Idiot customer causes explosion

[IlovemyGeek]

This happened to a member of my husband's family last week and details are still sketchy. His uncle owns a garage and had a old guy coming in to have fuel tank of his 1970s truck replaced b/c it was rusting through. Old guy was informed to bring it in as close to empty as possible (makes sense right, since they're replacing fuel tank). They bring the truck on the lift and as its going up, the tank ruptures and the FULL tank of gas sprays across the room and catches a pilot light (or something, I'd have to verify what it was with my hubby) and causes a huge explosion. Luckily, everyone got out ok and the firedoors contained most of the damage, but the crappy old customer was last seen running down the street, when he realized it was because he didn't listen to instructions.

[angelicafire]

Ok, I don't even know what to say to that other than Wow.


Just wow.

[ArenaBoy]

Oh wow, just wow. I've read all sorts of things on here but this takes the cake.

[Buglady]

Um, wow.

I know the first thing *I* think of when I need a new fuel tank is "better make sure the old one is nice and full"....

WTF?

[AriRashkae]

Directions are given for a reason!

[Tanasi]

I'm not a professional mechanic but I'd put a syphon hose down the fill neck and pump it dry before I tried to remove it and certainly have a fire extingisher handy. Lots of time you have to cut those mounting straps or the bolts holding them in.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

I'm not a professional mechanic but I'd put a syphon hose down the fill neck and pump it dry before I tried to remove it and certainly have a fire extingisher handy. Lots of time you have to cut those mounting straps or the bolts holding them in.

That's what I was thinking--even if the tank was full couldn't you siphon out the remaining gas into a container or something?

[XCashier]

Old guy was informed to bring it in as close to empty as possible (makes sense right, since they're replacing fuel tank). They bring the truck on the lift and as its going up, the tank ruptures and the FULL tank of gas sprays across the room and catches a pilot light (or something, I'd have to verify what it was with my hubby) and causes a huge explosion.

Good grief, that's even stupider than the moron in this thread: http://www.customerssuck.com/board/s...ad.php?t=13104

The DMV ought to issue IQ tests before you can get a driver's license or buy a car.

The mechanics probably could've siphoned out the gasoline, but would they have had a container (or several) large enough to hold 12-20 or more gallons?

[Jadedcarguy]

I'm not surprised. GM has a campaign on some SUV's to replace a wiring harness that's part of the fuel level sensor. It's not an urgent repair, so the service writers tell the customer to come in when it gets below a quarter tank. Most of them bring it in with at LEAST half a tank, if not full. No one listens. And then they have the nerve to bitch about it if they think some of the gas isn't there when they pick it up. Hello? You were told.

[DGoddessChardonnay]

WTH?????

Did somebody put industrial-grade stupid in the water today? That's the second post in a row I've read pertaining to a moron and gasoline.

[Sliceanddice]

I can see why it wasnt syphoned first, because they where going to lift it first and it ruptured before they could.

Moron!! he should have been injured or worst.

[Sonoma]

Both times I had to have fuel pumps replaced on my trucks, the gas tanks had been filled the day before. The first time, the pump failed as I was pulling out of the gas station. I barely made it the 3 blocks home. There was no way I would have been able to burn off any of the 20 gallons of fuel it was carrying.

But, I did let them know the tanks had just been filled, both times I had them in the shop. And, they were returned with full tanks.

[Rolling Star]

Are people so stupid that they don't understand how dangerous gasoline can be? This really irks me.

[RentalRacer]

Sounds like an unfortunate accident. The customer should have listened to instructions better, and the mechanic who put the vehicle on the lift should have taken better safety precautions prior to putting the truck on the lift.

[CrazedClerk]

I hope the business takes that moron to court for the damage he caused.