What would make my car do this?

Question

OK- I have a 99 grandam. For the last year or so, it's really hard to pump gas. Because it kind of shuts off every dollar or so. A few people told me it's the fuel lines or something, but I can't afford to have it fixed. It's just a pain when it's cold out, because it takes so long to put twenty dollars worth of gas in when it stops every couple cents!

Anyway.

The other day I was putting some gas in and it got all the way up to 3 dollars before it shut off! But- there was a gurgly noise coming from the gas tank, and then a bunch of gas came BACK OUT OF THE GAS TANK!!!! I mean, it didnn't burst out or anything! Just a whole bunch of gas drizzled back out of the tank and slid right down the side of the car!!!

What would make my car do that? and is it expensive to fix?!

There's never been any problems with the gas tank. But the car DOES have an entire brand new engine.

If this info helps at all - I've tried inserting the gas nozzle into the tank every which way from Sunday. Two inches in, tilted to the left, only half the pressure on the trigger....still shuts off all the time. I don't know if that's relavent...

Answer 1

This sounds like a blocked breather to me. What happens is, when you fill up with petrol, the air in the tank is expelled through the breather at the same ratio as the tank fills with fuel.
If the breather is blocked, the air's got nowhere to go and it either shuts down the filler nozzle or squirts back out of the tank through the filler hole.
On most modern cars the breather pipe is easy to get to and any mechanic should be able to check it out for you. It won't be too expensive, either unless there is something wrong with the tank itself. Whatever, go have it checked before it becomes dangerous.

Answer 2

As you put in gas there has to be a way for the air it is displacing to come back out. That's why the gas pump's nozzle has that outer sleeve - so it can suck up the vapors that come out. If it keeps shutting off the sensors are telling it that it is not getting the vapors so it shuts off as a safety precaution.

If this is happening at different gas pumps then the problem is probably your gas tank's vent. It might be plugged somehow. Or the vent's hose is kinked or something. It is not something you can really fix yourself. It's going to cost you a few hours labor. Make sure you do not have a full tank when you take it in because they'll have to lower the tank. If you can crawl under your car and see the vent hose you might be able to see a kink. I'd just take it in, though.

Answer 3

Well - starting with the cheapest - first (which is going to sound snotty) - make sure the recovery seal on the pump is seated well on the filler tube. Sometimes they are just finnicky. Number two (though I don't see a correlation necesarily) - for the next couple tanks, throw a bottle of dry gas in it each time you fill. Third (and I hope this isn't it due to huge safety issues) - the filler neck that runs from the the side of the car to the tank underneath could have an issue. That's unlikely and you'd probably be able to smell fumes in the trunk or backseat if this was the case. The fuel lines run from the tank to the motor so I don't see how that would apply.

Answer 4

The problem is with the filler neck or tank vent line associated with the fill neck. Take it to a reliable shop and have it checked out. A kink or restriction in these lines will not let the air vent out of the tank causing fuel to enter slowly and act like the tank is full and making the pump shut off constantly.

Answer 5

Some cars' tanks are just underengineered. Various vehicles will give fuelers the same trouble.

Try not inserting the pump nozzle as far into the hole. All pump nozzles have - as a safety measure - a float that will shut off if they encounter liquid that would seem to indicate a full tank. Your fueling port probably just has a funny curve that washes fuel back up into this float.

Next time you fuel up, try inserting the nozzle all the way, then pulling it out just an inch or two... I bet it fuels without the hassle then;)

Answer 6

It sounds like there may be a kinked hose or something along those lines. Hard to tell for sure. Have some one get underneath it and see if they can tell if there is anything wrong. You mention that it has only been happening for the past year or so; did you have any work performed on the car before this started happening like a fuel pump?

Answer 7

You may need to keep a little bit of a gap when filling up?

I have had a temperamental car before like this, I had to fully hold the gas..."gun" right to the side, so that air can get out all the time... Imagine trying to fill a small holed bottle real quick...it floods out and bubbles come out.

So, just try leaning the gas trigger right to the side and not give it full pressure, this way the air can still escape.

I hope this works, Emma J

Answer 8

I used to have a Grand-am, i bought a used one....and i'll be honest with you. I had more unique kind of problems with that car in just a short amount of time(a few years) than i have ever had with any other car.
I had so many problems of a unique variety, that most mechanics had trouble fixing them, and they also all said the same thing about that car.
Evey mechanic that i took it to, said the same thing, " This is a Lemon, sell the damn thing".

Answer 9

Air in the tank?

When you go to get case and the cap is off, lean on your car and make it bounce up and down (kind of like burping a baby). I've seen my dad do it and he was a mechanic.

He always told me there was air in the tank.

It's worth a try and keep doing it. I do it all the time to keep air from getting trapped in my tank, I lean with one arm toward the trunk and make the car kind of bounce a few times.

I know it sounds stupid but it's harder to describe then it actually is doing it.

Answer 10

There is a baffle in the filler neck on some vehicles. That could be plugged or not working properly. Or it could be the vent tube. Rpalce both, this should take care of your problem. When you buy them they should come as one piece. Good luck!