tacoma refueling problems
 

hi everyone, i don't know if this makes sense to have in this newbie section or not but it is a general maintenance related issue and i know enough people put dumb ˟˟˟˟ in the tech forums that doesn't belong!
this has been over on TTORA for a long time, started by the previous owner and never resolved now its my deal.
to start its an 03 tacoma double cab 3.4l 4x4.
problem- while trying to refuel, regardless of the gas station it only lets a small fraction of a gallon in at a time. happened at every gas station from socal to nc and every one i have been to since in this state.. takes about 20 mins to fill from E. yesterday i finally had a chance to look into it a bit so i pulled the bed and replaced the fuel cutoff valve (as suggested by a TTORA member). i also checked all the lines for kinks and blockages and blew them out with air. no blockages found. after reassembly i went to the gas station and the problems is still there.
the previous owner messed with the VSV when troubleshooting and it did not help.
another TTORA forum member suggested disconnecting part of the evap canister/system but i do not know which part to pull.
this is a link to the thread on TTORA if anyone is interested. any suggestions or insight would be greatly appreciated. thanks for the help in advance, and if this is better suited in a different section of the site please do as you see fit Mods.
-Matt

Sounds like your vent is plugged .

Did you make certain that that was not plugged.

As the fuel goes in the air needs to escape other wise it will act just like you describe.

Good luck in any case:fire2:

Yes I did.. Compressed air through all vent lines running along the filler neck and any I found coming from te tank. The place it stopped flowing through was at what I assume is an electrical valve on the evap cluster.. The airline coming from the fuel cutoff valve leads to this piece (it has a electrical connection).. Air will not freely move through here but I am not sure what the cycle of operation should be.. I may disconnect there and try gassing up later today

I had extactly the same problem in an 03 taco. Makes filling it up a PITA. Mine ended up being what looked like a spider web in one of the vent lines up by where the cap is. Sounds like yours is more serious than that. Filling up is bad enough when you see the total $ not to mention having to deal with it taking longer. Good luck!

so i just fueled up and while there i one by one disconnected each vacuum line going into what i assume is the evap cluster.... nothing has helped.... i did completely write off the idea that there could be something in the actually filler neck down low out of site since i am able to fuel and 2 times since january it just filled like any normal vehicle.. i wonder if theres something in there or could there actually be a problem with the neck somehow...such a dumb ass/irritating little problem!
here that evap cluster if it sheds any light for anyone!

<a href="http://tinypic.com?ref=34px2f6" target="_blank"><img src="http://i41.tinypic.com/34px2f6.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>

You have removed the fill tube and vent making sure there is nothing in there .

Blowing air through does not really tell you if you are using shop air at 90psi

Did someone get mad and stuff a rag in there. I have seen that happen.

The air is not coming out of your tank like it should it is coming out to slow that is why the fuel is going in to slow

This has nothing to do with any of the fuel lines or vacuum lines it is all in the vent coming out of the tank joining right below the gascap.

This line is blocked or maybe crushed.

Are you getting a check engine light??? :fire2:

I bet it has something to do with the siphon screen in the filler neck.

i havent removed the neck from the tank to check for obstructions, i guess that a plan for next weekend since im not full on gas for the work week and wont have time at night. the way i check the vent lines and vacuum line was to disconnect at tank/lowest end and blow air through top/other end disconnected so and junk would come out..no crap noted...
i do really appreciate the help guys..

It is a simple matter of physics to get liquid into a vessel the air must be displaced to allow the liquid to take it`s place. Forget all the other lines on the tank for filling they don`t effect any thing.

The other issue could be as I stated someone did not like the last owner and was able to open the fuel tank door and get something down in the filler neck so it impedes the flow of liquid.

So it comes down to only two things either the air can not escape fast enough or the fuel is being restricted in entering the tank .

If you have ever watched or filled a propane tank pretty much the same thing you have a fill and a vent to allow air to escape when you start to get liquid out the vent you shut it off.


If you have any means to contact the last owner it might be interesting to know when this problem first started .

Good luck and let us know how this works out.:jessica:

So if you thought myself, the previous owner and anyone else was over thinking this you were right! Pulled the bed off again today then the filler neck and there it was a paper circle tab the size of a dime, I assume from a bottle of injector cleaner, sitting on the screen... I feel like an ass, but we have all had the situations of overlooking the obvious. The times it fueled ok that tab must have been on its side... Owell, I should be all set now..

Glad you found it. It would be easy to overlook something that small. Better that than having a rag stuffed in there by an angry mechanic.

Glad you got it figured out

Good job:welder: