Nissan Repair: Fuel tank, filler tube, technical bulletins

Question
QUESTION: I can't put fuel into my 2004 Pathfinder at anything more than a
trickle without the pump shutting off. I pumped a little air into the
filler pipe and it just built up in the tank until I released it. It would
appear the fuel can't get in because the air can't get out. There must
be a bleed vent somewhere but I can't find it. Any advice?

Thanks.

ANSWER: Hi Wayne -

There are 2 vents, one of them is piped to the front of the vehicle and used as emissions, and the other is on the tank and doubles back to the neck of the filler tube. Blocking the filler neck will probably not tell you these vents are clogged.

However you might want to check if the filler tube is collapsed, or there may be obstruction. If you introduce gasoline slowly with the pump and it overflows, then you probably have some kind of obstruction in the filler tube.

Let me know -
aloha
calvin

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Filler tube is fine. I suspect the return to the filler has come off and
become crimped so I'm trying to find out where the canister is that
the other tube goes to. Any help?
Thanks much for your comebacks on this. This is a great service you
are doing.

Wayne


ANSWER: Hi Wayne -

can you verify for me that when you try to fill fuel, you actually see the fuel backing up in the filler tube? Might help using a flashlight.

Might also help if you google this. There might be some technical bulletins about the that is specific to pathfinders.

Thanks Wayne -
aloha
calvin

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Aloha! Are you guys in Hawaii? Let me tell you a little more. When I
said I put air to the tank, I mean I put a plug in the filler hole. There
was a hole it the plug thru which I pumped air until I got about 25psi
in the tank. I waited a couple of minutes to see if any of it got out and
it didn't. It just all came blowing out the filler pipe when I released it. I
have probed the filler for obstruction and found none. I suspect that
the vent pipe has collapsed on itself and that the canister in the
emission system to which the other hose runs, is plugged up in the
front. I just can't find the damn thing. Do you know where that
canister is? I can't believe my service guy can't figure this out without
pulling my fuel tank. BTW, yes, gas blows back up the filler. The only
air getting out of my tank is coming back up the filler tube and, as
you know, there is a restricter plate in the filler so that you can't put a
diesel filler in it. Sorry to be a prob but if you can find me that
canister, I'll make sure my Pathfinder and 300 ZX Turbo friends find
out about ya.    Wayne
And if you are in Hawaii......Aloha!!!

Answer
Hi Wayne -

yes, in Hawaii - so ALOHA!

OK, thanks for the extra news on your tank.

because the fuel backs up in the filler neck, there is definitely some obstruction. The difficult part is the filler neck and fuel tank construction is very convoluted and confusing. the filler neck itself is double wall construction, so even though it looks good from outside, it could be collapsed inside, further on down. This is why I mentioned a flashlight in hopes you can see it on the inside of the filler tube. the filler tube can be removed without removing the tank, so that is one way you can check for the obstruction.

The other thing is that the tank itself has all these baffles. If one of those baffles got dislodged or fell for some reason, it could also be restricting the normal flow of fuel as you are filling your tank.

If you know any plumbers, they have this tool which is a camera at the end of a cable to check plumbing pipes. If you get a hold of this tool, you can send it down your filler neck and you will definitely find out what the problem is. It is an expensive tool, so not feasible to buy it.

Let me know -
aloha
calvin