Can't fill gas tank
 

I have a 2003 Honda Civic EX auto transmission. When I tried to fill up the tank at the gas station the gas nozzle turned off immediately like the tank is full. Any idea what may be the problem and how to fix it?

Thanks in advance!

Did you try another pump?

just hold the trigger.

> Did you try another pump?

I tried 3 different pumps and they're all the same. Other people using the same pumps did not have the problem.

Is the CEL ON?

Check these items:

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Did you try not squeezing the handle all the way?

I have the same "issue" (if you can call it that) with my 2002 LX.

Not sure if you're aware of how gas pumps "know" that your tank is full, but this link has a pretty simple explaination. (HowStuffWorks.com).

I found with my '02 that I have this issue with some pumps (in Ontario - not sure if there are any different specs for gas tank nozzles between provinces/countries). I normally find that if I just pull the end of the nozzle out very slightly, and start by not squeezing the trigger all the way, that there are not any issues.

Did you try not squeezing the trigger all the way, or pulling the end of the nozzle out a bit (obviously keep it in the tank, but don't jam it down as far as it'll go)?

I always assumed that it was because the way the line travels to the tank creates a decent amount of "splash" inside the line, which is enough to trip the vacuum shutoff. I am by no means a physicist, but this certainly seems to be a reasonable enough explaination (for me at least!).

Somebody please correct me if I'm way off base on this... Ron's post about the fuel tank vapour control valve has me a bit perplexed - does anybody know what its function is? I mean other than the fact that it's some sort of a valve for control of fuel tank vapours, that is.

Yes, I'm Canadian. I spell it vapour.

well with my dads 2000suburban and my old 94civic you MUST turn the gas handle to the side for it to not cut off..... something with the fuel not going straight into the hose and the backpressure cuts the pump off thinking your tank is full.... so next time dont get let the gas pump aim straight down, tilt the handle to the side... and/or just dont pull the handle all the way.
no way to really fix it i dont think.... just learn how to hold the gas pump.

i sometimes had that problem beforee, but i always guessed it was the pumps fault lol

Excellent question. Here's my limited understanding. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

The evaporative emissions system prevents the release of polluting fuel vapor into the atmosphere. During refueling, fuel is injected into the gas tank from the nozzle and, simultaneously, an equal volume of air/fuel vapor in the gas tank is displaced and must have somewhere to exit. The evaporative emissions system prevents the displaced air/fuel vapor from exiting back out the fuel fill hole by rerouting it through valve-controlled hoses to a cannister that collects the fuel and vapor. If any of these hoses are clogged or the valves are stuck closed, then the displaced air/fuel vapor has nowhere to go except back out the fuel fill hole. This back pressure forces some fuel to back up in the fuel fill hole and thereby triggers the nozzle to shut off fuel flow to the tank.

Somebody give this man the keys to the corner office... Seriously.

That makes perfect sense. Thank you for 'learnin' us.