From earlier posts I know some of you are serious car people who may have some thoughts on this problem.
Its a 1997 Chrysler Sebring Convertible purchased at 42,000 miles and now at 57,000.
It has always been a slow filler - the lowest setting on the pump lock and sometimes less than that on the older pumps.
Recently it has become so bad that some pumps won't go at all without kicking out in a second or two.
Its not the gas gauge, you can fill it if you have all day. It does not appear to be a blockage. I can run a snake into the tank and bring it back with gas marks. It is not an obvious pinch. I have inspected the filler line visually and by hand.
My local mechanic just gave me a blank look and said he had never heard of such a thing.
What else might it be? Thanks for your help! Vic G
Posted by Ben Sherr (Member # 2874) on :
Sounds like the tank is not venting. There is a vent hose somewhere on the tank, tied into the emissions system, that may be plugged up. Also, they are so paranoid about air quality now, that the pumps kick off at the slightest bit of backpressure. I drive a '67 Mustang, and the filler neck on it was not meant for today's fueling nozzles. It takes absolutly forever to fill the darn thing! Ask you local Dodge dealer if there is any service bulletin out related to this problem.
Posted by Bill Preston (Member # 1314) on :
Hi, Victor,
This is strictly off the top of my bald head, but since most if not all gas pumps now have a sort of a seal on the nozzle to prevent vapors escaping, it sounds as though your cars gas tank has no way to let the air pressure down as it is being filled. Somewhere there should be a way for vapors to go somewhere. Come to think of it, I believe there is a charcoal canister involved that has something to do with recirculating gas vapors.
I would look for some form of restriction in whatever is supposed to equalize air pressure between the tank and the outside air.
Thought about this some more--if I recall correctly, that charcoal canister thingie has a limited life span, and considering the current mileage, I bet it is due for replacement.
[ June 10, 2002, 08:58 PM: Message edited by: Bill Preston ]
Posted by roger bailey (Member # 556) on :
A "right field" thought; I had a Jeep Wagoneer, the fuelfill hose was about 4ft. long with a couple bends (not pinches) anyway, twisting the fuell gun(nozel) in a different direction(even upsidedown would usually stop the "slow fill problem".
I think the fuel would bounce back as it was going in and encountered a bend in the first 10 inches ??
Roger Posted by Bruce Bowers (Member # 892) on :
Hey Vic...
I had a similar problem with my '64 GMC panel. It seems that the shape of the filler neck caused the neck to fill up with gasoline before it could dump into the tank.
I checked the vent on the tank and it was clear. I replaced it just to make sure. This problem was driving me nuts. I just couldn't fill the tank in a normal amount of time.
The solution I found was to make sure that the truck was on a downhill slope when filling. I found the stations around my area that filled this need.
Hey, it worked for me... it just might work for you.
Have a great one!
Posted by Amy Brown (Member # 1963) on :
That happens with my Kia. I don't know if it will work but I have found that I have no problems if I pull the nozzle out a little bit so there is air flow.
Posted by Harris Kohen (Member # 2139) on :
Victor, I suggest you contact the local Chrysler dealer and see if maybe there is a recall realted to that problem, Alot of vehicles have problems of that sort and most of them are related to the emissions control system. As Amy said she has a problem with her KIA, I believe they had a problem with their emissions system and will fix it for her no charge, i worked for a hyundai/Mitsubishi dealer and we did have some similar problems that were warranty repair items, you might think that your warranty is expired but the emissions warranty is usually longer than the standard warranty especially in the USA.
Good luck and if you have other questions dont be afraid to ask me,I do have many years of automotive repair experience
Posted by Curtis hammond (Member # 2170) on :
The vent that operates the auto off and veants the tank when u fill it is in the filler pipe. It looks like a flat piece of steel welded to the top side of the filler pipe. Sometimes it does not reach past the special valve but it is there all the same. IT sound like the gas is not flowing thru the filler neck or the fuel is not degassing fast enuf. ( there are bubbles purposly foamed into the gas)
The filler nozzle auto shuts off from back pressure. I beleive the problem is in the neck. So, have you tried to insert the filler nozzle just barely into the gate valve.
Or it could be the rubber shunt between the tank and the filler valve is kinked.
Posted by Troy Haas (Member # 472) on :
Vic, My parents have the same car only it's a '96, and it has the same problem. We use the car when they go to florida as Dad doesn't want it sitting at his house for a month or two. I hate to take it and put gas in it, it takes forever,I just thought it was a "neck" problem. If you find out different, let me know so I can pass it along. Good Luck Troy
Posted by J & N Signs (Member # 901) on :
Vent
Posted by Preston McCall (Member # 351) on :
Maybe you should try not standing on the hose? Are you sure you took off the gas filler lid, first? Seriously, I bet it is the venting tube is kinked. You might try paying someone to drop the tank out and check it. Will probably take a couple of hours, but may solve the problem.
Posted by Preston McCall (Member # 351) on :
One time in the early eighties I was gassing up a Caddy when they had the filler neck beneath the license plate. I was in a hurry and was not watching. I poked in in there, after removing the lid and started pumping. I went inside to talk to a friend at the cash register, figuring it would kick off at maybe fifteen bucks or so. At thirty-five I figured something was wrong and walked out to see. I had been running the gas between the filler tube and the frame around it, which ran down the street about two blocks! I paid my bill fast and split, hoping no one was smoking. That was SOOOOO stupid! We do the dumbest things sometimes!
Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
Vic, sounds like gas is backing up in the filler neck or it's a venting issue like mentioned before.
This is a common issue on jetskis, because of the tight space limitations the manufacturers snake the filler necks all over the place.
If you press the pump handle against the filler, it creates pressure and kicks the pump off. I pull the handle back so the pressure can vent through the filler, but on my jetski it's often that fuel ends up spouting right out of the filler because the fuel cant flow through it fast enough with the bends in it.
Posted by timi NC (Member # 576) on :
Vic, try turning the gas pump nozzle upside down and or sideways. The little hole on the top tip of the nozzle is the automatic shutoff. When it gets any liquid whatsoever into that hole the pump handle will automatically shut off. In some models the little spring trap door in the opening of the gas fill hole will divert liquids back to the top of the nozzle and shut down the nozzle. Try tackling the problem from the gas pump side.
[ June 11, 2002, 01:29 PM: Message edited by: timi NC ]
Posted by John Thompson (Member # 2750) on :
Isn't a form or "Vapor Lock". My tracker does it, I found that if I pull the nozzle out of the neck a little, and leave it in just enough to hold the flapper inside it open a little (some cars don't have those flappers though) it usually solves the problem. This problem usually occurs more in the summer I beleive.
Posted by VICTORGEORGIOU (Member # 474) on :
These are all good ideas and I will check them out.
The trip to the local Chrysler dealer was a real bummer. Never heard of a filling problem. For $95 diagnostic charge they will look at it and tell me what they see. End of conversation.
I have the name of a friend of a friend in another dealership who will hopefully have some interest.
Here's a quick first update. The friend of friend in the other dealership says this model has a very narrow vent and is slow to fill. He says there is a retro kit available that is very expensive and in his opinion very little better than the original.
Thanks for your replies. Vic G
[ June 11, 2002, 01:58 PM: Message edited by: VICTORGEORGIOU ]
Posted by John Thompson (Member # 2750) on :
Speaking of car problems, I saw a pickup yesterday with an at least 24" tall vinyl lemon on it and the story of it being a lemon vehicle. It was way cool, I really liked the vinyl lemon, don't know who did it.
Posted by Bill Preston (Member # 1314) on :
Hi Victor,
It sounds as though you are getting the well-known run around from the Chrysler dealer. On the face of it, this should be a fairly easily remedied problem, and at a lot less cost than the $95 mentioned.
This will no doubt call down the wrath of the Mopar fans, but FWIW, Chrysler has a real checkered history when it comes to fuel management. In the late 60s, and most if not all of the 70s, and possibly even later, there were numerous references in Popular Mechanics "Service tips from Detroit" column wherein various fixes for stumbling, hesitation and stalling were printed. Had one of those beasts, and it darn near got me done in when it decided to stall at a most inopportune time. Got rid of it with only 19000 miles on the clock. Haven't had a Chrysler built since.
Someone else referred to a long warranty on emission control devices-- I would think this should apply here.
Posted by John Thompson (Member # 2750) on :
Isn't the federal emmisions warrenty requirement BY LAW 10 years or 100,000 miles. If you get any run around ask to speak to the manufactuers rep, he usually won't go through as much BS as the delaers own people but I have dealt with reps who were @$^*heads also, makes you mad as cain. Wonder why foreign car co.s are offering 10 year 100,000 mile bumper to bumper and some American co.s still offer only 3 year 36000 miles. Are they scared to stand behind their own products? I won't buy a new car ANYMORE just because they seem to have as many problems as used ones, or at least the dozen or so I have bought in my lifetime have had. I spend my money on my family, business, land and house. I figure that I spent $150K+ in car payments and still ended up with a used car at the end.
Posted by VICTORGEORGIOU (Member # 474) on :
[Discussion of cars in general deleted]
I'm going to try the various suggestions above the next few fillups. Checking with the district rep is also a good idea.
I've been asking around about fillup problems, and other people tell me their cars are fine but they run into balky gas pump equipment more often than they used to. So Timi may be right - solve it from the pump. Bruce's "nose downhill" test will also be interesting.
Thanks again. Vic G
[ June 12, 2002, 10:08 AM: Message edited by: VICTORGEORGIOU ]
Posted by John Thompson (Member # 2750) on :
In '93, I bought a t-bird and had to turn it back in under lemon law at 9000 miles. Finally got Ford to do it after getting an attorney. In the same year, my friend bought a Toyota 4X4 truck. A few years ago, his motor blew up with about 90,000 miles on it. Mind you it only had a 3 year 36,000 mile warrenty on it and then it was way over 3 years old. The Toyota factory rep told him that there was a factory defect in a few of that years trucks and they put him in a brand new crate motor. I couldn't beleive it. Ford gave me the runaround at 1000 miles when my t-bird was using a Quart of oil every 200-500 miles. DEPRESSING.
Posted by Randy Campbell (Member # 2675) on :
Oh sure Vic bring Canada into the picture.
Posted by VICTORGEORGIOU (Member # 474) on :
Randy, the Canada reference was about the indestructable Plymouths from the late 60's, early 70's. It was meant to be a compliment. Vic G
Posted by John Thompson (Member # 2750) on :
I had an oldsmobile that some of it was assembled in Canada and some of it in the US. It was aggravating because it had both Metric and Standard bolts. Thats when I first bought Metric tools. Good car though.
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