Fuel pump gasket question..

[Timebender]

I noticed as I've been getting a full tank of gas, every time I assume it was the fuel sender I put in, and maybe the little rubber ring didn't seat well. So I got in there yesterday, and noticed fuel residue on top of the tank, but not from the sender, but rather the pump as it was not very tightly seated.
When I had the car checked and serviced at the beginning of the year at DMC Ca, they cleaned the tank, replaced the hoses, and cleaned up the pump, as a new all-in-one wouldn't work (another story). So I removed the clamp on the outside of the boot - it only took a couple turns for it to come loose completely, like it was way too small of a clamp. And sure enough the rubber gasket above the pump was sitting kind of above the neck on the tank.
So I seated it back down as best as I could, put the boot back over and tried to clamp it, but really with no luck as it would only let me go a couple turns and even then the pump wouldn't seem to seat correctly. So I removed the clamp and boot, then seated the pump gasket back down and around the neck. Then I put on the clamp, which seemed way better, as there's what looks like a natural collar for it to sit up against, and I was able to get it really nice and tight.
Then I put the boot back on to cover it all up.

So, is the clamp supposed to go on last AFTER the boot is on, or before the boot is on? It seems like the latter, as there's much more room/clamp to tighten it and get a better seal.

Or did someone at DMC Ca mess up and put the clamp on wrong? I can't imagine how much gas has come out since this would be the 10 time I've given it a full tank. Also, would that gas leak down and out, or get trapped somewhere below and cause any damage?

[Bitsyncmaster]

That is the same thing I did 8 years ago. So i installed the outer rubber cover with a cut to clear the worm gear of the clamp and just used tie-wraps to hold it there. I've never had any water problems getting onto the pump but everyone said I would.

[David T]

That is the same thing I did 8 years ago. So i installed the outer rubber cover with a cut to clear the worm gear of the clamp and just used tie-wraps to hold it there. I've never had any water problems getting onto the pump but everyone said I would.

You seat the fuel pump boot with the fuel pump in it first. It is important that the grooves for the 2 wires is facing front and if you have the original pick-up hose you must be sure you are not turning the pump and kinking the pick-up hose. You place the 2 wires in the grooves, fit the cover boot on and then place the clamp over both boots and tighten it while making sure both boots remain fully seated, the fuel pump boot all the way down over the neck of the tank and the cover boot all the way down over the fuel pump boot. As you tighten the clamp you have to watch the boots stay in place. Before fitting the cover boot it is a good idea to make sure you are not leaking fuel either around the fuel pump or at any of the connections. If you can't do this the boots are probably old and stiff and have shrunk so they no longer will fit properly, especially the cover boot. It is not advisable to eliminate the cover boot. If any water gets into the fuel pump boot you will rot the top of the fuel pump and the wires. That will happen because of the condensate from the A/C. The cover boot should be removed and the pump area inspected for leaks occasionally especially if you notice a fuel smell.

[Timebender]

Both boots seem pretty pliable. The biggest problem was getting the stupid clamp to stay since I could only get it to turn one or two turns max when over both boots. And if I completely undid it in order to get around the outer boot then tried to get it to catch, there's not enough leeway to get it going. Thus why I put it on the inner boot, thinking that's how it should be, what with the room to really tighten it down. I think I might do what Bitsync did and use some zip ties to the outer boot. The big issue was the inner boot was not on the neck all the way, thus when I'd fill up, gas was coming out from under it, vs. the hoses (since those were put on new from DMC Ca) - and there's no gas inside the boot well.

Maybe there's a bigger clamp I can find to get around both boots though.

[Bitsyncmaster]

My clamp was big enough. But no mater how hard I tried, it would just pull the outer cover up and off as I tightened the clamp.

[Timebender]

And that too..