Bad/Good news.

MP5 Kyle

Member
:
2003 Mazda Protege5
Hey Everyone,

So, I have been wondering why my gas mileage was garbage these past few days, and then I was with a friend and he kept saying he smelt gas coming from my car(which I just kept saying the car needed a tune up, because that is what I was told). We continued on, and at the end of the night I parked the car, and couldn't get the smell of gas out of my mind, realizing it was definitely the time now to get a tune up, I was going to go out and buy all the needed materials Monday morning, but after I had backed up out of my parking spot I saw a nice HUGE pool of liquid on the ground. So, I got out and went to smell it and realized, HOLY F#$K! that's gas, So Immediately I pulled back into my spot and the car was there with a catch can underneath it, I checked and noticed my Fuel tank was fully rotted out....

Now for the good news :)

I took the car to a mechanic and he looked and said for sure the car needed a tank, as he could have without much force put his whole hand right through the tank. After we took the car out of the shop he told me it would be around $700 to get a tank and put it in, and he also said that if it needed hangers it would be another $50 or so. Needless to say I boogied out of there :P. I managed to find a used fuel tank at a semi-local scrap yard for $125 and then took it to my sister's mechanic and he said he'd put 'er in for $125, so all in all I'll have my car back tomorrow morning with a semi-new(looks PERFECT, NO rust.) Fuel tank.

All for $250, pretty good if you ask me :P


So, that's been my week! HOW WAS YOURS????! :P

-Kyle
 
Always nice to discover that the big problem you thought was going to cost a ton to fix has a cheaper, easier solution. Usually (in my case) it goes the other way. Goad you got that problem solved!
 
I found out my leaking rear caliper was putting a s*** ton of brake fluid on the rim and its now ate away all the paint looks like its peeling really bad
 
Thanks Mazda, I was so happy that I could get it SOOO much cheaper :)

@tweety that really sucks, how long did you know the caliper was leaking, or did it just start and eat away the paint?
 
i found out about a month ago just havnt had time to fix it 7 day work weeks are killin me. and if not that the heat is im going through a small container of brake fluid a week
 
It took me a little over an hour to pull a caliper and install it on my car. Its super simple on the P5.

As for the gas tank, I really hoope you learnt from ur mistakes and Rust proofed that b****. I replaced it on my old car, I rust proofed it to ensure that s*** wouldnt happen again.
 
So monday i went to my local Mazda dealer to get my A/C refrigerant refilled from when I took it out and the dude quoted me 30 for the A/C job and 100 for the service fee. So 150 taxes in. I then proceeded to walk out laughing out loud. Now I work at a Partsource not to far from my house and yesterday I found out we sell A/C refueling kits. Bought a can of refrigerant for $7 and used the store use hose and tap to refill the A/C. No I am sitting frosty for $7 compared to $150. (yippy) :D (lol2)
 
It took me a little over an hour to pull a caliper and install it on my car. Its super simple on the P5.

As for the gas tank, I really hoope you learnt from ur mistakes and Rust proofed that b****. I replaced it on my old car, I rust proofed it to ensure that s*** wouldnt happen again.

Yes, I am going to before winter, and the gas tank was already undercoated so itll be double proofing it :P
 
I found the issue was water somehow gets to the top of the tank and pools while forming and eating rust thrut he tank. I wanted to Rhino liner mine but I wasnt too sure and needed an answer right away
 
oh jeez, that does not sound good at all, would rhino lining it work? if so i might have to try it.
 
Just got home from picking up the car, The mechanic told me that it has one of the strongest fuel pumps he has seen on a car :P started up first crank after putting gas in the new tank :)
 
Ijay I know the calipers aren't bad I just replaced the front one not to long ago. It wasn't bad the only bad part right now is the heat wave were in. I replaced the master cylinder on my buick Wednesday and could wring the sweat from my shirt when I was done (took a little over an hour)
 
Are the fuel tanks metal or plastic? You mentioned that the junk yard tank had no rust, I was under the impression it is a plastic fuel tank.
 
@codex, the external part is metal, the internals are plastic. But mine had rotted right throough, I should have taken a picture it was BAAAD.


@d0sitmatr, thanks, and yes on my tight budget it was most definitely an awesome deal!
 

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