NHTSA Complaint #10130692 — 1987 CHEVROLET BLAZER

1987 K5 CHEVROLET BLAZER 5.7L EFI (VIN K) POTENTIAL IGNITION SOURCE IN THE FUEL TANK - THE GROUND PATH FOR THE EELS. FUEL PUMP AND LEVEL GAUGE IS PARTIALLY COMPLETED BY USING ONE OF THE METAL PICK-UP TUBES, WHICH IS CRIMPED/FASTENED INTO A METAL COVER THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THE GROUND IS THEN TRANSFERRED TO THE CHASSIS BY WAY OF A TAB AND WIRE AFFIXED TO THE COVER ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TANK. THE PROBLEM IS THAT (IN MY SITUATION) THE TUBE THAT PROVIDES THE GROUND PATH CAME LOOSE AND WAS MAKING INTERMITTENT CONTACT WITH THE CRIMP LOCATION IN THE COVER, CAUSING THE FUEL PUMP AND GAUGE TO INTERMITTENTLY CUT-OUT, AND I WOULD HAVE TO ASSUME A SPARK WAS GENERATED AT EACH MAKE AND/OR BREAK OF THE GROUND CONNECTION. BECAUSE THIS TUBE PASSES THROUGH THE TANK COVER, IT IS VERY POSSIBLE THE SPARK WAS OCCURRING ON THE INSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK. THE TUBE USED FOR THE GROUND PATH, HAPPENS TO BE ONE OF THE THINNEST, LONGEST TUBES, AND IS ALSO MOST PRONE TO BECOMING DAMAGED IN THIS FASHION. I HAD NO FIRE AS A RESULT, BUT WHEN I DISCOVERED THE CAUSE OF MY FUEL PUMP PROBLEM, I WAS ALARMED AT THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE/EXPLOSION.*JB