Probs Putting Gas in my 2003 Hyndai Elantra GLS

[Ro_Laren]

I have had my car forever and about 6 months ago I started having problems putting gas in my car. I can only put in like 0.2 gallons and then the pump stops. It takes forever to fill my tank! At first this only happened at 1 of the pumps at my gas station and I was able to put in gas just fine at the other pumps. But now no matter what gas station I use and/or no matter what pump I use I have problems.

People have started to look at me and laugh as if I don't know how to put gas in my own car! I feel like an idiot!! People have told me to not put the nozzle in so far (even though they aren't even looking to see how far I am putting it in). I have tried different combos... not putting the nozzle in so far or putting less pressure on the trigger... nothing works!

Is the problem with me or the car? I can't see how I am doing anything wrong because I put gas in my car just fine for years... Is it my car? I don't think it is the pumps because I will see cars before and after me not having probs putting gas in their car.

 

[Holdfast]

I'm no car mechanic, but I do know that the automatic shut-off valve in pumps works on a pressure differential. So if something's blocking the flow of fuel into your tank, the pump will keep automatically shutting off flow into tank to prevent overspill.

You can test if it's your car or not simply by trying to fill up a jerry can. If the problem isn't replicated, it's your car. In any event, since other cars have no problem with the pump, the odds are heavily that it's your car.

 

[M'Sharak]

I'm no car mechanic, but I do know that the automatic shut-off valve in pumps works on a pressure differential. So if something's blocking the flow of fuel into your tank, the pump will keep automatically shutting off flow into tank to prevent overspill.

That's what it sounds like to me - a partial obstruction in the gas tank's fill pipe is causing the pipe itself to fill (triggering the nozzle shutoff) rather than allowing the fuel to flow through it into the tank.

 

[sojourner]

Do you have young kids? One of them may have put something in without you realizing. I knew someone whose kid wanted to "helpout" so the kid used the garden hose to fill up the car's gas tank.

 

[Captain_Nick]

hahahaha, that's awesome

Yeah it sounds like a blockage. Fairly straightforward job, just download your cars service manual and away you go.

 

[MANT!]

My wife's 05 Accent has that very issue...And I was informed by my mechanic of the following

When you pump gas into your tank the air in the tank needs to be vented (to make room for the gas), this is done via the vent hose

The vent hose runs over a charcoal canister to remove the fumes trapped in the air before they go to the outside (otherwise every time you filled up your car, you would be dumping gas fumes around the neighborhood)

When the fuel-level exceeds the level of the vent-hose, no more air can be pushed out of the tank (the fuel doesn't go down the vent hose because their is an inverted U-tube fuel trap) and therefore the pump "stops" pumping

The problem you are facing is because more-than-likely you've pumped "over" the point you should have (this is especially a problem in NJ where full-service people try to "round-up" the amount you're filling) when you over-pump the fuel will over-top the U-tube fuel trap and enter the charcoal canister; charcoal can absorb fumes fine, but when given gas it will expand as it sucks up the fluid; this causes it to block the vent to the outside air

Once your charcoal canister is blocked like this, you can disconnect the vent-hose before it enters the canister BUT you have to be careful not to "over" fill because if you do the fuel will spill out of the vent-hose. And should you have smog checks it may cause a failure...

The other alternatives are: replace the charcoal canister, or just stop filling your tank so full (the gas in the charcoal will evaporate after a few days assuming you haven't been over-filling for too long)


We literally didn't use the car for a week last summer to solve the problem. The fuel evaporated in the canister over that time and we've never had issues again..but I am much more careful filling up my car...

 

[Ro_Laren]

^ Before I had this problem I never tried to "top off" my tank... meaning that when I was trying to completely fill the tank and the pump stopped I never tried to put more in the tank.

Now the problem is the tank could be like 1/2 or 3/4 full and the pump only lets me put in 0.2 gallons at a time.

Do you think that what your mechanic said is still valid?

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

My wife's 05 Accent has that very issue...And I was informed by my mechanic of the following

When you pump gas into your tank the air in the tank needs to be vented (to make room for the gas), this is done via the vent hose

The vent hose runs over a charcoal canister to remove the fumes trapped in the air before they go to the outside (otherwise every time you filled up your car, you would be dumping gas fumes around the neighborhood)

When the fuel-level exceeds the level of the vent-hose, no more air can be pushed out of the tank (the fuel doesn't go down the vent hose because their is an inverted U-tube fuel trap) and therefore the pump "stops" pumping

The problem you are facing is because more-than-likely you've pumped "over" the point you should have (this is especially a problem in NJ where full-service people try to "round-up" the amount you're filling) when you over-pump the fuel will over-top the U-tube fuel trap and enter the charcoal canister; charcoal can absorb fumes fine, but when given gas it will expand as it sucks up the fluid; this causes it to block the vent to the outside air

Once your charcoal canister is blocked like this, you can disconnect the vent-hose before it enters the canister BUT you have to be careful not to "over" fill because if you do the fuel will spill out of the vent-hose. And should you have smog checks it may cause a failure...

The other alternatives are: replace the charcoal canister, or just stop filling your tank so full (the gas in the charcoal will evaporate after a few days assuming you haven't been over-filling for too long)


We literally didn't use the car for a week last summer to solve the problem. The fuel evaporated in the canister over that time and we've never had issues again..but I am much more careful filling up my car...

Wouldn't that cause a vacuum when running the car & using fuel?

Or does the gas cap allow air to be pulled in while running?

 

[MANT!]

^ Before I had this problem I never tried to "top off" my tank... meaning that when I was trying to completely fill the tank and the pump stopped I never tried to put more in the tank.

Now the problem is the tank could be like 1/2 or 3/4 full and the pump only lets me put in 0.2 gallons at a time.

Do you think that what your mechanic said is still valid?

Yes..still valid..

One more point, depending upon your climate and the amount of miles on the car..the charcoal may have deteriorated, clogging up the tube with dust or a wet sticky mess (if it's humid)..

Wouldn't that cause a vacuum when running the car & using fuel?

Or does the gas cap allow air to be pulled in while running?

The gas cap acts like a one way valve, allowing air in and any excess vapors are released through the vapor recovery system.. This vapor recovery system has been mandatory for all cars sold in the US since 2000...

http://www.epa.gov/oms/regs/ld-hwy/onboard/orvrq-a.txt

 

[Ro_Laren]

^ I have always gassed up my car pretty regularly. I normally gas up by the time my tank is half empty. Do you think I should let the tank get almost to E before the next time I fill it up? Do you think that it could allow the gas to evaporate from the charcoal? Since I don't drive too much that would amount to me waiting 2 or so weeks to get some more gas.

 

[MANT!]

Perhaps filling it when at 1/4 tank might help...by your post that would be a week and a half...

If that doesn't solve the problem, your charcoal canister may be worn out...replacement would be in order then...

http://www.ducartbytrissie.com/cartips.html

it can be done by oneself with some simple tools...

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

I gas up weekly on Saturday morning regardless of how many miles I've driven.

Though usually the same number of miles for the most part.

 

[Ro_Laren]

Perhaps filling it when at 1/4 tank might help...by your post that would be a week and a half...

If that doesn't solve the problem, your charcoal canister may be worn out...replacement would be in order then...

http://www.ducartbytrissie.com/cartips.html

it can be done by oneself with some simple tools...

Scary!!! I have visions of spilling gas on myself and being lit on fire!!!!

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

^ About 15 years ago, some guy was filling his motorcycle up at a nearby Amoco.

The nozzle fell out and the gas hit the (very) hot manifold.

Boom went the bike. Luckily someone hit the emergency shut-off, but the bottom of the canopy was black from the fire.

 

[MANT!]

Perhaps filling it when at 1/4 tank might help...by your post that would be a week and a half...

If that doesn't solve the problem, your charcoal canister may be worn out...replacement would be in order then...

http://www.ducartbytrissie.com/cartips.html

it can be done by oneself with some simple tools...

Scary!!! I have visions of spilling gas on myself and being lit on fire!!!!

Chances are the gas won't spill...unless your canister is full of gas and the charcoal has been turned to liquid...

most of the time, you simply get a LOT of fumes as it's replaced...afterwards, it should work OK...

 

[Ro_Laren]

Well I am finally going to bring my car in to the mechanics tomorrow. My car is still having the prob pumping gas. I even brought my Dad to the gas station and let him try to pump gas into the car. He had probs too - so I was at least able to show my Dad that it wasn't me.

Anyone have any clues how much the mechanic will charge to remove the blockage. I need an estimate so I can know whether or not he is ripping me off tomorrow.