Fuel Filler Neck Ground Strap

Hawkeye

Hawkeye

TJ Enthusiast
Joined
Apr 9, 2018
Messages
231
Location
Iowa
Hi all, I've been collecting all of the necessary pieces to replace when I drop my fuel tank to go at the fuel pump. I see the fuel filler neck is really rusted and the ground strap is broken. The neck is a discontinued part so I'm going to find one elsewhere. I have a '97 with a 19 gallon tank. Couple of questions, will any neck work as long as it's not later than one from a 2001 (looks like they changed that year?) If it came with the ground strap originally then I'd assume I need it. However, I read the later years dont use a ground strap. Is that true and if so why is that? As always any help is greatly appreciated!
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Yeah I'd think I'd need it if the engineers thought so. Not trying to burn the Jeep down! But I'm wondering why the later years got away with out them?
 
You would be surprised what that filler would look like after sitting overnight in Evapo-rust. Doing mine right now and it's just going to get repainted.
 
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I just had my 2003 tank out. I don't recall a ground strap. I certainly did not disconnect one.
 
My 97 has one, when I found it though it was disconnected. Better safe than sorry I suppose
 
I just dropped my tank too, and my existing ground strap is exactly like the OP's. My fuel fill tube was so corroded I bought a new one that has a nice shiny ground strap that I'll attach to the frame on that side. The tube came with a note as to why the ground strap was there. Something about preventing you from getting burned up filling the tank. Better to be safe than sorry.
 
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davidgoodman said:
Is the bezel around the fuel filler metal on this 2003? My 97 was plastic. If the bezel is metal that would ground the neck and negate the need for the wire.
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Mine seems to be plastic from top to bottom.
 
I remember when I dropped my fuel tank this past summer I realized mine was corroded and broke. (98) From what I found online the newer TJ's fuel tanks are engineered differently and that is the reason, not because Jeep decided it was unneeded. With that being said I have no idea how long it had been corroded and just dangling. I went ahead and replaced it. Super cheap, better safe than exploded! My brother has a 99 and his strap is corroded and broke too. He doesn't care to fix it though.
 
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Web98 said:
I remember when I dropped my fuel tank this past summer I realized mine was corroded and broke. (98) From what I found online the newer TJ's fuel tanks are engineered differently and that is the reason, not because Jeep decided it was unneeded. With that being said I have no idea how long it had been corroded and just dangling. I went ahead and replaced it. Super cheap, better safe than exploded! My brother has a 99 and his strap is corroded and broke too. He doesn't care to fix it though.
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I wonder what they did differently that has the filler grounded? Just curious now at this point. I'm definitley going to replace mine. I'm in Iowa and winter is already here. I dont want to have to grab the tub with my bare hand to be the ground
 
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I'll hazard a guess about a ground strap. In the cold winter months it is easy to develop a static charge between the vehicle and the metal on the gas pump. I always grab the metallic part of the gas pump before filling to dissipate any static charge before filling. The ground strap is there to essentially perform the same function. Gas fumes are highly explosive and a spark is all that is needed to ignite.
 
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