Question about the gas tanks

[goldseekur]

I have a 2006 Passion and I have a question Does anyone know if the gas tanks for the 2008-09 smart car is the same gas take as the 2005-06 model? I understand that the 2005-06 models were modified [a hole cut into the gas tank] to add emission control parts. The 2008-09 cars made for the US market already have these parts added to the gas take if I am right. So can the gas tanks be interchanged?

Some of you may remember that my 2006 smart was in a wreck less than a year ago. I told the Mercedes dealership [ the one that did the body work on my car] that I was starting to smell gas. They would NOT even LOOK at the car, no reason just NO.

Anyway, I have started noticing that the smell was lasting longer and I also have seen small spots under the car from gasoline leaking out. I have found a GREAT car mechanic that is actually excited about servicing my smart.

He has the car now and says that the seal has broken where the emission controls were attached to the gas tank. He says that very likely the seal was broken from the impact of the car wreck because it was after that, that I started smelling the gasoline. He says that the original work may have been less than perfect and that the "Hole" in the gas tank is quite a bit larger than it should have been and that the person [company] that did the conversion just put more "stuff" around the area to seal it.

He has suggested that I replace the gas tank so that there is no further risk of this happening again. He says that he has located a 2006 gas tank that he can order and then do the conversion for around $650. It would come from overseas and supposed to take around 14 days to arrive in the US. The tank itself cost approximately $450. Can anyone tel me if that is a reasonable price?

But he was wondering if the newer, US models had the same gas tank. His thought was that if they were the same gas tank, the newer 2008-09 models have the emission controls already a part of the gas tank and that might be even a better thing to do, get the newer gas tank.

So, does anyone know for sure if the gas tanks are the same and that I could use a newer tank for my 2006 smart?

Goldseekur

[mike-in-sa]

I am pretty sure that they are not the same. When I visited the factory last year they mentioned that only a handful of 450 parts swapped out with the 451. Don't know how close you are to Canada but 450's parts are quite easy to find the dealers there might have a new one. Visit clubsmartcar.com. Nice bunch there. Maybe someone can help you get one. Cheers

[smart2]

G&K should have a gas tank, the price is about right for a new one from europe, i bought one from Germany in 2005, it had no hole like the g&K conversion tank did ,, it is also the 8 gallon tank, i think the Canadian is a 6 gallon tank, The engine and sub frame has to come out ,or drop it down, i have tried it, the filler neck will not flex, I tried to get a used tank from germany and england ,could not get it shipped, i am needing a tank also for a 2nd car, let me know if you find 2 tanks! i tried Mexico first, it was about $900 shipped from a dealer there!

[Bill Marshall]

Originally Posted by mike-in-sa

I am pretty sure that they are not the same. When I visited the factory last year they mentioned that only a handful of 450 parts swapped out with the 451. Don't know how close you are to Canada but 450's parts are quite easy to find the dealers there might have a new one. Visit clubsmartcar.com. Nice bunch there. Maybe someone can help you get one. Cheers

Mike, when you visited the factory did you learn anything about the differences between a North American version vs a European version? Any clues as to what's added to the Euro smart to make it what we have?

[goldseekur]

Thanks for the leads everyone. Smart2, I will keep you posted when find one.

Goldseekur

[jwight]

Have you tried Ron Gaus at asmartcar.com? He's pretty good at tracking this stuff down.

[Leroy]

In 2006 I picked up my large tank from Smart Tune for $235.00 and shipping was $429.00 to Kansas City. That was with out the piping for the evap. The box was very large because of the neck on the tank.

Leroy

[rgaus]

pm'd him with info, jwight.

Ron

[goldseekur]

Follow up on getting a gas tank.

Ron Gaus was very helpful with information. Thanks Ron.

Talked with G&K people and was told to ship the gas tank and they would "probably" be able to fix it and return it at N/C for the repair; only S&H. Well, the problem with that was the S/H charges...

Because the tank had gas in it at one time, was told the tank had to be shipped as "Hazardous" and expensive. And even if I shipped the tank out to G&K, it might not have been fixed at N/C, depending on what they found out when they saw the tank.

So, the service garage that I have the car at, did some more research for me and somehow got someone at the local smart dealership to order me a new gas tank. The new tank and install = around $600.00.

I said go for it as I want my "littlegem" back! Said about 2-3 more weeks!

I have to say, I love the car, but if I had realized all of the hassles to get parts for the car, I would probably not have gotten the car. Thank goodness I have other transportation!

On the other hand, I would surely not have purchased a new smart car upon reading some of the post on here and other forums. They seem to have even MORE problems and issues that the older models. I find it interesting that so many people seemed to want the smart car in the beginning and now there are so many Fore Sale on Ebay. Wonder why that is?

Don't get me wrong, but if you can not do any of the work on the car yourself, it is NOT a car that is easy to get worked on. I still love the car though.

Thanks all of you that offered some assistance to me.

[jetfuel]

..dude..sorry I did not get to this earlier..here's the fix I used on a friends leaking gas tank seam...
PR-1440 Sealant distributed by Bergdahl Associates, Inc.

jetfuel