'11 Tacoma problem/ gas tank removal

[KingBeeIII]

Background: New Tacoma Quad Cab Prerunner with less than 2k miles on it. We started smelling gas in the garage and pin it to the wife's new Tacoma. New truck with a warranty, it goes to the dealership. Turns out there's a dent in the top of the plastic gas tank. This is considered "road damage" and isn't covered. They want $1,100 to replace the tank.

So my questions are, if I am to do the work my self (tank is $650), am I going to have to remove the bed to get at the tank? My next question is, is it possible to have a plastic gas tank fixed? They said it's a dent and not a hole, but it is cracked enough for fumes to get out. I have no experience with this truck, I haven't even gotten under it yet. I'm not that mechanically inclined, but to save $450, I'm tempted to take a whack at.

Any thoughts and/or advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Brake Weight]

How is a dent on TOP of the as tank considered ROAD DAMAGE?

 

[SteveH]

I would think removing the bed would be doing it the hard way, but you may be able to loosen one side's bolts and remove the other, and jack up the bed 4" on one side so you can get a look in there. You may find that it's an emission hose that fell off, rather than a truly defective/broken tank. Some plastic tanks can be repaired, but you'd have to find a competent shop in your area and discuss it with them.

I would run the truck low on gas and drop the tank, personally. You will want to be extremely careful not to break any emission system parts while disconnecting them.

 

[KingBeeIII]

I would think removing the bed would be doing it the hard way, but you may be able to loosen one side's bolts and remove the other, and jack up the bed 4" on one side so you can get a look in there. You may find that it's an emission hose that fell off, rather than a truly defective/broken tank. Some plastic tanks can be repaired, but you'd have to find a competent shop in your area and discuss it with them.

I would run the truck low on gas and drop the tank, personally. You will want to be extremely careful not to break any emission system parts while disconnecting them.

Just got it back. My service advisor couldn't get rid of me fast enough once I said I wasn't going to have them do the repairs. Gotta wait until it cools down some so I can get under the truck and see what I'm dealing with. Like I said, I've never been under the truck. We will see.

 

[74fj40]

Cracked tank on a 2011 and no CEL? sounds odd to me...

 

[roneyj]

Small crack in the top of the tank should be an easy fix. I just repair the plastic tank on one of my delivery trucks with a gas tank repair kit from O'Reilly Auto Parts. The kit does not say it will work on plastic but it did! We had someone take a screw driver to the bottom of the tank to steal the gas. The hole was about 1/4 inch long about 1/8 wide. I let it drip until it was dry and patched it. Been on about two weeks now, no drips, no CEL, and no smell.

 

[KingBeeIII]

Bad pic taken at night, but you can see the dent/crack/puncture. I smothered some "Wet Weld" on it and after it set, covered that with regular JB Weld. We'll see how it holds up.

 

[raydouble]

I think I would have had a conversation with Toyota corporate.

 

[Bomar]

I think I would have had a conversation with Toyota corporate.

Ditto and also find another dealership....to deal with.

Also write a letter to Toyota Corp.