Is there a trick to removing the tank? removed the strap and one other bolt which was securing it. it moves about but wont come out!tried levering it out from the rear but it wont budge. tom

Is there a trick to removing the tank? removed the strap and one other bolt which was securing it. it moves about but wont come out!tried levering it out from the rear but it wont budge. tom

Haven't done this yet though it's on the list!

Haynes BOL says you need to drop the rear axel beam on the filler neck side. Doh!

People have done it without removing the rear beam but we had to on mine.

Other than that I assume you've disconnected the pump, breather pipes around the filler cap and I think there are some cables clipped to it too? From what I remember that was all that was holding it... it sits on a lip on the front end and the strap holds it there.

Hope this helps a bit

I've done one on a mk2 and didnt need to remove the beam. its best to get the car high on axel stands and remove the o/s/r wheel.disconnect all the fuel lines and tank sender plug.

i then pulled the handbrake cable down so it can be moved up to a point as the tank can get caught up on it. it was a matter of wriggling it loose but as it was shagged it didnt matter if it got damaged. you can remove the breather pipes from the filler neck when the tank is nearly free.

putting a new one is easier but put a cloth in the end of the filler neck or shit from the wheel arch will get in side the tank.

hope this is of some help.

I have just done mine on sunday, and i can safely say i would never do another one

It was only held on by the one bolt mentioned, and the strap. The front sits on a lip and the whole tank needs pulling back slightly to clear this then it should drop down a little. The trouble i had to remove the rear axle to get mine out easily in the end, no matter how much wiggling i did, I couldn't be in two places at once, so off it came.

It can be fiddly in places, but i just found it time consuming to do, once i got the old one out, the new one fitted easily, but then i got a pipe trapped slightly out of position, and had to remove the tank to sort this out. Getting the tank back in the second time took bloody ages.

I have just done mine on sunday, and i can safely say i would never do another one

Don't fancy havin a go at mine, then?

Four pack of Grolsch?

anyone fancy giving me a hand with mine on a mk3? ill pay for your time!

wherabouts are you,

sheffield, i think i have a mate who said he'd help, he's in rotherham. just need to source a fuel tank now , grrr!

fueltanksdirect are one of the cheapest, you just need to give ot a few thick coats of paint then underseal it.

There aint no real trick, i've managed to do one at the scrappers with its belly sittin on the roof of another car. Get it high on stands, take the drivers wheel off. Make sure all the hoses are disconnected on the filler neck, top and bottom. Take the strap and other bolt off then start wiggling. Theres normally a kink on the filler neck that makes it a bit easier to squeeze out of the wheel arch.