That doesnt make any sense.
Hard to start after fill-up
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Glen Cove New York
Hard to start after fill-up
Hi guys. Lately when I gas up, the car doesn't fire right up as usual. The starter turns OK but the engine sort of sputters to life, sometimes it takes a few attempts. It only happens after fill up, so at other times if I just shut down for a few minutes it will start right up, even when hot. I also tried not filling all the way, maybe three quarters and the same thing happens. Occassionally, I get a P1441 code "EVAP system during non purge" but it does not come on after fueling. Any ideas? Thanks
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
How full do you fill the tank??? If you cram fuel into the tank until it backs up into the fill opening,,,the fuel in the fill pipe gets into the vent line which goes to the EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS CANISTER. That canister purges into the the intake manifold (under certain engine operating condition)If the canister is flooded with fuel, the extra fuel enters the manifold as EXTRA fuel (acts like a mechanical choke would if it was stuck shut)
IF,,,,,,,,,your not cramming fuel into the tank, you have an issue with your fuel tank/evap emissions system.
The next time it happens, press the accelerator to the floor until it starts (Fully depressed during cranking is the clear flood mode)
BC
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,052
Likes: 20
From: boston mass
If the fill up truck is putting gas in the station, 
keep driving by it (don't stop) because that truck is stirring up all the trash in the bottom of the tank under ground. there have been cases where people needed a new motor from that.
keep driving by it (don't stop) because that truck is stirring up all the trash in the bottom of the tank under ground. there have been cases where people needed a new motor from that.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Glen Cove New York
How full do you fill the tank??? If you cram fuel into the tank until it backs up into the fill opening,,,the fuel in the fill pipe gets into the vent line which goes to the EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS CANISTER. That canister purges into the the intake manifold (under certain engine operating condition)If the canister is flooded with fuel, the extra fuel enters the manifold as EXTRA fuel (acts like a mechanical choke would if it was stuck shut)
IF,,,,,,,,,your not cramming fuel into the tank, you have an issue with your fuel tank/evap emissions system.
The next time it happens, press the accelerator to the floor until it starts (Fully depressed during cranking is the clear flood mode)
BC
I'll try pressing the accelerator the next time and see what results but I'm thinking that you're right about it being an evap emissions issue given the P1441 code. Maybe like a stuck solenoid. Thanks Bill!
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,100
Likes: 17
From: Somers, CT and Clermont, FL
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
My '01 WILL NOT START if I depress the accelerator fully to the floor, while cranking the engine. I can't say if all C5's are that way.
I use this trick to crank the engine allowing the oil pump build up pressure, before the engine fires up, after being stored for the Winter.
I use this trick to crank the engine allowing the oil pump build up pressure, before the engine fires up, after being stored for the Winter.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,237
Likes: 11
From: Lacombe Louisiana
LOLOLOLOL, and how, pray tell, does it make it's way from the fuel injection system into the motor in enough quanity to "lock up" a motor? Quite impossible I assure you.If it had any where near that amount of water in it,the motor would simply not run.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
From: Grand Junction CO
My '01 WILL NOT START if I depress the accelerator fully to the floor, while cranking the engine. I can't say if all C5's are that way.
I use this trick to crank the engine allowing the oil pump build up pressure, before the engine fires up, after being stored for the Winter.
I use this trick to crank the engine allowing the oil pump build up pressure, before the engine fires up, after being stored for the Winter.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Most all Fuel Injected engines utilize some sort of clear flood procedure. I know C4, C5 and C6 all utilize the WOT during cranking as the clear flood method.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,801
Likes: 13
From: Anywhere where Cones need hit
Cruise-In 9-10 Veteran
CI-X Auto-X Champ (race tires)
St. Jude Donor '07-'09
My Cobalt SS went thru that twice... it was a "EVAP purge solenoid" or something like that. The car ran fine and then I put gas in it, and it would crank and crank and crank... then when it DID start would have trouble running for about 20 seconds or so, depending on if I started driving or just sat there.
Then it would run fine until the next time I opened the cap... then it did it again.
something about ( at least on THAT car ) like your fuel pressure was purged and was re-building the pressure... until that happened, it ran crappy.
Not saying that IS your problem, but just a simialr experience.
Then it would run fine until the next time I opened the cap... then it did it again.
something about ( at least on THAT car ) like your fuel pressure was purged and was re-building the pressure... until that happened, it ran crappy.
Not saying that IS your problem, but just a simialr experience.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,237
Likes: 11
From: Lacombe Louisiana
The evaporative system has nothing to do at all with fuel line pressure.More likely the valve was allowing raw fuel into the system and causing a temporary rich condition.All Fuel injected cars that I know of have the full throttle crank feature to clear a flooded engine.
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,100
Likes: 17
From: Somers, CT and Clermont, FL
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
WHEN the PCM gets the ignition switch CRANK signal and the WOT signal from the TPS, the PCM inhibits fuel injector operationas long as it see the combination of both signals. If the engine is flooded or too rich, you need to get as much fresh air into the cylinder as posible without adding fuel. After several engine revloutions, at WOT/no fuel, let off the throttle and she will start.
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,100
Likes: 17
From: Somers, CT and Clermont, FL
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
That makes a lot more sense to keep the ignition active, but deny injector operation, to clear the flooded mixture. Thanks for the good explanation Bill.
