I reluctantly parked my 99 camaro in a not so great part of philly last night--- and when i awoke there was a crumpled up paper towel sitting near my gas filler.

I thought nothing of this and went home.
I was on my way to DE and stopped for gas with about 2 gallons left-- and they couldnt put any gas in! The overfill shutoff kept preventing it from pumping-- i told the guy trust me its empty--- 260 miles on this tank--- and he forced it to keep filling and it spilled all over the car and ground.

Obviously there is somthing stuffed in the filler neck--- my guess paper towels or something. My friend had his car burnt to the ground right around the corner on this same street so it wouldnt suprise me.
(I have a loud alarm which unfortunately isnt triggered by the gas tank. Shame on me for parking there...)

If it is paper towels--
Will running that damage my new fuel pump?
(please say no and there is some kind of filter on the inlet...)
If some paper dissolves and gets into the gas--- will it harm the motor when it is burned?

To get it out--
Aside from dropping exhaust and the tank... (which i dont have the $$ for)
is there any other way to clean the filler neck?

Please anyone that has an idea about this let me know -- in the 4 camaros I've owned (79,82,84,86) Ive never encountered anything like this

All suggestions are greatly appreciated--

Thanks!
Greg@pendragonmusic.com

I am thinking a straightened out coat hanger with the end bent like a fish hook should do the trick. It doesn't sound like it actually got into the tank.

You could also try a snake like the plumber uses to clear blockage in a drain pipe. It has a "corkscrew" type end to grab and pull out "stuff". Worth a try to ?

Burn it out with a match graemlins/clonk.gif

Just Kidding!!!

The coat hangar should be able to hook it out. You need a better parking spot. smile.gif

-Mark.

There is a strainer on the electric fuel and it sits in a plastic tub within the tank.

No, not in the "City of Brotherly Love"?

Better start using the bus if you have to go into the city!

If you opt for the coat hanger or snake, beware of static electricity. I'm not sure what the humidity is in NJ this time of year, but if it's low watch out. Just be sure to touch the metal of the snake or wire to an exposed metal surface of the car before inserting it into the opening. Also, it would be good to keep your hand in contact with the metal filler while doing the procedure to ensure you, the wire, and the tank are at the same electrical potential.

-dnult

Also ask your insurance company if you have coverage for vandalism. If so, let a good shop drop the tank and clean it, guessing some of that paper got down into the tank when you tried to fill it and is ready to plug up your intake. Pushing a wire down to pull back might also push more paper down in as well. Sucks that kids dont have more productive things to do.
:eek:

Dave has a very valid warning!! Don't use any device with an electric motor and ground anything metalic you use... Also use extra caution as you don't know for sure it is paper towels just because you saw one on the ground.

Like the rest of these guys said...make sure you and anything you are using is grounded. If you can't get the clog out yourself, you're going to need professional help. So go for it...try it anyway. A long piece of wire, no thicker than a coathanger (no snake IMHO) with a little hook on the end...careful, slowly. You might luck out.
And after all this...how about a locking gas cap!!!! tongue.gif

I bet Drano/Liquid Plumber would clear the clog right up. ;)

Seriously the ground comments above should be taken seriously. I am not familiar with the new Camaros, is the filler neck and tank all one piece? I would try the coat hanger deal first and if no luck just pull the tank out.

The neck did come off--- thankfully nothing in the tank--- I syphoned it out anyway just in case there was anything else in there-- so far so good

Right on, that's good news. Thanks for coming back to let everyone know what the deal was.