# Difficulty in filling gas

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/difficulty-in-filling-gas/5552>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [October 6, 2007, 3:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/difficulty-in-filling-gas/5552 "2007-10-06T15:07:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![pravin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@pravin](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pravin)\
**Post date:** [October 6, 2007, 3:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/difficulty-in-filling-gas/5552/1 "2007-10-06T15:07:35Z")

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I have 2001 Toyota corolla. Every time I go to gas station the pump shuts off immediately after I start filling even though the gas tank is empty. I have to stand and manually fill the tank holding the nozzle and pressing it.

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**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\
**Post date:** [October 6, 2007, 3:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/difficulty-in-filling-gas/5552/2 "2007-10-06T15:30:55Z")

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There is an anti-spill valve at the base of the filler pipe. Sometimes, it gets stuck closed and you can’t put gas in. Get a slender, flexible, stick (about finger size, 3 feet long) and put it into the filler tube and tap the valve closed. If this doesn’t work, a mechanic may have to remove the filler tube and re-set the anti-spill valve.

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**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 6, 2007, 4:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/difficulty-in-filling-gas/5552/3 "2007-10-06T16:45:32Z")

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There are several possible problems. hellokit told you about one. I will add a couple more.

Have you been in the habit of topping off the tank when you fill it up. That will do it. Your owner’s manual and likely a sticker somewhere will worn you about that. It damages the vapor recovery system and you may need a new charcoal filter. It is also possible that one or more hoses are kinked or otherwise blocked. Finally you may want to try a different station that may have a different type of pump. Some are a little too sensitive for some cars.

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**Author:** ![lenjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f475e1/32.png) [@lenjack](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lenjack)\
**Post date:** [October 6, 2007, 5:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/difficulty-in-filling-gas/5552/4 "2007-10-06T17:14:29Z")

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Most likely charcoal cannister if you always try to squeeze the last few drops ino the tank at fillup. Hope it’s something else cause the cannister replacement is not cheap.