1997 Ford Ranger

DURING FUELING OF VEHICLE A STRONG SMELL OF GAS WAS OCCURRING AT EACH FUELING. I FIRST NOTICED WHAT APPEARED TO BE MOISTURE UNDER THE TRUCK AND BEING IN A HIGH TEMP/HUMIDITY ENVIRONMENT THOUGHT IT WAS AC CONDENSATION. RECENTLY WHILE NOT RUNNING THE AC NOTICED THE LEAKAGE AND CRAWLED UNDER THE TRUCK AND SMELL THE LIQUID. IT WAS GAS. I AM VERY CONCERNED SINCE THE LEAK IS VERY CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND AS WELL AS BEING AN ENVIRONMENTAL (EPA) HAZARD. IT IS AMAZING THE ECM MODULE FUEL EVAPORATIVE EMISSION SENSOR DOES NOT DETECT THE DEFECT IN THE CLOSED LOOP EMISSION SYSTEM AND SET AN EMISSION ERROR FAULT CODE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY GALLONS OF FUEL LEAKED DUE TO THIS CONDITIONS. IT IS IMPORTANT WE HAVE 'NO OZONE ACTION DAYS' WHERE REFUELING IS RESTRICTED BUT ALLOW KNOWN DEFECTS. AN INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE WHICH FORD MODELS /YEARS USED THIS LESS THAN ROBUST FUEL SUPPLY CONNECTION SYSTEMS. IF A PROPER DESIGN FMEA AND SHA (SAFETY HAZARD ANALYSIS) WERE CONDUCTED FOR THE FUEL SUPPLY TUBE AND ITS MATING CONNECTIONS. THIS CONDITION SHOULD REPORTED FOR A RECALL FOR THE POTENTIAL SAFETY, EMISSIONS ISSUES (HEALTH,OZONE) AND DETERMINE WHY THE ECM DOES NOT DETECT A EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS LEAK CONDITION. *NM

ON JAN 5, 2006 WHILE RE-FUELING MY 1997 FORD RANGE AT MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE A LADY ON THE NEXT FUEL PUMP TOLD ME THAT I WAS LEAKING SOMETHING FROM UNDER MY VEHICLE. I STOPPED PUMPING FUEL TO SEE WHAT IS WAS BUT THE LEEK STOP. I THEN CONTINUE TO REFUEL MY VEHICLE AND THE LEEK STARTED ONCE AGAIN IN LARGE QUANITIES. AFTER REFUELING I WENT TO THE SERVICE CENTER AT MACDILL AIR FORCE AND GOT THE VEHICLE INSPECTED. THE SERVICE PERSON TOLD ME THAT FUEL FILLER LINE TO THE GAS TANK HAD MULTIPLE CRACKS AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

1997 FORD RANGER REEKS FUEL DURING FILLING AT PUMP. STOPS WHEN FILLING STOPS. CHECKED FUEL FILL LINE AND TANK, FOUND LARGE CRACK IN FILL LINE ABOVE HOSE CLAMP. TANK AND LINE HAVE NEVER BEEN REMOVED BEFORE. THIS TYPE OF HOSE SHOULDN'T BE SPLITTING. CONTACTED SEVERAL AUTO STORES ONLY AVAILABLE AT DEALER. COST $200+ IN MY AREA. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FRAME FELL OFF FROM THE WALL. ONE COULD SEE WHERE THE RIVET HOLES WERE, THEY HAVE SEPARATED FROM THE WALL. IT WAS A CLEAN BREAK, BUT THE RIVETS WERE DEFECTIVE. THERE WAS NO RUST ON THE FRAME. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING. HE CONTACTED THE DEALER;THEY OFFERED NO FREE REMEDY.*AK UPDATED 11/29/2005 - *NM

ROOF SUPPORT/ VEHICLE HAS A TENDENCY TO BOUNCE ALL OVER THE ROAD BAD SUSPENSION! HIGHER CENTER GRAVITY! MORE ACCESSIBLE TO ROLL, NOT ONLY TO ROLL AND LOSE CONTROL THE ROOF SUPPORT IS NOTHING BUT THIN CHEAP METAL THAT CAN BE EASILY SMUSHED. I KNOW I BROKE MY NECK AND NOW I AM DISABLE....FORD RANGERS SHOULDN'T BE ON THE ROAD WITH A HIGHER CENTER OF GRAVITY...MAKE THEM SAFER....WIDER OR LOWER BUT NOT THE WAY THEY ARE NOW TRUCK IS A HAZARD A LIFE THREATENING HAZARD..MORE WAYS THAN ONE! *NM