Gas Tank Issues...

[Frank]

Hello,all -
It's been a while since I've darkened the doorway of this forum but I've been busy 'just emptying every pocket'...

This past Summer, I gave Sluggo to my mechanic to repair the frame rot, replace the gas tank shield and fix the parking brake cable. These things he did but he did not replace the gas tank straps/hangers - which I supplied! And, there seems to be a venting issue with the tank - if I park on a slight incline, vehicle front uphill and a full tank, gasoline will drip from the filler. We all know there are better ways for a Wag to waste gas...
My question - should I have another mechanic drop the shield and install the straps for the tank? My confidence in my current mechanics is shaken as I seem to be geting short shrift in my recent requests...

And, is it possible the vent lines or some other item was disturbed causing Sluggo to pee gas on the ground now? When I smell gas, I remove the gas cap to the sweet tune of a brand-new can of coffee - a nice hiss of escaping air.

As usual, many thanks for any guidance from the assembled group of knowledge...

[The Anti-Chrysler]

Is there some reason you don't at least try and take it back to the "mechanic" who fixed it the first time, explaining your symptoms?? There's no reason you should have to put up with lousy service like that. The reason you brought it there was so that you wouldn't have to deal with those types of problems. Start there and see what they will do to reconcile the situation, in my book.

[Frank]

Jason -

I did indeed try this. When I first picked it up and saw the straps in the floor in the rear, I asked why they weren't installed. One guy (not the one who I talked to and assumed would be doing the work) said he didn't see them, then that the existing ones were good and he used them, then that the tank shield was plenty strong enough. So, I perceived a little backpedalling when I asked the question. I know for a fact the front strap was very rusted and not re-useable, hence my buying new ones; the shield was *that* rotted...

The thing is that this has been coming for a while. I left the truck with them for a whole week while I was on vacation. When I got back, they still weren't done and I had to wait until late in the day and then, the list of items I wanted fixed wasn't even halfway completed. I seem to be going back twice to get things fixed.

I don't want to complain about my mechanics too much - I think it's time to move on one way or another. I just wondered if the thing is safe as it is or if I should have it looked at. The straps were included in the design of the Wagoneer for a reason - it seems like a bad thing to leave them off. All things being equal, if this new shield were as rotted as the old one and had no tank straps, I think the tank would fall out.

[Matthew W. Woodruff]

As you said, the straps are there for a reason. Yeah, you might get by driving around like that, but what happens if you get rear-ended or if something even less dramatic happens?

Your (hopefully, former) mechanics should fix it for free. If they don't, get it done right and send them the bill.