Can't fill up gas tank

[rich.sagall@pobox.co]

I have a 2000 Solara convertible. I recently had the timing belt replaced, an oil change, and the transmission fluid changed. Now, whenever I pump gas the nozzle clicks off in 30-45 seconds. I took the car back to the shop. They say they checked the vents of the gas tank and all was OK.

I read about a hose under the hood that equalizes the pressures and told the mechanic. He said he checked and all the hoses under the hood are connected.

Any suggestions on what could be the problem?

Thanks,

Rich

[Gadgetjq]

Originally Posted by rich.sagall@pobox.co

whenever I pump gas the nozzle clicks off in 30-45 seconds.

Maybe it isn't the car. Are you visiting the same gas station? Have they changed their pumps or nozzles recently? Are you using the same setting you always have for the nozzle? It's entirely possible some change made the station or even a substantial temperature change has modified the amount of fuel being loaded into your tank and it's just running too fast now.

Before spending any more time trouble shooting the car I'd try another pump/station to see if the same thing happens or just use one step slower flow setting on the nozzle.

Cheers

[rich.sagall@pobox.co]

Already tried that. Two pumps at one station and one pump at two other stations.

Rich

[gened1]

If you put the gas nozzle all the way into the filler tube what you describe might happen. Try pulling the nozzle back out slightly and holding it at a different angle. I liken it to turning a small necked bottle upsidedown and watching the fluid come out then stop as air goes up into the bottle to equalize the pressure then start to flow again. The nozzle, when insurted all the way into the filler tube, might be sealing off the amount of air necessary to keep the flow going. If you pull out the nozzle and reinsert it does the gas then go into the tank? If so then the above is your problem.

[rich.sagall@pobox.co]

I tried many different positions for the gas nozzle and none made any difference.

The critical event, I believe, is the work I had done on the car. Before that work I had no problems at all.

Rich

[toymkr2]

forget about the gas stations it isn't the problem



you are not the only one i have had the gas fill problem since90,000 miles 1 am up too 112,000 now still very slow fill. dealer mechanics say the change the charcoal canister which is between 200-300 dollars just for the part, you have to lower the rear beam or axle to get the damn thing off, personally i think it is the valve in the top of the gas tank filler neck [ which is the roll over flapper] i think this flapper doesn't open up enough when filling the tank which causes the tank not to be venting well enough for fast fill. i have checked all my vent tubes and they all or open that is why i think it is a problem will the fuel tank roll over flapper problem, not an easy fix nor an easy way to test to see if this is the real problem.

[dougdavey]

I have the same problem on my 2001. The gas shuts off within a few seconds time regardless of what pump is used. The dealer said to replace the cannister and the canister vsv valve. I replaced the vsv cannister valve and the ck engine light stays off now, but it still takes 10-15 minutes to fill up. Perhaps it is the cannister, but a replacement is very expensive. I'll ck all of the lines again but this is a pain. Any help is appreciated.

[dougdavey]

On my 2001, I replaced the CCV cannister valve ($65)and the light went off but the fill up problem remained. The dealer had said the cannister probably needed to be replaced but the part is expensive...I wasn't willing to just throw money at the cannister unless it would cure the problem. One way to test the cannister, ... disconnect the large hose coming from the tank into the cannister. It has a tricky connector which takes some patience to defeat so you can take the hose off. Leave it off and drive to the gas pump. For the first time in several months, I was able to fill up in 30 seconds instead of taking 10-15 minutes. Eureka...the cannister was the problem. It is so good to be able to fill the tank quickly...