My tank can't fill up - perpetually at 1 gas pip!?!?

Around 3 gallons is the minimum for the gas meter to reset.

You either a) have a fold in the bladder or b) are full but didn't put in enough to reset the meter.

Probably (a). Go to the station, and fill up. However don't use the auto stop. Also if you are in a state with those venty things on the pump, flip it upside down or wedge something between the capture nozzle and the air. Fill it up by squeezing the handle so slightly that barely anything is flowing. Continue to do so until you hear it near the top. Like filling a water bottle, it makes a different sound near the neck.

 

As stated above, your additional gas was to little to register.

As for early click-off, it is quite common, and contrary to your comment, this site is full of threads dealing with this exact problem.

Some pump nozzles are touchier than others, so try a different pump. You can also improve the situation by by partially withdrawing the nozzle and tilting up the handle part. Use a slow fill rate. Generally this will help with all but the most stubborn nozzles.

Tom

 

Nothing like standing in freezing weather and stuck on a slooooooooow filling pump.

How would the bladder 'fold'? Is the sensor near the 'mouth' of the bladder? What if he pushes the pump further and try?

I have pumped with faulty pumps that would click-off after every 0.2 gal, but after moving to another pump, usually the problem was solved. macmaster has tried two pumps but they both clicked quickly. So it is not probably the pump I assume.

 

Yes, using the first click on the pump handle is helpful for getting a good fill. It's a small tank--it doesn't take very long. I always fill up faster on the first click than the person on the other side of the pump who is most likely using full flow.

My fill-up is usually 7 gallons. In warm weather, capacity increases though. In cold weather, the capacity decreases and a fill-up might only be 5-6 gallons.

Eric

 

It is the vapour recovery nozzle. The black accordion thing on there, and again only in some states.

A fold develops and dissipates mysteriously. It just sometimes collapses upon itself. By filling it up, it will get better.

 

The early cut off issue is easily fixed by letting the tank vent before filling it. If you don't let the tank vent, air is trapped in the collapsed bladder creases and as the bladder opens up during a fillup that air is released. That change in pressure shuts the pump off. Especially if you let the tank go very low and the bladder is completely collapsed.

Also as our cars get older the bladder loses its flexibility and that flexibility is hampered even further by very cold weather. I'm sure all the ethanol thats added in winter is not helping either.
If you own a GenII and live in frigid temps do not let the tank go very low as that exacerbates this problem.

If you don't believe me try it. Go back to the same pump on the next fill up. Open the tank cap venting the tank and go in the store for a while. Come out and fill it up on slow. First click hang the pump up. My car has been trouble free for 3 years since I figured this out. Not one shut off.
But be aware the colder it is out the longer it may need to vent.

 

Well, huh. How does that work? I mean, what component in the fuel system vents slowly?

 

If I understand Ed correctly he was saying that it takes time for the bladder to restore its shape after the gas cap is removed to allow venting.

 

My manual advises not letting the tank get below 2 segments. Maybe this is why?

 

I'm not exactly sure but I do know how a gas station nozzle works and the thing that triggers the pump to shut off is a slight vacuum. It uses a venturi system. Its triggered by the nozzle being covered with gas (full tank) which creates a vacuum and closes a valve.

So somehow the pump is seeing a slight vacuum when its going into its shut off routine during fill up.
Or the pressure differential between tank and the pump is very high and its throwing the pumps venturi system out of whack.

Or its seeing trapped air from bladder pockets and thats throwing the pressure diff off.

I suspect the tank bladder is under a slight vacuum all the time. Venting the tank releases that vacuum in the entire recovery system. That takes about 2 minutes. I assume simply starting the car restores the bladder vacuum.
So pulling up to the pump...getting out and pumping fast usually does not work good.

If you live in very cold temps this issue has to be a real pain because I bet your struggling against a freezing bladder too. You may have to vent even more. If I lived in very cold I would not let the tank go below 1/2 tank during the winter. Don't let the bladder completely shrink. Which would make half the chatters on here crazy as it seems its very important to alot of people to run the car as close to empty as possible.

Toyota got carried away with its vapor recovery mission. The schematic for it is intense.

The problem is in my venting I am defeating the car's zero emissions mission by letting vapor escape.
But this is better than a gallon of gas on my shoes which happened more than once before I firgured out the venting.

 

i have never experienced any of these issues in 8 years and 2 gen II's. now, i know i'm special, but not that special. could there be a small number of bladders that have some type of weakness/defect?

 

+1

Mac,

An explanation of how the Fuel and Evap System works can be found here:
Automotive Training and Resource Site

Got to "Technical Articles" on the left. Then go to section Hybrid 13.
While you're there, look for the part about inclination sensor adjustment.
Mis-adjustment may be causing your problem.

 

Mine was ok for a few months when I first bought it but soon started the shut off dance everywhere. Couple times it belched out gas on me.
Have seen lots & lots of posts with same issue. It will do it every time almost if I do not vent.

 

I can't argue with success :_> Apparently a collapsed/folded bladder expands/unfolds more slowly than I would have guessed.

 

We had the same problem with our Prius C...Run the tank near empty and it seams to fix the problem...