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Tuner Toys 1.6 Fuel Rail Warning!!!

Old Feb 27, 2009 | 11:58 AM
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Default Tuner Toys 1.6 Fuel Rail Warning!!!

The first fuel rail I purchased from Tuner Toys stripped while installing the fuel regulator bolts. I returned it and they sent me a new one no problem. I had the new one installed professionally and have been driving on it for the past 6 months, until last night. I was driving near Chicago on Interstate 90 (very busy) when I began to smell fuel. At first I thought it was nothing as the smell went away somewhat, most likely from traveling at high speed. I started to watch my fuel gauge just in case, that is when I noticed something was wrong, when I could see my fuel gauge falling……… I immediately pulled over to see my fuel rail bubbling at the regulator and a fuel puddle underneath it. I got a tow, and I am sending the car back to the shop to be fixed. I feel extremely lucky that I did not have a huge fire.

Last edited by HKSturboMiata; Feb 27, 2009 at 02:17 PM.
Old Feb 27, 2009 | 12:06 PM
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How did the threads strip,did you or your mechanic use gorilla strength to tighten the bolts?

On the second TT fuel rail,are you sure the rubber grommet is not dammaged due to installation?
Old Feb 27, 2009 | 12:16 PM
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Stripping out is probably due to your professional installers just wrenching it really really hard.
Old Feb 27, 2009 | 12:30 PM
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1

Last edited by TravisR; Feb 27, 2009 at 01:39 PM. Reason: I guess I shouldn't really comment here...
Old Feb 27, 2009 | 01:29 PM
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You mean the paint was bubbling?
Old Feb 27, 2009 | 01:39 PM
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Luckily Tuner Toys is an easy company to work with. I've been dealing with them for the past couple weeks trying to get my oil lines right. Craig seems like he will just about bend over backwards for his customers. I was thinking about buying this rail, please post up what you find out (installer or product error etc).
Old Feb 27, 2009 | 02:11 PM
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Well I do not think the fuel regulator bolts should protrude into the fuel rail....The bolts held for some while but failed the other night, maybe due to the extreme cold outside. I have no clue!

The fuel was just bubbling out around the bolts.
Old Feb 27, 2009 | 02:13 PM
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"became stripped" Did they magically strip themselves over time or did someone not know how to properly use a wrench?

You should change your thread title before some idiot sees it and it becomes internet lore that TT sells incorrectly tapped fuel rails.
Old Feb 27, 2009 | 02:20 PM
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How many of you have this fuel rail?
Old Feb 27, 2009 | 02:20 PM
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Well I do not think the fuel regulator bolts should protrude into the fuel rail
Absolutely. By doing this they added two additional failure points, instead of one which was sealed with an o-ring. My understanding is that steel and aluminum expand and contract at different rates, this could very well affect the seal that the bolts have in the fuel rail. What did you seal the threads on the bolts with?
Old Feb 27, 2009 | 02:27 PM
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Not sure, as I did not install the rail.
Old Feb 27, 2009 | 02:46 PM
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Originally Posted by HKSturboMiata
Not sure, as I did not install the rail.
Another reason i'm the only person to work on my car.
Old Feb 27, 2009 | 02:46 PM
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Originally Posted by HKSturboMiata
How many of you have this fuel rail?
I helped a friend install a TT fuel rail last summer,so far,no leaks or stripped threads.
Old Feb 27, 2009 | 03:05 PM
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Originally Posted by HKSturboMiata
Not sure, as I did not install the rail.


Maby the warning should be about your installer, enstead of, or as well as, the rail?
Old Feb 27, 2009 | 03:09 PM
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If you didn't seal the threads on those bolts, it's only luck that it sealed well enough in the first place. Take a bolt out apply a fuel safe sealant (not teflon tape) and reinstall with out over torquing the crap out of it.
Old Feb 28, 2009 | 01:09 AM
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warning dont work on your car unless u know wich end of the torque wrench to put pressure on.
Old Feb 28, 2009 | 12:08 PM
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When I first installed mine I didn't use sealant and had a slight leak when I tested it. Pulled it, added sealant, no more leaks.
Old Feb 28, 2009 | 01:15 PM
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Hmm, sounds like user error to me.

Round 1: Fasteners have torque values for a reason. When the head of a bolt is twice the diameter of the body, it is VERY easy to quickly build enough flange pressure to either cause the fasteners to fail in tension, or in this case deform the aluminum rail with the steel threads. FAIL

Round 2: What kind of place was installing this for you that did not understand they needed to use sealant for an open hole on a fuel rail? FAIL
Old Mar 1, 2009 | 12:11 AM
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Hey Guys,

A couple of folks told us about this thread, so we thought we would make an appearance.

Of course we are disappointed to hear about any problems with our products. Even though the through holes on the regulator were a concern, this is the first reported case of one actually leaking. The lack of sealant does concern me, but please also check the regulator and any factory seals. Replace them during the re-install, and please use sealant on the mounting bolts as well as tape on the feed connections.

Inspect the sealing surfaces for the regulator. If there are any issues at all with the sealing surfaces, let us know and we will send you another replacement rail. Even experienced installers make mistakes, so if something is wrong, let us know and we'll take care of the replacement.

Thanks for all of the kind words guys, we are glad to hear that even though there are issues sometimes, you guys have confidence in our commitment to our customers.

Craig
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