05-04-2016, 01:15 PM
I can't pump gas into my car. When I try to pump gas the pump immediately shuts off like the tank is completely full but the empty fuel gauge and common sense tells me that's not possible. No, I haven't forgotten how to pump gas, and I've tried different combinations including depth of nozzle insertion, speed of gas flow, orientation of the nozzle handle, and different gas pumps at different gas stations. It won't pump at all at Safeway and I can only get it to pump at Aloha if the gas drizzles in slower than an old man peeing.
I googled the problem and it's likely a malfunction of the vapor reclamation that vents the gas vapor to the charcoal cylinder but I've never "topped off" after gassing up (apparently a common cause of early charcoal canister failure) and the car only has 20,000 miles on it. It's a 2008 Impala.
Before this problem started I had put about 10 gallons of year-old gas into the car as part of my storm preparation getting new gas for this season and at first I thought maybe I physically damaged a gasket or something with the plastic gas can neck but I looked up the car's gas hole with a flashlight and there is nothing but smooth neck extending much further than my plastic gas cans can reach so any type of damage in that respect is very unlikely. It is possible adding the old gas and this problem beginning has coincidental timing and they were about 2 weeks apart.
I haven't started any serious diagnosis yet because I was wondering if there was a Hawaii climate related issue that I should be considering?
Also, the check engine light is NOT on and I understand there are sensors that should alert if there is a problem with the fuel system like a backup in the vapor venting or clogged charcoal canister.
Any ideas?
I googled the problem and it's likely a malfunction of the vapor reclamation that vents the gas vapor to the charcoal cylinder but I've never "topped off" after gassing up (apparently a common cause of early charcoal canister failure) and the car only has 20,000 miles on it. It's a 2008 Impala.
Before this problem started I had put about 10 gallons of year-old gas into the car as part of my storm preparation getting new gas for this season and at first I thought maybe I physically damaged a gasket or something with the plastic gas can neck but I looked up the car's gas hole with a flashlight and there is nothing but smooth neck extending much further than my plastic gas cans can reach so any type of damage in that respect is very unlikely. It is possible adding the old gas and this problem beginning has coincidental timing and they were about 2 weeks apart.
I haven't started any serious diagnosis yet because I was wondering if there was a Hawaii climate related issue that I should be considering?
Also, the check engine light is NOT on and I understand there are sensors that should alert if there is a problem with the fuel system like a backup in the vapor venting or clogged charcoal canister.
Any ideas?