QuestionI have a 2000 Hyundai Accent. The past few times I have put gas in it has been next to impossible. I hold the nozzle down and it shuts itself off repeatedly after about 20 cents of gas and then the gas comes shooting back out at me. What's wrong with it?
AnswerIf you have a check engine lamp on, investigate that first. It's possible the ECM (engine control module) has already detected that problem causing you to not be able to fill the tank.
There are two general possibilities which would cause your issue: a restriction preventing fuel from entering the tank, or a restriction preventing vapors from exiting the tank.
Those things that can restrict fuel fill:
1. Damaged filler neck
2. Pinched or twisted hose between filler neck and tank
3. One-way fill valve in tank (at the filler entrance to the tank) sticking shut
4. Tank damaged under fill entrance to tank.
Things that can prevent proper venting and thus not allow fuel to enter:
1. Blocked leak detection pump outlet
2. Restricted charcoal canister filter
3. Restricted charcoal canister (usually by liquid fuel in canister)
4. Sticking rollover valve in top of fuel tank
5. Any of the vapor hoses from the tank to the canister to the leak detection pump pinched or twisted.
If this is not caused by one of the items that can be easily checked, you may have to remove the fuel tank from the vehicle to check further.
