You could always try replacing it yourself, depending on how hard it is in your car. I had a fuel pump go out on me when traveling out of country. I dropped the tank and replaced the pump at the side of a deserted road with just a tiny toolbox for tools. Most people seem too intimidated by fixing their cars, but it’s not like us amateurs that do it have special powers. You just find out how to do it and get to it.
Fortunately, after all that paranoia, it turned out to be a leak at the intake of the fuel pump. They took everything apart, tightened it down, charged me $400, and sent me on my way.
That’s awesome news (not the $400, but the fact that it won’t be more, and that you won’t need a new car).
Why on earth would they tell you it was cracked, rather than the more obvious problem of a fuel system leak?
I suppose because it was such a large leak (it was creating a gas puddle under the car while it sat in the shop). Other than that, no clue.
Never underestimate the incompetence of an otherwise normal-looking person.
They could have willfully taken advantage of you, but more likely they just didn’t really know and went with an off the cuff guess of the problem. Some loudmouth “technician” probably just said “That much fuel, I bet the tank’s cracked. That’ll be at least $400.” Then they just went with it.
Given the opportunity, people will be assholes. A large percentage* of those people are mechanics.
*this is an official opinion. it is therefore fully and wholly accurate as an opinion. there will be no cite. cites are for assholes.
