After repairing a leak at the coolant/idler pulley mount and replacing the power steering pump. I couldn't get fuel to the engine. I opened the little access under the passenger rear seat to see the power wire to the fuel pump was no longer connected the fuel pump hatch. I'm about to get out the metal snips to cut open the floor for a fuel pump access. Instead of dropping the tank. The wires looked as if they were cut but must have simply disinegrated right at the lid. Strange. I have had the fuel lines rust out right at that spot on my pickup truck but never had wires just fall apart

 

Are you sure you want to cut a hole in your floor? I realize dropping the tank is a lot of work, but why don't you drop it and fix any other problems under there. If your wires decayed I'm sure the other wires are on their way out too.


You should add your 4Runner specs to your signature so we know what your driving. (Year, engine etc..)

 

I cut my floor out and then made a little cover plate in my 93. I can change my fuel pump in about 15 minutes now.

 

Takes maybe 15 minutes and a floor jack to drop a gas tank. Why cut an extra hole in your floor to replace the fuel pump? How often does one go out?

 

Well, I wouldn't be cutting the floor. But, the power wire to the pump decided to break right at the pump lid on the top of the tank. It's more than a 15 min job to pull a tank full of gas. I can't justify at least a half of a days work to get to those wires. I saw a pic on another site and made the cuts. That took 15 min. Exposing the top of the pump and the broken wires. I soldered them back together and I am back on the road. I will make a nice patch with the cut out piece. And it will be easy to get back in there if the pump goes bad.

 

Heres a pic I found of the access opening on another site

 

You must have a magic floor jack. Besides how often does your pump go out in your driveway next to your floorjack.

 

Heres a pic of my cutout in the floor and the repaired wires ( green liquid elec tape ) And fortunately I had this set of metal cutting snip that allows for a clean cut. Something aircraft snips can't do. Best of all, no sparks

 

Access lid is 3 screws, disconnect the hoses, plugs etc.
Take 4 bolts off drive shaft and 6-8 off gas tank and skid, lower with floor jack.

Quit making out like it takes all day to drop a gas tank. You shouldn't be doing it by yourself anyway. I've done it countless times in about 15 minutes with two people...perhaps 30 minutes at the most for getting tools out and wasting time.

Magic floor jacks are $199 at Harbor Freight on sale this week.

 

Yeah from what everyone makes it out to be one big project, i just that really depends on how rusty the bolts and whatnot are?

 

Yes, very very rusty underneath. Been there.

 

Would that access hole allow you to change the pump if need be?

 

From the looks of the position of the pump. Yes.

 

My access looks similar to kellhammers and yes you can take the pump right out. I cut mine because my pump went out about 150 miles into Mexico. My tool box had tin snips and I had a spare pump with me. Although I think it's a good mod anyway.

I carry spare u-joints, belts, hoses, spark plugs, fuel pump, tire plugs and even a water pump with me on all trips. Gotten me out of a couple of jams.