help me describe my car problems

[nageov3t]

flame away, but I'm a little ignorant on account of pumping your own gas being illegal in NJ... I need to take my car to my auto guy next week to troubleshoot a gas problem I've been having, but I was hoping AT might be able to help me with the technical terms so I can at least describe the issue accurately. :thumbsup:

basically, when my gas is getting pumped, the trigger that snaps off the gas pump to indicate that the tank is full goes off almost immediately, maybe after pumping 0.1 - 0.5 gallons into the car. I can get my tank filled eventually, but it's a pretty time consuming process (and awkward since I've got to rely on the gas station attendant to do it for me, since I can't pump my own gas)

it's gotten to where I can't even ask them just to fill my tank up anymore, I just go whenever I'm at half a tank and ask them to put $20 into it... I'm going to take my car to my guy when I'm off next week, but I'd love to not have to spend like half an hour trying to describe the problem to him.

 

[satyajitmenon]

year/make/model of car in question?

 

[nageov3t]

year/make/model of car in question?

2003 Mazda Protege5

hoping to get another couple years out of it since I'm only at 64,000 miles, god willing.

 

[nerp]

Did you tend to "top off" your tank before the problem arose? Could be a destroyed evap cannister thingy. Topping off = breaking things in a modern car. The vapor recovery system will get flooded and can trigger check engine lights, etc. Perhaps this is causing your problem.

 

[Fritzo]

There is a vent valve that controls when the gas will shut off, and if it's not working correctly you'll get what you are experiencing. Some cars have two valves- one electronic and the other mechanical. I HATE working on fuel lines (and this isn't an easy thing to fix), but the part itself is usually well under $50. You you may want to have a garage check it out.

 

[nageov3t]

There is a vent valve that controls when the gas will shut off, and if it's not working correctly you'll get what you are experiencing. Some cars have two valves- one electronic and the other mechanical. I HATE working on fuel lines (and this isn't an easy thing to fix), but the part itself is usually well under $50. You you may want to have a garage check it out.

yep. that's the plan... I'd just like to not sound like someone who's only pumped gas twice in his life when talking to the mechanic

 

[olds]

Does it happen to everyone that puts gas in it?

 

[nageov3t]

Does it happen to everyone that puts gas in it?

yup... first time it happened, I assumed it was a problem with the gas station (it was also during a storm, so I thought maybe they lost power or something)

but it also happened at a different station and when I attempted to pump my own gas (super busy gas station and the attendant walked away right after inserting the pump, so I got out myself to make sure the gas kept pumping)

one of the annoyances of not actually being able to pump your own gas legally.

 

[DaTT]

A quick fix for my car was to turn the gas nozzle upside down and fill like that....then Ford came out with a TSB to repair it. Turns out the venting system was poorly designed.

Anyways, tell your mechanic that the gas pump auto shuts off as soon as you start pumping gas, like it does when it's full....you shouldn't sound too ignorant.