| Author | Message | ||
     Chris Saranko (Calhouns) New Member Username: Calhouns Post Number: 1 Registered: 01-2004 |
I am a relatively new Discovery owner. I purchased a used 2002 Discovery in August of 2003. Since early November, I've been back to the LR dealership about 4 times with the same reoccurring condition. When I go to fill up the tank with gas, I can only get about 1-3 gallons in at full pump velocity before gas starts to back up into the filler neck and trigger the automatic shut-off at the nozzle. I can wait a few seconds for some of the fuel to drain down into the tank, but I can only put a little more fuel in at a time. The bottom line is that I end up spending about 20 minutes at the gas station to put about 10 gallons of fuel in the truck. Needless to say, I am back at the station every few days which is quite an inconvenience. The dealership first repositioned the filler neck. That seemed to help for a while, but the problem came back. Next they replaced the entire filler neck assembly. Again, it helped for a while but the problem returned. Most recently, they replaced what they called a Trickle valve. This had no effect on the problem. It is back in the shop today for another try at fixing the problem. I'm just curious to know whether or not any other Discovery owners out there have had a similar problem. Anticipating a couple of questions, 1) I know for sure that the tank is empty (or at least not full) when I start filling. 2) I have tried every nozzle position imaginable - deep, shallow, and in between. Thanks in advance for any advice folks can offer. | ||
| Alan Yim (Alan) Senior Member Username: Alan Post Number: 1039 Registered: 09-2002 |
Chris, This has happened to me before but not at every station and even at the stations that it has happened, not at every pump. It only happens on certain pumps and what I've noticed is that it's usually because the fuel is coming out too fast or there's something about the way that particular nozzle dispenses fuel that is causing it to trip the fill switch on the nozzle at full rate. My only solution is to slow the rate of the fuel coming out by not squeezing the handle all the way. I'm not sure that the problem you're see is necessarily related to the truck as much as the nozzle on the pump. At theh station I regularily fill at, I can squeeze the handle all the way and it's fine but at another station that I occassionally go to, the fuel comes out faster and will trip the switch so I only squeeze the handle half or 3/4 of the way so the fuel comes out slower. Doesn't answer your question directly but just my own experience with what it sounds like a similar phenomenon. | ||
| John Brazelton (Florida_rover) New Member Username: Florida_rover Post Number: 17 Registered: 07-2003 |
I have a 2002 Disco and mine does the same thing. I agree with Alan that it happens more at some stations. I have got in the habit of giving it about half power for a few seconds, then give it hell. Also make sure your getting the whole nozzle in there. That also seems to help.>JB | ||
| Alyssa Brown (Alyssa) Senior Member Username: Alyssa Post Number: 465 Registered: 01-2003 |
Chris, Alan brings up a very valid point. Are you taking it to the same station? Some pumps have different nozzles than other pumps, and just won't fuel the Discovery. Try using varied stations. | ||
| Christian Kiely (Redrover47) Member Username: Redrover47 Post Number: 57 Registered: 09-2003 |
This has always happened on my D2, again depending on the station. I either fill up the tank when it is only half empty, at which time the problem usually doesnt occur. Otherwise, you can stop fueling for a second to wait for the air lock to diminish. Also, you can try tipping the filler nozzel up and back a little bit to allow some air into the tank; this sometimes help. I think this is just a design defect with the fuel system and cannot be fixed by dealer repair. Anyway, when the needle reads half full, the tank is actually less than half full, as the needle stays at full for quite a while after filling, and then drops rapidly (at least on my truck). Hope this helps. | ||
| Chris Saranko (Calhouns) New Member Username: Calhouns Post Number: 3 Registered: 01-2004 |
Thanks for all the feedback. My original theory also had to do with individual nozzles and/or pump speeds. When the problem first started occurring, I soon noticed that it happened at some stations but not others. The first time it took it to the dealership, they "readjusted the filler neck". That had a minor effect, but didn't cure the problem. Next they installed a new filler neck. Interestingly, this resolved the problem the first 3-4 trips to the gas station. The problem returned, however. I did find a couple of stations where I could still fill a full tank and that kept me going for a while. Unfortunately, the condition worsened to the point that, as of now, I can only get about 1-2 gallons in under moderate pump velocity at any station I've visited. And because of this problem, I've had the opportunity to try a wide variety of stations in my area. After the initial 1-2 gallons, I can let fuel trickle in until it backs up in the fuel neck. I stop, let it drain down, and start again. I've not been patient enough to put more than about 10 gallons this way because it just takes too long. Each time the dealership has tried to fix the problem, they thought they were successful because they were using an on-site pump with low flow velocity. On my most recent trip to the dealership, I took the service manager to a local station where he experienced the problem first-hand. He indicated that he had never heard or seen anything like this. (I'm now dubious of that claim given the number of posts on this subject in a very short time). He vowed to get to the bottom of it and thinks that there may be some sort of obstruction in the tank itself. They are taking the tank out to inspect and said they will replace if necessary. I tend to agree with some sort of obstruction theory, but can't explain why the problem would have gone away briefly after the dealership installed a new filler neck and then returned. To me it almost seems like there is some sort of pressurization issue that gets exacerbated under higher flow conditions. Admittedly, I know very little about the mechanics of how fuel actually enters the tank from the filler neck. Sorry about the excruciating detail. I'll let you know what happens when I get it back from the dealership next time. Hopefully, they will have resolved the problem for good. Thanks | ||
| Christian Kiely (Redrover47) Member Username: Redrover47 Post Number: 59 Registered: 09-2003 |
What that service manager told you is BS. I know many people with discos off this board and it happens to all of them. Its impossible that he had never heard of this issue before b/c its extremely common. | ||
| Rich Lee (Rich_lee) New Member Username: Rich_lee Post Number: 24 Registered: 02-2003 |
Ditto here. The problem seems to be condition-dependent. With our 2000 DII, it seems to happen more on hot days, with the nozzles that have a wide sealer flange. However, it also occurs with some of the vacuum venting nozzles. In all cases, the tank is not venting properly during fill-up, as fuel rapidly backs up the filler neck in all but the very slowest flow (were talking itty-bitty trickle here). I'm willing to bet it is a design flaw with the venting & vapor recovery system on the DII tank (doesn't happen with our 91 Rangie or 95 Disco). I'd like to hear an actual informed explanation from Land Rover about this. |
