Gas Won’t Pump Into the Car | What to Do?

Whenever the needle on the fuel gauge slowly moves down, you know it’s time to refuel. 

In normal cases, once you have refueled your vehicle, the needle starts to move to the top. But there are times when the gas won’t pump into the car and the needle won’t budge. 

There are many reasons why this can happen and one of them is a broken EVAP. But don’t get the wheels in your brain turning, as there are simple solutions to the problem. 

We will let you know all the causes of this problem and the solution along with it.

Why Gas Won’t Pump Into Car

When fuel is pumped into a car, the air inside the tank becomes displaced in order to accommodate the fuel. 

EVAP, Evaporative Emission Control System, is a modern technology that is being fitted into cars for them to be more environmentally friendly.

What it basically does is capture the vapors of the gas so that they do not pollute the environment. 

Then these vapors are moved to the engine by EVAP so that they get burnt by purging. The purge valve gets switched on when the engine is on and is turned off when the engine is off.

Now if the EVAP has a problem, the fuel tank will not get filled up completely, therefore resulting in gas not being pumped into the car properly.

The Reasons Why Gas Tank Is Not Filling Up

There are many ways how an EVAP can prevent efficient refueling. There are multiple reasons surrounding the EVAP that can lead to this problem, here is a proper breakdown of it.

Faulty EVAP

EVAP is a fairly new system that is being incorporated into cars to combat the excess number of pollutants that a car emits. This system is composed of various components which include car sensors as well. 

If there are any problems with these sensors or components the functionality of the EVAP takes a hit.

Any kind of leaks or cracks in the EVAP system renders the component inadequate at times.

So, if the EVAP becomes faulty it will not be able to capture the vapor and transfer it like before. Thus, this can cause the gas tank to not fill up.

Faulty EVAP Canister

The canister is the place where the vapor gets trapped until the engine is switched on. After the engine is started the vapors move into it for the purging process to become initiated.  

If there is a problem with the canister, high pressure accumulates in the tank. 

Therefore, preventing the air from getting displaced while gas is entering the tank. This results in the fuel pump to become shut down even before the tanks have been filled completely.

One thing to be noted is that you might be able to smell gas inside your car if your EVAP canister gets damaged. There are other indications that there is a problem with the canister of your car. And they are:

• If your car is giving bad mileage 
• Engine performance is weak and bad
• Check engine light becomes switched on
• The car start is not smooth

Blocked EVAP

If you do not properly maintain or take care of your car, debris, and dust can get accumulated in the hoses or different valves of your EVAP system. Like this, the EVAP becomes blocked and is unable to carry out its function efficiently. 

Because of the clogged EVAP, the vapors stay put in the tank and do not get burned off. Hence, the fuel does not get pumped into the tank properly. 

How To Fix The Issue Of Gas Not Pumping Into Car

There are always solutions to all the problems in the world, and it’s no different when it comes to this one. These are the few things that you can do if you notice that your car is not getting fuel:

Tighten the Fuel Cap

A lot of the time the simplest causes can result in a problem. 

If your fuel cap is not tightened properly, it will not be able to prevent fuel leakage and that might lead to loss of fuel. Furthermore, if there is any crack or damage to the cap, you’d need to change that to avoid gas loss.

The good news here is that these caps are quite affordable and are readily available in the market.

Change The Broken Parts

The first thing you should look at while checking for faulty parts are the canister, the purge valve, and the vent valve. Usually, issues in these components lead to inefficient fuel updates.

If you are confused about what component is damaged, take your vehicle straight to a professional so that they can have a proper look at the problem. They’ll be able to figure out the damaged part and replace them if required.

Unclog the EVAP System

Maintaining your car is crucial for it to be able to run smoothly. Because of debris, the EVAP might start running efficiently. So, pick up a wire brush and get started with the cleaning.

Blow dirt away from the system with the help of canned compressed air. After that, use the brush to do the final cleanup. You can do this all by yourself, or if you find it to be too grueling you can get it done professionally as well. 

Use A Diagnostic Tool

The easiest way to find a fault is by utilizing an OBD car scanner. All you have to do is connect it to the vehicle’s OBD-II port and start the car. The scanner will then detect the problem.

Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]

Why won’t gas go through the fuel pump?

A bad control module or a bad fuel pump can be the reason behind this issue.

How do I know if my fuel pump is clogged?

If there is low car mileage, or the car won’t start, or if there is an engine surge then your fuel pump may be clogged.

Why should I not overfill my tank?

The fuel pump will get shut and the extra fuel will get into the EVAP canister and block it.

Are car fuel pumps repairable?

Yes, but the repair can get quite pricey.

How does one unblock a fuel pump?

Just use a clean paintbrush to do the unclogging and that should be good enough.

Final Words

A little maintenance will keep your car components up and running for years. If you take care of your fuel pump and mainly the EVAP system then you will not have problems in putting gas inside of your car. 

And even if you do face troubles, the solutions are pretty straightforward.