Accessing inside of fuel tank

I'm on a mission to clear the crap out of my fuel tank from my 1.8 gti.  I've had a speaker attached to the underside of the tank for about 8 months now.  Problem is, I can't get in through the top to lower a magnet in.  I've removed the back seat, removed the three screws from the black cap and I get to the sender unit.  I can't remove the metal disc (locking ring?) the connections are attached to.  My normally trusty Haynes manual says use two crossed screwdrivers to do so but I can't release the supply and return hoses to do this.  Theres no slack in the hoses so I can't cut them.  I've tried a hammer and flat head secrewdriver to unlock it anti-clockwise but no joy.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance

You can use a hammer and chisel to turn it round gradually. Hit it from opposite directions, but turning it the same way, so it doesn't get jammed up against one edge or another. You might chip or destroy it in the process, if you're not careful - I've destroyed one like this, in the past (when it was really cold and the plastic was brittle).

I don't see why you can't release the hoses, they're just hose clips and then they pull off. Maybe you need to carefully cut the hose clips if they're perished, and replace with new ones. There should be a little slack in them to allow their removal and replacement.

supply and return on a GTI??? Carbs have them but the GTI should have the connections direct to the tank not via the sender unit?

Not sure what you mean by locking ring? the sender is a bayonet fitting and should knock/twist off :dontknow:

Early-1800 said

supply and return on a GTI??? Carbs have them but the GTI should have the connections direct to the tank not via the sender unit?

Not sure what you mean by locking ring? the sender is a bayonet fitting and should knock/twist off :dontknow:

Quite right. I assumed it was a non-GTI, or a later cabby.

Its an 86 gti cabbie.  There are two tubes going through the plate which I assumed were supply and return.  I haven't got the lead for my camera so can't put any pictures up.  If anyone has got the brown Haynes manual to hand, the bottom photo on page 69 is the same as mine.

I think the later cabrios did have the same tank but I've no idea if this was the GTI or carb design or something different again.

Not sure what date either the change was :dontknow:

I also think the later ones had a lift pump in the tank like the MK11 GTis :dontknow:  :dontknow:

This is what I've got….



I'll have a go with the a hammer and chisel later.  The photo isn't focussed but the collars are loose and the tubes are stuck fast.

..undo these - the pipes are very fiddly and just ease back…


..USE a WOOD DRIFT on all three (avoid any possibility of sparks and explosion…)


late cabby lift pump and filter…BE CAREFULL WITH THE 'O' RING - best to replace with a new one and use fuel to lubricate it when putting it all back together….


..more pics ..here..

:notworthy:  :notworthy: :notworthy: :clap: :clap: :clap:

Cheers Prowler.  That clears things up and helps a lot.

…just try not to bend the lugs Danny…I did that once and deformed the whole thing. Just keep on at it a bit at a time, going round and round each one in turn. It goes back on easier  

Any ideas where I can get the O ring from?  GSF only provide the ring as a seal not a filter (part no. 93699) (thats what it looks like in the picture on your website).  Vagcat doesn't list a part no and my local stealer hasn't got a clue what it is.

dannyboyblue said

Any ideas where I can get the O ring from?  GSF only provide the ring as a seal not a filter (part no. 93699) (thats what it looks like in the picture on your website).  Vagcat doesn't list a part no and my local stealer hasn't got a clue what it is.

Easily available from any VW Dealer. Go back to the dealership and ask to speak to someone in parts who knows what they're doing!

paul_c said

Easily available from any VW Dealer. Go back to the dealership and ask to speak to someone in parts who knows what they're doing!

Haven't found an employee there yet who does know what they're doing!

dannyboyblue said

paul_c said

Easily available from any VW Dealer. Go back to the dealership and ask to speak to someone in parts who knows what they're doing!

Haven't found an employee there yet who does know what they're doing!

Name & shame?

…Item 5…

Sir, you've done yourself proud again!  Thanks

Have ordered it from Motorline VW for collection on Friday for the princely sum of ?1.18.

dannyboyblue said

Sir, you've done yourself proud again!  Thanks

Have ordered it from Motorline VW for collection on Friday for the princely sum of ?1.18.

what, no bartering?

I did actually try for a quid!  But their stock answer for any of my requests for a discount is 'Sorry, thats how much we're told to charge by Germany'.  I actually laughed in the guy's face the first time I heard that

when you say that a blocked filter/perished o ring could lead to fuel leaks, does this mean it would leak out of the overlow pipe, as mine is leaking from there and wondered if this was the source of the problem? the pipe coming down fromt he gravity breather valve, dripping infront of spar wheel well?

Thanks
Josh

hi chaps, saw this thread and thought i'd add to this rather than start another…

I'm also tring to access the fuel tank (84 cab GL), but the top of the sender unit in my case is a white plasic affair that doesn't really look like it's up to much shufty-ing witha chisel. However, it's stuck fast! I've taken off the fuel send and return pipes and the wiring, so does anyone have any clever ideas?

The old haynes book doesnt really give much of a hint, just to use two crossed screwdrivers. I'm no mechanic like, but erm…it doesnt work?!

Cheers!