Hard Starting After Refueling

[KevinH90]

Here's the situation:

If I refuel the car after completing most of my drive to work (about 30 miles) it is difficult to restart the car. I might have to crank it 4 or 5 times before it will run.

If I refuel the car while it is still cold I can usually get it to fire right up. I have no other problems with the car starting whether it is hot or cold.

I had the same problem last year, but after I had the MAF and the air vent hose replaced, the problem went away. Both the MAF and the vent hose were causing CEL's. The vent hose problem was making it difficult to fill the tank more than 3/4's full. The current problem is not causing a CEL or preventing me from filling the tank.

Yesterday I took the car to the shop that replaced the MAF and the vent hose. They checked the car and here are their comments "Check for DME codes, none found. Fuel trim numbers, as well as tank vent, etc. are all spot on as far as parmenters within DME actual values, as well as status of OBD function." This is a good shop, so I'm sure they would have found a code if there was one.

Has anyone else experienced this problem? Is there anything I can be looking for to tell the shop about? I don't "top off" the tank after the gas pump cuts off, but I'm trying to think if it's something I'm doing (such as refueling with the car on a slope or sticking the nozzle too far down the filler tube) that is causing the problem.

Edited November 30, 2007 by KevinH90

[White987S]

Could a leaky fuel injector cause this?

[juniinc]

I heard this complaint before if your problem is occuring when she is hot! Most likely spark plugs: Fouled spark plugs cause hard starting or no-starts, requiring plugs with a hotter heat range or it could also be trouble code 0446 evaporative control circuit. I'll probably start w/ my plugs first,,,

Here's the situation:

If I refuel the car after completing most of my drive to work (about 30 miles) it is difficult to restart the car. I might have to crank it 4 or 5 times before it will run.

If I refuel the car while it is still cold I can usually get it to fire right up. I have no other problems with the car starting whether it is hot or cold.

I had the same problem last year, but after I had the MAF and the air vent hose replaced, the problem went away. Both the MAF and the vent hose were causing CEL's. The vent hose problem was making it difficult to fill the tank more than 3/4's full. The current problem is not causing a CEL or preventing me from filling the tank.

Yesterday I took the car to the shop that replaced the MAF and the vent hose. They checked the car and here are their comments "Check for DME codes, none found. Fuel trim numbers, as well as tank vent, etc. are all spot on as far as parmenters within DME actual values, as well as status of OBD function." This is a good shop, so I'm sure they would have found a code if there was one.

Has anyone else experienced this problem? Is there anything I can be looking for to tell the shop about? I don't "top off" the tank after the gas pump cuts off, but I'm trying to think if it's something I'm doing (such as refueling with the car on a slope or sticking the nozzle too far down the filler tube) that is causing the problem.

Edited November 30, 2007 by juniinc

[KevinH90]

I changed the plugs less than 15,000 miles ago. The recommended change interval for the 00 is 30k, although my friends 02 calls for 60k between changes.

I suspect it is something in the evaporative system, but I don't want to just start changing parts without a firm diagnosis. The shop is counseling me to keep an eye on it, and that is probably the best advice. I guess I'm just impatient by nature.

[juniinc]

make sure u bought the right kind plug-I would check the heat range. then get a second opinion,,,

I changed the plugs less than 15,000 miles ago. The recommended change interval for the 00 is 30k, although my friends 02 calls for 60k between changes.

I suspect it is something in the evaporative system, but I don't want to just start changing parts without a firm diagnosis. The shop is counseling me to keep an eye on it, and that is probably the best advice. I guess I'm just impatient by nature.