spongy fuel pump hose in tank in 89 V1500 & emergency flash switch

AGDrake57 · August 19, 2012

OK, for the second time now in my 1989 V1500, the rubber fuel hose between the in tank fuel pump and the steel tube that leads out of the tank has ruptured. I spent 1/2 of my saturday R & R'ing tank and tube.

This hose is very failure prone, it is not reinforced, it's made of what seems to be a black sponge rubber.

Does anyone know why this material is used, what is the purpose of using such an odd material?

All I could figure was sound dampening, which makes sense, an engine that doesn't run because of no fuel pressure is pretty quiet. I think I'd rather hear a little vibration, along with a running engine.

The first time I replaced the fuel pump along with a hose made from this same material, all in a fuel pump kit, that was three

years ago.

This time I used reinforced EFI style 3/8" ID fuel line. Somehow I could not bring myself to use this same sh*tty material, it was sticky to the touch, as if it dissolved partially in gasoline, and ruptured.

Also on same 1989 V1500 I snapped off hazard flasher switch. Does anyone know if the switch alone may be replaced, or some other assembly is necessary?

Thanks in advance.

Doug_Scott · August 21, 2012

What fuel are you using? Does it have ethanol in it? Can you get a line that is rated for use with ethanol? That is about the only thing it can be since the line is inside the tank.

AGDrake57 · August 21, 2012

Thanks for the reply. I use gas station unleaded, likely contains ethanol. I also had added heet, obviously rich in ethyl alcohol.

The fuel line I used was EFI rated fuel line from Advance Auto Parts, no mention made of ethanol use rating. I really don't know what else to do, the parts counter guys can't really say, other than it's rated for use as fuel line. At least it's reinforced, the spongy stuff probably would have held if it too was reinforced.

The OEM part lasted 20 years, the replacement hose came with new fuel pump, it lasted three years. It seems v likely that the OEM style hose won't hold up in ethanol.