Car won't fill up with gas

Nov 12, 2007 11 Replies

This may sound really strange.....but the past 3 times I have put gas in the car (or tried to), it will put 2-3 gallons in it then the pump keeps shutting off. I've tried two different gas stations. Even hand pumping, it keeps shutting off. It gets very annoying as I like to fill the car up, not run on a half of tank all the time. Is it just coincidence that this has happened at different gas stations, or could there be something with my tank that tells the pump to shut off sooner then it should?



I have a 2003 Camry. Any advice or help would be appreciated.



Kathy


Maybe you're sticking the nozzle in too far.

Maybe yes maybe no

______________ Used Car Donation Requirement Car & Autos Guide

formatting link

Typically, one has to point the nozzle in the correct direction so you're not shooting the stream of gas into the side of the filler tube. If the gas shuts off prematurely, I'll usually reposition the nozzle. Is there some reason where you have changed your grip or standing position when you fill up? Is this a new car to you or did this start happening to you recently?

I have had this car nearly 5 years and have never had a problem with the pumps shutting off constantly as I'm trying to fill up. This just started about a week ago. I haven't changed my standing position so I know that isn't it. It is very odd.

How do you know its not full, maybe your gauge is bad, pump it till it overflows

I have a 2003 Camry. Any advice or help would be appreciated.

Kathy

Could be it is not venting and becoming air bound. Or perhaps the the hose between the filler neck and the tanks has partially collaspsed. It may not have that hose though.

I have the same problem at a certain Mobil Station when I try to fill up the Ford Ranger I drive for work.If I lift the nozzle up when I fill the tank it doesn't shut off. "Sparki" wrote in news:ogOZi.196415$Fc.33641@attbi_s21... This may sound really strange.....but the past 3 times I have put gas in the car (or tried to), it will put 2-3 gallons in it then the pump keeps shutting off. I've tried two different gas stations. Even hand pumping, it keeps shutting off. It gets very annoying as I like to fill the car up, not run on a half of tank all the time. Is it just coincidence that this has happened at different gas stations, or could there be something with my tank that tells the pump to shut off sooner then it should?

I have a 2003 Camry. Any advice or help would be appreciated.

Kathy

car (or tried to), it will put 2-3 gallons in it then the pump keeps shutting off. == See if the attendant can fix it for you. I've had this happen a couple of times. Seems people try to over fill the tank and gas gets trapped in the accordian bellows of the nozzle making it think the tank is already filled. Last time they emptied the excess from the nozzle into a bucket. Then it worked fine.

I took the car to Toyota today. Turns out the vent hose (???) had a kink in it, so when the fumes were escaping properly -- the pump nozzle would shut off. They told me to go to the gas station next door after they straightened the hose out and it worked.

Hello all;

Just found out today for myself what the problem is. Seem there is a TSB on it.

formatting link
-- M.I.L. ON DTC P0440, P0441, P0442, P0446, AND/OR P0456 -FUEL FILLER TUBE IMPROVEMENT. *TT (NHTSA ID #10020014, APRIL 11 2006) Basically, it is the fuel filler tube rusting. On top of that, it seems the original gas cap has some sort of rub mechanism that is retaining water. That, along with the minimal amount of water that is in gasoline is rusting the pipe.

Options: They say they can clean it up, that will only buy you a month or 2 without the service engine light. But if the gas pump at the station is stopping sooner, then your problem is already more evolved. Need to replace the fuel filler tube, connector & cap.

Cost? Hope you are sitting down for this. If you are only having this problem now, and you do not have an extended warranty, just close to 400$ & 3hrs of your time (evaluation, discussion, & repair)

Sorry to be the messenger of bad news. Respects, Dave

If your service engine light hasn't come on, it soon will.

Join the Discussion

Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.

Didn't find your answer?

Ask the community — no account required