Gas tank doesn't want to fill!?

[409industries]

So, ive only had to put gas in my 2001 RS twice since i bought it, and only this second time did i remember the BS i went through at the pump the first time.

The car doesn't want to get filled up. Basically you put the nozzle in, it pumps for about 1 second then the nozzle clicks off. I have tried putting the nozzle in as far as it will go, seat the rubber seal around the filler pipe by hand, even inverted the nozzle to try a different angle.

I can't figure it out. What is making the gas pump stop when it tries to pump in? I dont think its the gas pump either, because it did it at another station too, the first time.

*dont know if its related, but my gas gauge is messed up too. at 1/4 take left = Empty.

[BlackParis]

There should be a vent hose that comes up alongside the big 2inch fill hose... Pull that off and check for a clog maybe? or if you can see where it meets just inside the fill neck you may be able to get some compressed air into it...

*wear saftey glasses!*

[sebhockey]

Filling up in California just sucks, every other state is easy to fill up your tank. I always have the pump click about 100 times filling my tank here. It's that stupid vapor recovery system they put on the pumps, it just doesn't work that well.

The vent hose might be clogged, but if not it's prolly just the vapor recovery systems on all the pumps here that your RS doesn't like.

[Galen]

I noticed mine was more sensitive than my last car, but if I push it in far enough (keep jokes to your self) it always fills just fine.

[james.c.obrien]

but if I push it in far enough (keep jokes to your self) it always fills just fine.

Can't...:bored:...keep...:D...it...:mrgreen:...in. ..:lol2:

BWAHAHAHA!!!

[rollo]

Basically you put the nozzle in, it pumps for about 1 second then the nozzle clicks off. I have tried putting the nozzle in as far as it will go, seat the rubber seal around the filler pipe by hand, even inverted the nozzle to try a different angle.

Out of context quoting. LOL.

I don't have much helpful to say except that this has happened to me a few times on different cars and I usually try wiggling it and stuff, curse at it a lot, and if that doesnt work just go to a different pump/station.

However I used the powar of the internets to find stuff you can try.
Gas filling up issues (http://www.rs25.com/forums/showthread.php?t=54376#post965130)

The gauge is a different problem, either the sender or the gauge itself. Probably the sender IMO.

[drt suby]

Full Service... have the attendant deal with it.. ya im going to go with the sender.. the gauge is still moves when the tank is full. out of calibration maybe ???? doubt stock units are adjustable.

[RS-ti_Andy]

Filling up in California just sucks, every other state is easy to fill up your tank. I always have the pump click about 100 times filling my tank here. It's that stupid vapor recovery system they put on the pumps, it just doesn't work that well.

The vent hose might be clogged, but if not it's prolly just the vapor recovery systems on all the pumps here that your RS doesn't like.

yeah the damn cali pumps suck.. if your having issues and its not the little vent tube then pull the nossle out a little, ive done it before fuleing my grandmas friend in her forester.. then it wont click off tho haha, also if your gas gauge is acting up and your service engine light is on then that might just be the gas cap, and you might wanna clean up the sensor in the tank .

[M_anstrom]

yea, a clog is the most likely of situations... I've have my car do that and that was the reason

[UP2MTNS]

I never have a problem pumping.

[subyspawn]

try turning the hose upside down.

not sure if there is room on subarus to do this but it has worked for me on trucks before.

[98obster]

when the pump clicks off I stop pumping-I'm pretty sure I'll have another opportunity to repeat the procedure.

If you are primarily buying your gas at the same station and even the same pump if possible then your results will be better-pumps vary but it's not worth flooding your evaporative canister with gas. Yeah, sometimes I know I'm not putting in enough gas to fill it but I attribute it to the pump and not the car. inconsistences at the pump are probably the most common problem we soobie owners share.

[bigalpha]

I know it's a semi-old post, but...

I work for the US government and I deal with underground storage tanks (gasoline).

On dispensers (that's the thing where you pump your gas from), the nozzle has a small hole on the underside. That is the vapor recovery (this pulls excess vapor from your tank instead of letting it escape into the atmosphere. It is also regulation in some states). If that hole gets covered up, the dispenser quits pumping. The best that I can figure is that some nozzles actually rest on the inlet pipe to the gas tank, causing it shut off. That's how the pump knows to quit pumping when you have the little lever engaged so you don't have to hold the nozzle.

This happens occassionally on my car when I fill up at Kroger. I just pull the nozzle out an inch or two, and PRESTO it works!

On a side note, don't forget that you are being charged for your gas as the volume that gets pumped. The dispenser records liquids and gases as volume. So, you actually get more for your money when you fill up at night when it's cooler or during the winter. Less gas vapor entering your tank.

[Galen]

^^ thats AWESOME!! haha, i love fun facts.

[MilesFox]

i find it difficult to fill with the vapor nozzles withthe rubber boot. there has been time when i said F it after spening the better part of 5 minutes to pump one gallon. i just hung up the pump and went elsewhere.

typically i find these at mobil stations. i have to almost remove the nozzle or keep the boot from forming a suction around the fill hole. shove a pen or some other object between the boot and the car.

and from what i heard about full service stations, once the nozzle clicks, they are done, because it's illegal to "overfill"

i went to new jersey one time in my 78 toyota camper, and proceded to fill up my gas. the attendant lookad at me funny and i said, "dude, you might as ell let me do it, you wont be able to figure it out" with my straight 90 degree horizontal fill pipe(when its full you have to hurry up and put the cap on or it will start to pour out!

anyway, to continue with my story, dude was like "excuse me, excuse me!" cash or credit?

i said credit and gave him my card. he puts the card in the machine, selects 87, and gives me my card back. as if i wouldn have figured out how to turn the dam thing on!

i procede to fill my gas, when i was done i hung up the pump and walked inside to buy tobacco. when i came out the attendant had the most pissed off and dumbfounded look at me.

i guess in new jersey, they pump your gas for you, then you go park elsewhere, then go inside for whatever.

i dont get how pumping gas can be illegal? like doing so is some specially trained skill. i'm sure i have more experience pumping gas than the whole station did collectively, just because i have a car.

in the same state, my camper wouldnt start after having alternator issues, parked on an uphill. i needed a shot of gas down the carb. i had no gas can. i found a gatorade bottle in the road and after trying to get habib at the citgo to fill the bottle, he daid no way.

so i walked across the street to sonoco, turned on the pump, and proceded to put a shot of gas in my gatorade bottle. an attendand snuck up on me with the most bewildered look

it ws kind of creepy

[bigalpha]

Well, idk if it's illegal to top off the tank, but I know that you really don't accomplish much.

When you fill your tank, you are introducing a lot of vapor as well as liquid. As you proceed to 'top off' the tank, the space that the vapor occupies gets smaller. As the vapor recovery system on the dispenser pump is working, it is trying to siphon vapor out of your tank, instead of letting it escape into the atmosphere.

The result: you pay for gas (vapor) that you don't actually get (it's sucked back into the system).

Also, on a hot day the liquid gas will expand and will create vapor. If there's no empty space left for it to go, you may damage something on your car, or gas may spill out of the tank through the drop tube. Also, you don't want liquid gas getting into your evaporative system in your car.

Cheers.:guitarist:

[anaonbd]

i've had that happen a few times, sometimes it's because of the vapours that get pushed back into the nozzle (the thing that activates the click off), or perhaps you're getting a lot of splashback because of the angle of the downpipe to the tank it usually being too flat as to the tangent of the nozzle.

a simple example, get a hose and turn the water pressure on high (open it wide) then stick the end of the hose on a piece of concrete and watch the water splash everywhere, then lift the hose.. The nozzle thinks that all the spraying is a result of a full tank and shuts off the valve. Different stations have the nozzles set differently.

[Galen]

i just went to a new Chevron, and the rubber fitting around the nozzel was really short. it barley would stay in on its own, that when it auto stopped, it poped out and sprayed gas all over the side of my car, than made a small puddle of gas on the ground... pretty bad design if you ask me!

[nization]

Full Service... have the attendant deal with it.. ya im going to go with the sender.. the gauge is still moves when the tank is full. out of calibration maybe ???? doubt stock units are adjustable.

I used to do just this with my 1974 Dodge Tradesman 100 van! LMAO

I am actually posting because I looked at your avatar and thought to myself, "That is some incredible rally drifting." So I went to good ol' Youtube to type in just that, "incredible rally drifting" I found exactly the video clip I was looking for first try!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mf6-hkcyw1o

It's the final clip. Incredible! 8)

[409industries]

I used to do just this with my 1974 Dodge Tradesman 100 van! LMAO

I am actually posting because I looked at your avatar and thought to myself, "That is some incredible rally drifting." So I went to good ol' Youtube to type in just that, "incredible rally drifting" I found exactly the video clip I was looking for first try!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mf6-hkcyw1o

It's the final clip. Incredible! 8)

Yeah that Gigi!

I still need to get this fixed... LOL

[dmoser]

i dont get how pumping gas can be illegal?

Anything can be illegal. All it takes is a law saying so. Ad in New Jersey, until very recently, that's exactly what the law said. Must have been the influence of the gas station attendants' union or something.

Dick

[not12listen]

ok, i have this issue constantly with my 99RS.

i found something that works for me. instead of leaving the nozzle pointing directly in to the filler neck, i hold it slightly off to the side.

the rubber o-ring that creates a seal with the filler neck only makes contact on 1 side, and its very little contact at that.

so, i just put the gas filler nozzle into the gas tank filler neck, push it slightly to the side, and pump in gas at full speed. it never hickups. :)

the only drawback being that you have to hold it at that angle, otherwise it'll go to its 'proper' resting place of creating a full seal and then shut off.

[409industries]

Ive tried the "angled" approach and the "half in" method, but nothing works. I think the breather thingy is clogged. Its not really an issue anymore, i bought another %!@#$@$^@ing car. LOL