Filling the tank, anyone else have this problem?

Whenever I go to a gas station to get fuel, the filler is always constantly clicking off. Here in Oregon, it's illegal to pump our own gas, so we have gas station attendants that do it. Anyway, most of the time, unless they get it just right, the fuel hose constantly clicks off. This happened with my last '87 S12 SE as well. What is up with the fuel filler necks in these cars? Does this happen to anyone else? I can't see how it's specific to my current S12 when my last one did the exact same thing. It must be in how the neck is shaped or something that's making the fuel nozzle think the tank is full.

It doesn't always happen for me but i did notice this happening a bunch of times the last time i got gas.

YES, this happens to me and it bugs me to no end! I tend to fill up at the same gas station, and usually even the same pump. What ZI have found is that our cars are incredibly sensitive, and if any other cars are at the station I run into this situation. The best I can fugure is that as peoples pumps click off, it gives a sudden rush or gasoline, and this makes it burp enough to cause ours to click off. I can always tell when somebody finishes...

the fuel nossle has a built in pressure gauge so when it gets bursts of pressure it clicks off so no overfilling happens....this usually happens when the tank is full....however if you don't have the fuel pump all the way in, the nossle can flow in the filler neck first causing pressure which makes it click off....just try alternating styles of pumping....i shove my nossle down almost vertical (I have an 85 gazelle)....and usually there are no problems.

I've had similar issues, but I pump my own gas so I know the "sweet spot" for placing the nozzle. Do they have a locking mechinism on the pump? If so, they let it hang in the neck which makes it click off all the time. You have to hold the nozzle of the pump directly into the neck to prevent it from clicking off.

Yep, they just let it hang because they have other cars to attend to. I hope someday they will allow us to pump our own damn gas. LOL

there's a little lip where u poke the nozzel, if it rests on the lip it clicks off heaps fast, if you get the nozzel down past the lip, its fine. Well my car is anyway.

Another thing, when full, like fuel at the top of the filler tube, lapping at the edge, my fuel guage only says its like 80% (just past 3/4 tank) full, when obviously its over full!!!!. Any thoughts on the matter?? it never goes to full, eva! I have also ran the car past the red on the fuel guage and not once did the fuel light come on or the car splutter or stop..........i think my guage or sensor is f***ed!

But back to the filling up, check that are puttin the nozzel all the way in!

catch yas

NJ and OR... the only states in the union where you're too stupid to pump your own gas. I just tell the attendant i want to fill it then when he leaves I just take over. Other wise they just put it on the neck and it keeps clicking.

there's a little lip where u poke the nozzel, if it rests on the lip it clicks off heaps fast, if you get the nozzel down past the lip, its fine. Well my car is anyway.

Another thing, when full, like fuel at the top of the filler tube, lapping at the edge, my fuel guage only says its like 80% (just past 3/4 tank) full, when obviously its over full!!!!. Any thoughts on the matter?? it never goes to full, eva! I have also ran the car past the red on the fuel guage and not once did the fuel light come on or the car splutter or stop..........i think my guage or sensor is f***ed!

But back to the filling up, check that are puttin the nozzel all the way in!

catch yas

^^^ Ditto ^^^^

The speedo is Fu<Ked or the diff's been replaced with a different ratio... but basicly i get "500km" out of a tank of premium. The light goes on at about 420 for a little then doesnt turn on again till it's about to run out!
I have to sit the nossel half way in and pointing straight down. then can have it full to just over the filler tube... not the greatest but the tank never reads more than 3/4 full anyway so i recon this'd be a common problem.
Have to say tho... at 500km... the car can stall and die :p Hope not to do that again... but least now i know how far i can push it! :D

there's a little lip where u poke the nozzel, if it rests on the lip it clicks off heaps fast, if you get the nozzel down past the lip, its fine. Well my car is anyway.

Another thing, when full, like fuel at the top of the filler tube, lapping at the edge, my fuel guage only says its like 80% (just past 3/4 tank) full, when obviously its over full!!!!. Any thoughts on the matter?? it never goes to full, eva! I have also ran the car past the red on the fuel guage and not once did the fuel light come on or the car splutter or stop..........i think my guage or sensor is f***ed!

But back to the filling up, check that are puttin the nozzel all the way in!

catch yas
This has to do with the float in the fuel tank, also called the fuel level sender. It's a common problem with the Z31 as well. My fuel gauge is screwed up too. I'm running on fumes when the gauge reads 1/8 tank left. Yours is obviously opposite mine. You can clean the fuel level sending unit, but few have had success doing that. You're better off buying a new one. What you'll get is a newer style that shouldn't have the problems after time.

OK, here's what I found out works. Put the nozzle into the filler neck, then lift the back of the pump handle so that the nozzle is pointed more downward. I don't know why this works, but it does for me. Never had it overflow, always fills the tank full.

there's a full serve station that's same price as self serve stations by my house..

so I watch them.

what they do with my car is they stick it all the way in, and then pull it out a bit and push it upward(so it's more vertical) and just let it sit there while they go do their shit.

This only happens at some gas stations with me. It has to do with the pump. It's a certin pump nosals. I know witch ones suck at first sight.:)
Arco - problems
76 - works on moast
Chevron - works
Texaco - works

I hate this problem. Here in San Jose, California it's self serve. This problem really annoys me cause once I'm pumping it keeps clicking off! And it makes me feel embarassed cause everyone is staring at me like... "wtf!?" Anyways, thanks for all the comments people left and thanks to Spooled for bringing up this topic. Thanks for the Troubleshooting.

Oh and yeah, it never happens to me at Shell Gas Stations. V-Power!!!

-josh

wow, i thought i was the only one with this problem

I always had problems ...

BTW, who the hell came up with that law that you can't pump your own gas ? I'd trust myself a lot more than some high school student working for minimum wage who probably doesn't give a **** ...

I always had problems ...

BTW, who the hell came up with that law that you can't pump your own gas ? I'd trust myself a lot more than some high school student working for minimum wage who probably doesn't give a **** ...
LOL My thoughts exactly!

I have noticed some stations to be better than others, but only marginally.

i have had the same problem ever since i got my s12. i couldnt figure out why untill one day when the nosel sliped out a little to far and it stopped. All you have to do is pull it out untill it stops clicking. Well it worked for mine anyways. untill then it pissed me off like non other

I think its more the nozzle, they do wear out. Its something on the inside of the nozzle that gets weak from constant use, like a spring or shut off valve thing in the nozzle itself. I have replaced a couple of those nozzles because of that. Most gas stations don't really care, as long as it pumps, they don't worry about it.

if it keeps clicking, don't hold the trigger all the way.

and it's for your own protection.

it's not like canada like where only full serve stations have locking pumps. people will leave the pump there, go back inside the car, go back to the pump and may ignite the fuel from a static shock(yes, it's true that it can happen.) that's why youc an't use your cell fone or electrical deviced while pumping.

Somebody hasn't been watching MythBusters. They debunked the cell phone myth. :-P