I’m trying to disconnect the wiring connector for the fuel pump on my 96, and I can’t see how to. I don’t want to break the connector being stupid. Is there something I’m missing? There’s a lot of sketchy stuff down here from when the PO had the pump replaced.

 

Now the strap nuts are fighting me even after a couple doses of pb blaster.

 

Also while I'm here I need recommendations for hose clamps to replace all of the crusty ones.

 

See that tab where your thumb is? Push down HARD in the direction of the arrow. Then pull apart at the same time. It's almost impossible. I found that using a flat screwdriver up under that tab sometimes does the trick.




Looks like your ground wire has multiple splices. I'd clean that up if it were me. Cut that thing back a few inches to make sure you have clean wire, and splice in new. I might even be tempted to make a new groiunding point on the metal.


Not really good.


Stop fighting. Cut them off. Replace with new. They are stupidly expensive, but it's just a stinking J bolt. You can find a replacement at a hardware store. Last time I did one I sprayed liberally with a cold galvanizing compound after I got them in place. Dunno how well that turned out - the car went to the scrapper a few years ago.

No magic that I know of. Just drop by Lowe's and visit the plumbing department. They carry decent stainless steel clamps. Harbor Freight clamps are junk.

 

Thank you!

Where would you suggest as a new ground? I get nervous fixing what isn't broken... yet.

Well I snapped one the J bolts and I think the other is loose, or near snapping, we'll find out today.

Okay thanks, I wasn't sure if they needed to be anything special.

 

Note from DJ
What are you trying to fix? And what are your symptoms of your problem?

 

Success!






Nasty!!

 

No problems, just painting the underside of the cargo area.

 

That's sure a nasty mess in there! I drained my 97 a while ago, and it wasn't nearly that bad. Had quite a bit of water in it, though.

As for grounding... take a really good look at the stock grounding point and see if you can clean it up. If not, depends on your skills. You'll have to get creative. You could drill a hole and mount a .250 male connector, then connect your newly repaired ground wire with the appropriate female end. Use a # 10 machine screw with the head on the inside, sealed with JB Weld, and a star washer under the nut on the outside. All stainless steel, of course. Use dielectric grease liberally on the outside.

 

As with every project, it always starts a couple mini-projects.
This time around I've got
1. Clean ground
2. Drain and clean tank
3. New fuel filter
Possibly new rubber line(s)
4. New filler neck hoses
5. Paint straps and plastic cover clips
6. Address rust spots on tank. Normal paint?
7. New J bolts and hose clamps

 

Say, it's a bit off topic, but have you ever heard of anyone putting the later plastic tank into the earlier XJs? I'm sure it would fit because I don't think there's any difference other than some minor sheet metal changes over the years. Wiring would be different, though, as would the lines due to the different pump locations.

 

I have not heard of that swap, although if I were to swap I think I'd go for a ZJ tank.
Actually now that I think of it I think someone was talking about swapping a newer tank in not that long ago... not sure how it turned out for them.

 

Again, a bit off topic, but I found my large evap leak! The filler pipe was rotted thru!

 

That just might be the cause!

My son just went through that with his SportTrac. Apparently a common problem with them.

 

My Mazda has a large evap leak, pretty sure its the gas tank. But as long as I keep it below half a tank it doesn't leak...