Fuel Pump Access Door in floor of 2007-2014 models

[GoldmistXL]

Dropping the fuel tank to the replace fuel pump is not an easy job for one person in a driveway. There are several YouTube videos where people cut an access door into the floor of their pre-2007 Tahoe/ Yukon to reach and replace the fuel pump. Have not seen this done for the 2007-2014 models. It appears possible to do it. But before cutting into the floor, wanted to see if it is possible to do the same in this generation of the vehicle, and if anyone has actually done this for the 2007-2014 models. Any info on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[wjburken]

Dropping the fuel tank to the replace fuel pump is not an easy job for one person in a driveway. There are several YouTube videos where people cut an access door into the floor of their pre-2007 Tahoe/ Yukon to reach and replace the fuel pump. Have not seen this done for the 2007-2014 models. It appears possible to do it. But before cutting into the floor, wanted to see if it is possible to do the same in this generation of the vehicle, and if anyone has actually done this for the 2007-2014 models. Any info on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Here is a post about this topic form last July. Not sure why the photos aren't showing anymore.
https://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/threads/2007-yukon-denali-fuel-pump-access-door.105575/

 

[OR VietVet]

I ran into this question on this forum years back. I would never cut a hole in floor. #1. possible to cut something you should not. #2. damages the integrity of the structure that can cause problems in an accident. They are built the way they are for a reason. IMO, don't cut a hole. But if you insist, have at it. Would you tell the next owner what you did?

 

[avalonandl]

I dont think cutting a hole is that bad. Its nly 4 iinch by 5 inch. The issue is cutting in the right place.

 

[OR VietVet]

It's only an issue when it becomes an issue. I know several people here have done it and all seemed to turn out ok. IMO, I would never ever do it. If the vehicle is never sold after doing that, then the owner deals with any ramifications but if it does go to a different owner, it should be revealed that the hole was cut. If it was not revealed, I would be curious why it wasn't if it is no big deal. Lots of IF'S in this response.

 

[ivin74]

Dropping the fuel tank to the replace fuel pump is not an easy job for one person in a driveway. There are several YouTube videos where people cut an access door into the floor of their pre-2007 Tahoe/ Yukon to reach and replace the fuel pump. Have not seen this done for the 2007-2014 models. It appears possible to do it. But before cutting into the floor, wanted to see if it is possible to do the same in this generation of the vehicle, and if anyone has actually done this for the 2007-2014 models. Any info on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I did that modification 4 yrs ago and have had no problems, I dont recall the measurents but it was around a 8" square. I went to the junk yard and cut out a bigger square from another yukon and made a door out of it. Most people reuse the existing sheet metal, I didnt wanna take any changes of carbon monoxide sipping up thru the gaps. Best mod ever, I've replaced the fuel pump 2 times since.

 

[89Suburban]

DO IT

 

[iamdub]

If you allow yourself to take this shortcut, what else will you cheat at in life? You gonna take the doors off your kitchen cabinets for easier access? Maybe cut holes in the backs of your pants and underwear?

All jackassery aside, I don't see it being a problem if you do it properly. The way you access the fuel pump on millions of popular cars (Camry, Accord, etc.) is by removing the rear seat bottom. Cut it cleanly, prime and paint the metal and cover it back with something that will make a tight seal. If it were mine, I'd do like Ivan or add metal to the cut out piece either by welding or panel bonding adhesive. Use a thin, adhesive-backed rubber foam weather seal and fasteners of your choice.

But, is all of this still easier than dropping the tank?

 

[02Lightning]

Is it really that much more time consuming to just drop the tank? I mean there's nothing else you have to drop right? I would be more worried about cutting too deep, and cutting some fitting or wiring that requires the whole fuel system or wiring harness to be replaced.

 

[wjburken]

I have to agree with @iamdub and @02Lightning on this. Having had to drop the tank on my ‘07 to replace the pump, when I look at how long it took to drop the tank and reinstall it, I don’t think I could have removed the stuff on the interior, measures out and cut the hole and then put everything back together any quicker.

One thing I was able to do when I dropped the tank was flush it out and get any debris that had built up over time out of the tank. On top of that, I didn’t risk spilling fuel inside my vehicle and having to smell gas for a while after that.

Functionally, yes, cutting the floor can be done successfully and neatly with out any long term ramifications. I just don’t see it really being that much easier or better IMO. At the end of the day, it’s the owners prerogative.

 

[swathdiver]

My uncle did it to his '84 Z28 Camaro and wondered why he got headaches every time he drove it.

 

[dubyagee01]

Mines an 05 but it wasn’t that hard to drop the tank to swap pumps.

 

[OR VietVet]

Well, you have . I just would not do it. Stick to how it was designed to come out. I always believe in "work smart not hard" but the time swap does not seem to be that much and again, the floor was not designed to have a hole in it. I wonder how many are out there with holes in the floor that bought the rig without that being shared with them.

 

[02Lightning]

Well, you have . I just would not do it. Stick to how it was designed to come out. I always believe in "work smart not hard" but the time swap does not seem to be that much and again, the floor was not designed to have a hole in it. I wonder how many are out there with holes in the floor that bought the rig without that being shared with them.

No, it wasn't designed to have a hole in the floor but, this is a full framed vehicle. I wouldn't be worried about structure, the only thing that may bother me would be fumes.

 

[kbuskill]

Its probably not a huge time/labor saver the first time you have to swap a fuel pump... but if you had to ever change it again the time/labor savings would be huge.

If you do it, do it right and make sure its sealed up really well... as mentioned, it's a body on frame vehicle, not a unibody, so structural integrity wont be an issue.

 

[ivin74]

I have to agree with @iamdub and @02Lightning on this. Having had to drop the tank on my ‘07 to replace the pump, when I look at how long it took to drop the tank and reinstall it, I don’t think I could have removed the stuff on the interior, measures out and cut the hole and then put everything back together any quicker.

One thing I was able to do when I dropped the tank was flush it out and get any debris that had built up over time out of the tank. On top of that, I didn’t risk spilling fuel inside my vehicle and having to smell gas for a while after that.

Functionally, yes, cutting the floor can be done successfully and neatly with out any long term ramifications. I just don’t see it really being that much easier or better IMO. At the end of the day, it’s the owners prerogative.

It may take a bit of time to do the mod, if you have to do it twice it paid it self off.

Can you drop the tank and access the fuel pump in less than 5 minutes? With the access door you can, on top of that you don't have to drain the gasoline.

 

[wjburken]

It may take a bit of time to do the mod, if you have to do it twice it paid it self off.

Can you drop the tank and access the fuel pump in less than 5 minutes? With the access door you can, on top of that you don't have to drain the gasoline.

I will concede that the second time would be much faster. That being said, on my 2007, I had 300K on it when I traded it and only had to put one in and that was at 240K. That is the only fuel pump I have had go bad in any of my vehicles since I had to replace one on my 1976 Impala back in 1988. I’ll take my chances.

As I said, it’s the owners prerogative. If it works for you or others, that’s great and I think the advice that has been given on how to do it, should someone decide to do it, has been very well stated.

 

[dubyagee01]

My pump was swapped due to a leak. Glad I didnt grind sparks right above it.

 

[89Suburban]

I love how fierce this debate gets whenever it pops up it never seizes to amaze me. If you do it right it is a great mod. And it saved my ass one winter when it was below freezing and mine took a shit and had to be replaced. I didn’t have to lay in the snow in my driveway fighting frozen, rusted fuel tank hardware. I had the mod researched and planned well ahead of time and even a section of floor cut out of a donor truck set aside to make an overlapping cover out of that would fit the floor perfectly, and could be sealed and bolted down. Been there, done it, and would do it again.

 

[GoldmistXL]

Here is a post about this topic form last July. Not sure why the photos aren't showing anymore.
https://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/threads/2007-yukon-denali-fuel-pump-access-door.105575/

Thank you very much for sharing this. Wish I could see the photos. Just need to see one photo to know exactly where to make the cuts.