Snapped Fuel Line *Please Read*

[Johnny_Brooklyn]

Hello,

I am an owner of a 2010 SR5 that I purchased in November 2009. A few days ago, I began to smell a strong "gas" odor while driving and watched the fuel gauge drop rapidly. I brought my 4runner into a collision shop to find out my "return line" above my fuel tank completely snapped, leaking gas profusely. This has myself and family shaken up as it put myself and any occupants completely at risk to be hurt or worse. Thankfully, nothing tragic occurred.

(BTW-My driving habits are all mostly highway..ive never been "offroading"-I live in New Jersey, despite the name...I have approx. 49k miles on it)


The owner of the shop was shocked and explained to me it would have been impossible that "foul play" caused this based on the locaton of the fuel lines.

I know I rarely post, but I wanted to let other 5th generation 4runners know just in case this is a "Toyota" issue instead of an isolated case. Hopefully thats all it is.

I find it completely unacceptable for a 2010 vehicle to have this issue, and considering contacting corporate Toyota to bring to their attention.

Good luck and God Bless all.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

That is strange, this is honestly the first I've ever heard of fuel line breaking in that location. Was it a metal line or plastic line by any chance?

 

[Jtraskell]

Where was the break? Any photos? Glade all is good and no injuries. Very Scary.....be safe.

 

[harper7]

Hello,

I am an owner of a 2010 SR5 that I purchased in November 2009. A few days ago, I began to smell a strong "gas" odor while driving and watched the fuel gauge drop rapidly. I brought my 4runner into a collision shop to find out my "return line" above my fuel tank completely snapped, leaking gas profusely. This has myself and family shaken up as it put myself and any occupants completely at risk to be hurt or worse. Thankfully, nothing tragic occurred.

(BTW-My driving habits are all mostly highway..ive never been "offroading"-I live in New Jersey, despite the name...I have approx. 49k miles on it)


The owner of the shop was shocked and explained to me it would have been impossible that "foul play" caused this based on the locaton of the fuel lines.

I know I rarely post, but I wanted to let other 5th generation 4runners know just in case this is a "Toyota" issue instead of an isolated case. Hopefully thats all it is.

I find it completely unacceptable for a 2010 vehicle to have this issue, and considering contacting corporate Toyota to bring to their attention.

Good luck and God Bless all.

It's the internet,you'll find some people on the net have been beamed to Mars and back in their Jeep or grew a 3rd eye if you surf it enough ...What shop and what mechanic?There's fuel lines running the whole way from the back to front,never heard or seen a fuel line "snapped" on it's own.Where's the pics ?

Sorry to say it but .................we need proof

 

[Johnny_Brooklyn]

@BlackWorksInc.-it is a black "plastic" return line, per the owner and 2 mechanics who showed me while car was up on lift.

@Jtraskell-Mind you, im not a car guy or a mechanic, but when the owner showed me the snapped line, it was directly above the gas tank after they removed the skid plate etc. A black plastic line that was completely severed.

@Harper7-I completely understand your skepticism. I know your very active on this site (in fact, my Momo black shift knob I copied from your extensive mod truck back in early 2010). Fellas, I have no reason to BS anyone. To answer your question harper, the auto body shop is Stetson Automotive in Waretown NJ..Mr. Pat Testino is the owner....in business over 30 years. I dont know why you need mechanics names when it has nothing to do with the truck defect.

I dont have photos as my car was towed by AAA and brought to the collision shop...im regretting that I failed to take them.

(BTW-When Stetson Automotive called Gateway Toyota in Toms River for the part, their parts guy told Mr. Testino this was the 1ST TIME someone has ever had to order that part (the fuel lines) to replace...not for a 4runner but for Toyotas in general.

Im still shaken up by this-My truck was routinely maintained (every 3k to 5k miles oil was changed)-washed, waxed-new michelin LTX M/S2 tires...THIS SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED...I just wanted to give you guys a heads up god forbid something like this happens to your 4runner..

Take care.

 

[MeBe4running]

Interesting....

Haven't you guys been on gas rations, so to speak of recent? Odd numbers on one day even on the next? I'm wondering if it was foul play even if you think not. Its just this word "SNAP" that's doesn't add up.

Out of interest do you park your truck out in the street when at work and/or at home?

Glad to hear your safe though!

 

[Johnny_Brooklyn]

@MeBe-I park my vehicle in a driveway-quiet surburban neighborhood in Ocean County NJ. You are 100% correct-Gov. Christie implemented "rationing" based on license plate post Hurricane Sandy.

In regard to the word "snapped"-Its the best way to describe it as a direct witness to it...its almost surreal-like someone took wire cutters and cut it-but that would be nearly impossible considering the location and accessibility to it...whether it was a freak occurance or not, I just figured fellow 4runner owners should know.

Look, I was on this message board constantly (rarely ever posted) before and "just after" purchasing my 2010 SR5. In fact, I remember 4th generation guys and potential 5th generation owners were critical of the fact Toyota manufactured a new redesign with:

1. A mast antenna.
2. a weak horn
3. Lack of LED taillights.
4. Heavier weight-less torque.
5. No V8 etc

...Im just pissed that this serious issue with my truck could very well have been due to Toyota "cutting corners" in their manufacturing quality. :ybrick:

 

[MeBe4running]

Look, I was on this message board constantly (rarely ever posted) before and "just after" purchasing my 2010 SR5. In fact, I remember 4th generation guys and potential 5th generation owners were critical of the fact Toyota manufactured a new redesign with:

1. A mast antenna.
2. a weak horn
3. Lack of LED taillights.
4. Heavier weight-less torque.
5. No V8 etc

...Im just pissed that this serious issue with my truck could very well have been due to Toyota "cutting corners" in their manufacturing quality.

Okay...l never doubted your attendance to this forum

 

[Johnny_Brooklyn]

Sorry MeBe-its just that my nerves are shot after the day I had today. :hatsoff:

Stay well.

 

[Jtraskell]

Ok, no photos and a brief description of where the line broke with at least one possible reason, however unrealistic.(Vandals)

So, to the collective, how could this happen? The "Return" line snapped. What is a return line? (This is a general question to the collective, not directed to you Johnny) I am assuming this line is on the "top" side of the gas tank? So one would have to remove the skid, and then get to the top side of the gas tank in order to "cut" this line, hence the reason your Mech said nary impossible to do. Even if on the underside, the skid plate is in the way.....same problem?

The only thing I can come up with is a "FREAK" accident of some sort of road "FOD" the came up under you vehicle, found it's way by bounce above and in front of the gas tank and skid plate, (or below the gas tank, but above the skid) sliced the gas line then fell off. Maybe part of a metal "strap" used to tie down loads on open semi trailers.....just a thought.

If the skid shows no sign of impact from below, (like a rock or something) and the "return line" is below the tank....what else can it be?

Be safe and I hope the gurus on the sight can give there insight!

 

[harper7]

Well Johnny I believe you now that you have more then one post and explained that your a long time lurker!!lol Sorry I jumped you! We just seem to get more then our fair share of trolls and spammers on here.

I've been doing some research and it was hard to get my head around your wording of the fuel line " snapping". IMO ,I think maybe one of the connectors was faulty or improperly installed and it came loose there and the reason it would look cut. Nylon fuel lines are used throughout the industry and are pretty tough and never heard of one or could even imagine one snapping in two.Them chaffing on something could rub a hole and make them leak but not snap.

Here's the fuel system where your talking about and you can see the lines on top and the connectors on each end.



These are what the connectors are like and probably what came loose.There are a male and female one at each connection.


*1 Retainer
*2 Nylon Tube
*3 Pipe
*4 O-Ring
*5 Fuel Tube Connector

 

[Quentin]

@MeBe-I park my vehicle in a driveway-quiet surburban neighborhood in Ocean County NJ. You are 100% correct-Gov. Christie implemented "rationing" based on license plate post Hurricane Sandy.

In regard to the word "snapped"-Its the best way to describe it as a direct witness to it...its almost surreal-like someone took wire cutters and cut it-but that would be nearly impossible considering the location and accessibility to it...whether it was a freak occurance or not, I just figured fellow 4runner owners should know.

Look, I was on this message board constantly (rarely ever posted) before and "just after" purchasing my 2010 SR5. In fact, I remember 4th generation guys and potential 5th generation owners were critical of the fact Toyota manufactured a new redesign with:

1. A mast antenna.
2. a weak horn
3. Lack of LED taillights.
4. Heavier weight-less torque.
5. No V8 etc

...Im just pissed that this serious issue with my truck could very well have been due to Toyota "cutting corners" in their manufacturing quality. :ybrick:

Did you pull out your jump to conclusions mat for this extrapolation? Fuel lines are serious bits and are on a whole other level of quality classification within Toyota due to being safety related, unlike a V8 or mast antenna.

Regardless, you should recover the parts and share them with your local Toyota dealer. There are people with-in the company that investigate these things and can determine what root cause is.

 

[1000MPH]

You can quite easily reach up under the driver side and grab the fuel lines. Wonder what would happen if you pulled on them?

 

[philsey]

@ OP. You'll have to cut Harper some slack - since White Shadow is gone, and JohnnyT has settled down some, he hasn't had much sanitizing work to do. He's our Cleaner, and takes his work very seriously.

 

[Stifler]

waiting for JohhnyT to arrive lol

 

[ATL4R]

Hello,

I am an owner of a 2010 SR5 that I purchased in November 2009. A few days ago, I began to smell a strong "gas" odor while driving and watched the fuel gauge drop rapidly. I brought my 4runner into a collision shop to find out my "return line" above my fuel tank completely snapped, leaking gas profusely. This has myself and family shaken up as it put myself and any occupants completely at risk to be hurt or worse. Thankfully, nothing tragic occurred.

(BTW-My driving habits are all mostly highway..ive never been "offroading"-I live in New Jersey, despite the name...I have approx. 49k miles on it)


The owner of the shop was shocked and explained to me it would have been impossible that "foul play" caused this based on the locaton of the fuel lines.

I know I rarely post, but I wanted to let other 5th generation 4runners know just in case this is a "Toyota" issue instead of an isolated case. Hopefully thats all it is.

I find it completely unacceptable for a 2010 vehicle to have this issue, and considering contacting corporate Toyota to bring to their attention.

Good luck and God Bless all.

Curious why this was taken to a collision shop. Were you involved in an accident in the past?