I have a problem filling up. The pump in the gas station keeps cutting out.

[mdslavin]

Hey people--I'm a new member and I'm looking for help with a fuel issue on a 2002 XLT, 4.0l A/T. I can't put fuel in the vehicle. The auto shut off on the handle shuts off the flow from the pump after 10 to 15 cents worth of gas has gone into the tank; then you start the process all over again. Any thoughts or ideas??? Thanks

 

[IZwack]

This comes up every now and then so search a bit. But basically, there are two tubes going to the fill neck. The smaller one is a breather for the fuel filling process - the same volume of air is displaced through this tube as the volume of gas you are pumping in. Sometimes stuff goes down this breather and gets clogged - preventing the tank from filling up. Or, another possiblity is that the main fill tube is kinked. So search a bit, I'm sure you'll find lots of info.

 

[mdslavin]

This comes up every now and then so search a bit. But basically, there are two tubes going to the fill neck. The smaller one is a breather for the fuel filling process - the same volume of air is displaced through this tube as the volume of gas you are pumping in. Sometimes stuff goes down this breather and gets clogged - preventing the tank from filling up. Or, another possiblity is that the main fill tube is kinked. So search a bit, I'm sure you'll find lots of info.

Thanks My mechanic blew out all the lines on Monday. I then went to fill up and same old problem. Is there a TSB on this?

 

[IZwack]

Thanks My mechanic blew out all the lines on Monday. I then went to fill up and same old problem. Is there a TSB on this?

this is for a Sport Trac - dunno if it applies to regular Explorers:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=230950

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! I've renamed, and moved your thread to the stock 2002-2005 section.

 

[storman113]

I had the same problem! I checked all hoses etc. Took it to dealer, and for $215 they took out the tank and fixed the stuck valve!!

 

[BrooklynBay]

Thanks for the update!

 

[rrgone]

I had the same problem! I checked all hoses etc. Took it to dealer, and for $215 they took out the tank and fixed the stuck valve!!

Do you know what valve they fixed? Do you still have a copy of the invoice with the part name and number? Did they replace it or somehow fix it? This comes up frequently in here and you will likely be helping people out that read this later if you could be more specific. Thanks.

 

[storman113]

It was the "kick back valve". Replaced the screen on it. Basically, I think they took everything apart they could, cleaned, blew air thru everything and put it back together.

There was no way that I was going to pull the tank myself, and if I couldn't put gas in, the unit was a pile of junk. So the $200 was steep, but worth it in a way. If I knew better, I would have called around to some shops for a quote to R and R the tank and clean the valves.

 

[Curtis]

have you ever put octane boost or injector cleaner in your explorer? Ive seen a number of times where that little foil on the top of the bottle comes off and goes down the filler neck. It gets caught by the screen, but because the gas cannot go into the tank fast enough, the neck fill up and shuts off the pump.

Something to check anyway...

 

[storman113]

One thing I remember about the fault. I have always refilled the tank at 3/4 empty or close to. The first time I had almost ran my tank to empty, so if there was something floating on top of the gas like a little piece of foil with the tank empty, it might have gotten sucked into one of the valves!!! I will make sure that I return to my past habit of refilling at 1/4 tank.

I have not added anything to the tank like that, but I had let one of my son's use the unit for about 2 months. I'll check with him to see if he added any 'trick' stuff to the tank.

 

[bluestream1]

I think it's an anti-siphon valve. On GM cars is a small plastic valve that prevents a siphon hose from entering the tank. That valve may be clogged or stuck partly closed. you could stick a plastic siphon hose down the filler pipe and try to open it up. Or maybe pour some oil down to see if that helps, although that would likely be a temp fix if there is a prob with that valve. If you remove the tank the valve could be replaced or removed. ON the GM plastic tank I just put in my Grand AM, the valve seemed to be molded into the tank just where the filler hose attached. On the steel tank I took out, the valve was inside on a metal pipe "extension" that passed through the internal tank baffle. Can't comment on the Ford, as I have not had one out for a while...

 

[LowSpeedChase]

Same problem, driving me nuts. So basically just tear it down and clean it? I was thinking there was probably something in the line just from observing what happens while pumping. Any more info would help.

 

[Glen4X4]

Some vehicles I know both my 2nd gen explorers and her car sometimes the pumps do this and I just pull the nozzle out a little bit and try again and most of the time it fills right up. But sometimes there is an internal issue...

 

[bobbronco]

Fuel fill won't take fuel.

Same problem, driving me nuts. So basically just tear it down and clean it? I was thinking there was probably something in the line just from observing what happens while pumping. Any more info would help.

This past winter the same thing happened to my wife when she went to fill up. Upon checking the system out It was apparent the vent tube had water enter it and it froze. That blocked the vent which in turn forced the air in the tank to push back, up the fill tube and the gas with it. IZwack has it right on his explanation. Look inside to the left of your fuel door.You should see a small compartment made of plastic. Attached to this compartment should be a plastic spout with a hose attached to it. Looking underneath you should see it as it runs down to another fitting. Disconnect it there and blow it out until it becomes unobstructed. If your mechanic just put air down the hose , all he did was push the obstruction down further.

 

[LowSpeedChase]

Thanks for the help. THere are like 4 hoses going to the tank from where you fill up. I have most of them pulled off and lowered the tank today. Gonna try to clean them out tomorrow and see what happens.

 

[backfrmcolorado]

my 04 f-150 did that once on a trip my gf and i took. stranded us in a norther michgan town for a night. let it sit overnight then i filled up fine. it was a very hot day tho.. almost 95 degrees. was told the breather hose vent er sumthing wasent working and to much pressure was in the tank.

 

[LowSpeedChase]

We've been putting up with ours for about a month now(as long as I have owned it). It's the same in hot or cold weather and at any gas station along the east coast. Really kills your time on a road trip!

 

[Lemony1]

We've been putting up with ours for about a month now(as long as I have owned it). It's the same in hot or cold weather and at any gas station along the east coast. Really kills your time on a road trip!

The only pump that does not do it on mine isn older gas pump!