Fuel Starvation?
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 747
Likes: 141
From: Findlay OH
Fuel Starvation?
I was driving a new to me 04 S in the mountains of Tennessee last weekend. With about a 1/4 tank (maybe a little less but the warning had not come on) going up or down a hill (I can't remember) on the interstate, the engine sputtered and quit as if running out of gas. No check engine light. Pulled to the side, waited. It started. Went 10 miles, same thing. Got to an exit. Got gas. No more problems.
Other facts. I recently installed two new fuel pumps. Also, I cannot fill the tank at a gas station at the normal rate without the pump quitting -- as it there is a vent that won't let air be displaced.
Any ideas? Thanks in advance.
Other facts. I recently installed two new fuel pumps. Also, I cannot fill the tank at a gas station at the normal rate without the pump quitting -- as it there is a vent that won't let air be displaced.
Any ideas? Thanks in advance.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 802
Likes: 8
Your symptoms are consistent with a blocked tank vent like you say
From memory the tank vent "plumbing" can be accessed by removing a funny shaped metal cover from inside the rear passenger side wheel well - I can't remember for sure if removing this meant removing the plastic wheel well liner too
My knowledge on the system is limited but I`d start by removing the cover I mentioned and looking at the pipes, if there is an end you can blow air through (with the fuel cap open is probably best I`d say) to check for blockage that'd be a good first step
If it happens again you could check this by opening the gas cap and seeing if the vehicle runs (you've let the tank breathe again and counteracted the vacuum/fuel starvation effect on the tank the blockage would create in theory) - a word of caution though - on my old BMW i know doing this would cause a CEL but I`d still give it a whirl to help with diagnosis of the underlying fault
Hope this helps
From memory the tank vent "plumbing" can be accessed by removing a funny shaped metal cover from inside the rear passenger side wheel well - I can't remember for sure if removing this meant removing the plastic wheel well liner too
My knowledge on the system is limited but I`d start by removing the cover I mentioned and looking at the pipes, if there is an end you can blow air through (with the fuel cap open is probably best I`d say) to check for blockage that'd be a good first step
If it happens again you could check this by opening the gas cap and seeing if the vehicle runs (you've let the tank breathe again and counteracted the vacuum/fuel starvation effect on the tank the blockage would create in theory) - a word of caution though - on my old BMW i know doing this would cause a CEL but I`d still give it a whirl to help with diagnosis of the underlying fault
Hope this helps
