Fuel Leak: Cracked Hose under Steering Column in Smuggler’s Box

[grantmax]

Hi Everyone:

It’s always something, right? Today it’s a fuel leak.

I noticed a small drip coming through the driver side inner control arm mount and started digging. Turns out, the top most hose under the steering column in the smuggler’s box is cracked and weeping.

Is this a DIY thing or another trip to the shop for professional repair? If DIY, how is this best accessed / tackled?

Thanks in advance.

[ThomasTe]

If you are comfortable doing repair work on your car, it is a pretty straightforward type of job. But it is important to do it right. It is a safety thing!

There are a number of things to look out for in the process:

Ensure reasonable work space: jack up the car and place it safely on axle stands, or have it on a lift.

The job is easier to do if there is not much fuel in the tank. Block the outlets from the tank properly while hoses are taken off - to keep fuel in the tank, and not on your workshop floor.

Use correct type of fuel hose (Cohline 2134.0600 (7,5mm) and Cohline 2134.0800 (9,5mm), or equivalent quality hose in the correct lenghts. See parts diagram PET 201-00 and 201-05)

Route new hoses correctly.

Use correct Norma fuel hose clamps. Not the ones used for garden hoses. :-)

Check the condition of the fuel hoses in the rear end of the car, also.

[ejboyd5]

A pair of speciality pliers can make removing the old line and replacing the new one much easier. Mine came from Harbor Freight years ago and although they are not often used, they are indispensable when needed.

[grantmax]

Thanks for the tips guys. Got this mended. It was one of the lines running off the fuel pump. I had replaced this line 5 years ago, so that’s disappointing. Alas, all is well again.

[Richy]

Your car has the fuel pump in the smuggler's box ? The only fuel lines I know in the smuggler's box are for the Webasto heater .