# Car won't start after getting gas **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [October 13, 2008, 5:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-after-getting-gas/20677 "2008-10-13T17:57:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sarahpea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5e9695/32.png) [@sarahpea](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sarahpea)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 5:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-after-getting-gas/20677/1 "2008-10-13T17:57:51Z")
I have a 99 Accord coupe with 65,000 miles on it. Lately, my car won’t start after I put gas in it. I put gas in, close up the hatch, and it won’t start for a good 15 minutes. My dad says it might be my fuel filter. Thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 6:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-after-getting-gas/20677/2 "2008-10-13T18:28:50Z")
I don’t think it’s the filter. If the filter were the problem the car would be hard to start all the time. I think the problem is in the fuel vapor recovery system. When you get gas, do you top off the tank or do you stop filling when the nozzle shuts off? ---
**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 6:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-after-getting-gas/20677/3 "2008-10-13T18:38:47Z")
Could (would) you give more speicifics? Does ANYTHING happen when you turn the ignition key? What? ---
**Author:** ![sarahpea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5e9695/32.png) [@sarahpea](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sarahpea)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 6:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-after-getting-gas/20677/4 "2008-10-13T18:41:08Z")
I stop filling when the nozel shuts off usually, and today I only filled it halfway. Should I start topping it off? Is it something that will get worse over time? Thanks for your help! ---
**Author:** ![sarahpea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5e9695/32.png) [@sarahpea](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sarahpea)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 6:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-after-getting-gas/20677/5 "2008-10-13T18:44:10Z")
Yes, the engine turns over, it just doesn’t get quite enough juice. Sometimes it will start, but then it peters out. If I can get it started and drive it around for a while it seems to be fine. ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 7:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-after-getting-gas/20677/6 "2008-10-13T19:14:31Z")
Should I start topping it off? No, topping it off can CAUSE the problem, not cure it. I doubt if this one has that specific problem however. ---
**Author:** ![tardis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f0a364/32.png) [@tardis](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tardis)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 7:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-after-getting-gas/20677/7 "2008-10-13T19:51:58Z")
Are you sure it is related to getting gas? Have you ever just stopped the engine for two or three minutes and then try restarting it? ---
**Author:** ![sarahpea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5e9695/32.png) [@sarahpea](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sarahpea)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 7:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-after-getting-gas/20677/8 "2008-10-13T19:58:50Z")
No, that’s a good point. Although I think that in my day to day life I probably do that occasionally without getting gas. I’ll try it out though. My last Honda Accord had a similar problem with periodically not starting and I eventually replaced the starter and the catalytic converter. Then traded it for one that does the same thing… Thanks!