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Sat Jun 21, 2003 6:48 pm

just got my 2002 Eurovan a week ago and decided to install a cd changer...no big deal right? well it went smoothly...got the harness hooked up to the radio and put the cd changer under the passenger seat like vw driver gear catalog suggested...only problem is that the instructions were not too clear.
after drilling into the floor under the seat I noticed a gasoline odor....uh oh
seems the fuel tank is extremely close to the floor in the front... who knew???
who knows how much it will cost to have and fuel tank shipped from germany and installed.....anybody have this problem please email me and let me know how you made out. all others be on the look out for this potential problem
thanks...

Sat Jun 21, 2003 8:05 pm

Drain the tank if possible, and loosen the straps and lower it. It's PLASTIC- Rough up the nice hole you made with the drill, get some "JB Weld", mix it up, and fix the hole. Let it dry 24hrs and put your tank back. JB is impervious to gasoline once dried. Go in peace, but, from now on, LOOK BEFORE YOU DRILL!!! :-)

Mon Jun 23, 2003 7:44 am

spoke to VWoA ....they made a note of the problem but would not offer assistance to the problem...I will drop the tank and repair it myself.
thanks for the suggestion!

Tue Jun 24, 2003 7:30 am

VW's are very very sensitive to fuel system leaks. Unless you repair the tank absolutely perfectly, it will set an evap syatems leak code and turn the Check Engine light on. If you are already dropping the tank, why not just buy a new tank and know that it is being replaced correctly? I am a tech for VW and see these type of things turn into a huge nightmare for the owner. Just trying to stop you from having to do it twice...but it's your van...if you feel safe driving around with a repaired fuel tank...that's totally up to you. But I wouldn't be surprised when that light comes on...

Tue Jun 24, 2003 1:10 pm

Hey VW Lover.... the engine light came on after a short while of driving and after looking under the Van I realized it was going to be too involved to perform in the driveway. I brought it to my mechanic and he is suggesting I have the tank "welded" with a plastic welder. I priced a new tank and they go for $495. and it will take a week to get. I gues I will wait to hear from my mechanic and see if he thinks its worth it. I heard VW recently put out a bulletin warning of the potential problem with installing the cd changer under the passenget seat, too bad I heard too late.

Tue Jun 24, 2003 1:26 pm

EuroVan's are a nightmare to work on...I cringe whenever they come into our shop because I have one of 2 lifts in our shop that will lift one....I had to put a tranny in one about a month ago....what a PITA....Have you checked salvage yards for a used tank?

Tue Jun 24, 2003 7:00 pm

I haven't checked into the salvage yards yet but, I just returned from my mechanics shop with my van. He was able to cut a "slag" of plastic from the seam of the tank and melt it into the hole with a very hot soldering iron and melted the surrounding area into it, kinda swirling it around, then to make sure, he used a fuel tank repair kit and epoxied over the newly welded area with fiberglas mesh and a two part epoxy. he reset the MIL indicator and off I went a few bucks later. He warned if the light came back on I would probably need to replace it. So the Eurovan is a nightmare to work on? do they come in for problems alot? I hate to think I bought one of those expensive money pits. It really seems like a well made vehicle and I like the way it handles and the brakes work extremely well. hopefully thisnew Microbus will be comparible toit since they are dropping the Eurovan after 2003 models.

Wed Jun 25, 2003 5:25 am

No they rarely come in with any problems, but even changing the oil is a huge PITA with that enormous canoe of a shield they decided to cover the bottom of the engine with. Really the only trouble I personally have had with them is the one tranny I did....and they are pretty rare that they come in with any major problems....you should be fine, I can't wait to see the new MicroBus in '05!

Wed Jun 25, 2003 7:43 pm

Hey There! Glad to hear that the Eurovans are dependable, I'm still wondering how it will handle in the snow...I live in NY and it has been pretty snowy here these past few years,BTW where are you from? have you ever driven a eurovan on a snowy road? I cant wait to see the new microbus too! my parents owned several Microbus campers and think it would be pretty ironic if I could drive my family around in the same "named" vehicle 35 years later!

Thu Jun 26, 2003 6:27 am

I'm in Syracuse, but I haven't really driven one on snowy roads....they come in a lot in the summer, maybe people store them for the winter, because most of the ones I see are campers....

Fri Jun 27, 2003 8:56 am

I've seen pics of the new microbus on the VW site. It still retains some of the breadloaf look, but other than that, it looks different. But it does have a 230? hp V6, so it'll be highway driveable.

Fri Jun 27, 2003 11:56 am

Hopefully the Eurovan will do well in the snow....The microbus should be cool ...hopefully VW will do a decent job with it and offer it in the camper version.