# Water in gas? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** sw, saturn\ **Created:** [August 14, 2009, 6:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/water-in-gas/35059 "2009-08-14T18:35:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![forrestwife](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@forrestwife](https://community.cartalk.com/u/forrestwife)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 6:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/water-in-gas/35059/1 "2009-08-14T18:35:42Z")
1997 saturn manuel wagon-My car starts fine, then when i make my first stop it doesn’t want to start again, and stalls when I try to shift into first. The mechanic ran all the codes and replaced the fuel filter and siad I should use dry gas. It does seem better till the tank gets i/2 full. I only use the car once or twice a week and do about 10-20 miles of stop and go driving ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 6:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/water-in-gas/35059/2 "2009-08-14T18:41:46Z")
If I understand correctly the car runs fine until the tank gets down to 1/2 full? The next time you have a problem, try removing and reinstalling the gas cap. If you hear a “whoosh” and the problem disappears, that’s a good sign that your gas cannot breath in through the charcoal canister and yuo’re developing a vacuum in the tank as the gas is pumped out that’s making it difficult for the pump to pump out more gas. My guess is that at least one of the codes was an EVAP system code. Post back with your results. If my suspicion is correct we’ll tell you how to fix it as well as suggestions to prevent this from recurring. ---
**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:** [August 14, 2009, 10:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/water-in-gas/35059/3 "2009-08-14T22:31:29Z")
I like “the same’s” suggestion, but I would also consider that it may be a weak fuel pump. Perhaps you could tell us exactly what codes the mechanic found (format = P1234) ---
**Author:** ![forrestwife](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@forrestwife](https://community.cartalk.com/u/forrestwife)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 10:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/water-in-gas/35059/4 "2009-08-14T22:48:37Z")
the mechanic didn’t find any codes. Actually it mostly happens when it is less tha 1/2 full and it seems to happen at random times and most often when it is hot weather. Next time it happens I’ll try the gas cap thing. should the car be running or not? thanks a lot. ---
**Author:** ![budd2049](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@budd2049](https://community.cartalk.com/u/budd2049)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2009, 12:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/water-in-gas/35059/5 "2009-08-15T00:03:09Z")
Doesn’t matter if it’s running or not. ---
**Author:** ![forrestwife](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@forrestwife](https://community.cartalk.com/u/forrestwife)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2009, 12:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/water-in-gas/35059/6 "2009-08-15T00:12:55Z")
thanks- i’ll get back to you