it or damaging the connectors...guy made steel covers to put over the pump hats and his problems went away... think I might still consider epoxy filling the weight saving 'waffle' AND put lids on them- perhaps the breakage wasnt inertia/impact so much as heavy rear seat passengers bottoming the seat after a pothole or a minor crash... seems more likely as just realized most of the ones I see are passenger side only for breakage- pump is on drivers side, and all the drivers side leaks I see are from burnt connectors, letting gas seep around molded in wires...just seems like in any event, this type of failure should never happen, but now thinking the guy who mentioned rear passengers bouncing seat onto the plastic hat may be the actual cause of failure... the first thing that got me looking into this- after seeing several pallet motors at cleveland performances page, all from burnt challengers- was somewhere local 5 kids stole a challenger, went off the road and died in a interior fire, pics in the paper showed only fairly minor front end damage from glancing off a tree, and front of car wasnt fully burned, so started searching fuel tank leaks- found zero tank issues, but quite a few tophat failures- offroad/3 rear seat passengers bottoming out- the seat pressure is making more sense than anything. will have to write the one who posted about hitting pothole and breaking tophat, had passenger sitting on that side- gut feeling is that was likely the case... just 'bench racing' pondering the two challengers soon heading to our house sons is a 1320 with no rear seat, so he might be fine LOL.
