Hello all

This past afternoon I found that the rear of my Z oddly smelled of raw fuel. While doing laundry at my brother's place I jacked the rear of the car up to find a nice line of fuel coming from the sending unit (the round thing on the right side of the tank right above the centerline). I'm assuming that the O-ring that sits inside has probably been nicely eaten by all the ethanol in the fuel, are these hard to replace? Do I have to drop the tank or can I finagle the thing out with the tank still in the car?

Thanks

Jan

No they are easy to replace. Remove the right rear tire and access panel. You should have a direct shot at it from there.

Edited January 13, 201312 yr by SteveJ
Needed more details.

The sending unit isn't on the top of the tank, beneath a round inspection hole in the hatch floor (round plate approx. 6" dia with 3 screws)?? It is on my '78. I don't know about the '75.

Here's a picture from the parts catalog along with the 240Z/260Z fuel tank for reference. I have replaced the sender on a 260Z without dropping the tank, and the sender on the 76 is in a similar location.

Its super easy if its the same as the 240z, as mine had the same problem. Caused a short that would make my gauge not work if my fuel level was above the sending unit. (mine was leaking out the terminals themselves, the gasket was fine)

If you can lift it, its a cakewalk, otherwise prop her up on a curb or something and crawl under. Make sure you're gas level is below it or pump out the excess so it doesn't spill everywhere.

Pop off the old unit and drop the new part on. It took me probably 5 minutes. You'll know you did it right when the leak is gone, and you get a dash reading. Good luck!

Thanks guys,

As it shows in SteveJ's picture the thing that is leaking is from the sending unit - in said drawin its piece 4. Do they still sell these things new, as looking at it it might be leaking from the terminals.

Thanks

Jan

Mine is on the top like Fastwoman's and when I cleaned my tank it got gone somehow? I bought this one at my local Nissan dealer, #17342-1800

RING-O :: Nissan Parts, NISMO and Nissan Accessories - Courtesyparts.com

Good news. The ring and locking plate are the same as for the 240Z as your car. The locking plate part number is 17343-14801. The O ring part number is 17342-18000.

If you can wait, try contacting Courtesy Parts or nissanparts.cc for them. They are a lot cheaper than other sources if the parts are still available in the Nissan supply system.

The one I got from Courtesy cost me $1.71.

Bonzi Lon

Can't find it at the moment but there is another thread that mentions fuel leaking from the terminals on the sender unit.  I had the same thing on mine.

Fix was to surround the terminal base with JB Weld (instead of Araldite).  Has set rock hard original unit.collar and seal has gone back in.  Bone dry!

240Z fuel sending unit, lock plate and O-ring are still available from Nissan: 

 Sending Unit Lock plate: https://zcardepot.com/fuel/sending-units/fuel-tank-sending-unit-seal-and-plate-240z-260z-280z.html?search=fuel+sending+unit

O-ring seal: https://zcardepot.com/fuel/sending-units/fuel-tank-sender-o-ring-seal-240z-260z-280z.html?search=fuel+sending+unit

Sending Unit:  https://zcardepot.com/fuel/sending-units/fuel-tank-sending-unit-oem-240z-70-73.html?search=fuel+sending+unit

On 12/11/2016 at 1:17 AM, YellowZee said:

Can't find it at the moment but there is another thread that mentions fuel leaking from the terminals on the sender unit.  I had the same thing on mine.

Fix was to surround the terminal base with JB Weld (instead of Araldite).  Has set rock hard original unit.collar and seal has gone back in.  Bone dry!

I think that was one of my posts. Regular JB Weld will not work in the long run  Constant exposure to fuel will eventually break it down.

What does work is JB Water Weld product #8277F. This is a two part epoxy putty that is designed to be used Fuel Tank repairs ( amongst another things ). It is resistant to Petrol, Diesel, Oil, Hydraulic Fluids and most Chemicals. They call it Water Weld because it will set underwater.

http://www.jbweld.com/products/waterweld-epoxy-putty

 

 

Edited December 16, 20168 yr by Chickenman