I've got a 2003 A4 3.0, and the problem is that on occasion I can't fill it up with fuel. It takes .6 gallons, and then stops. If I push it, fuel will overflow the fill-pipe. It is always .6 gallons. If it goes further than .6, it will fill all the way. It seems to happen more often if I try to fill after driving for less than a half-hour or so.

So far the dealer has replaced the carbon cartridge for the tank vent. That seemed as if it helped some, but after a few months it is worse than before. I'm wondering if there is some kind of valve at the bottom of the fill-pipe and it is stuck and I'm just filling up the fill-pipe? I've searched and I can't find anything about this.

Any ideas, and what I should tell the shop to look for?

Thanks!

 

this happens to me does this only happen in hot days
the gas expands and i makes back pressure which makes it hard to refuel
you should take the gas cap off and let the pressure escape a lil

 

Well, I got the car last Nov, and it has happened during the winter. It didn't really do it all summer, and now it is starting up again.
Thanks for the tip though, I'll give it a try (it does sound like there is pressure in there - a hissing sound).

 

If your car is still under warranty take it back and have them fix it. After all, it is their problem until the warranty is up.

 

Yes, I have already had it "fixed" once, and I will have it "fixed" again. Since they did such a good job the first time, I was hoping this time around I could give them a little help by telling them exactly what needed to be fixed. That's why I posted here. It is a pain in the *** to be without a car, and when they don't know what is wrong it takes them longer to fix it. In the mean time, workarounds are useful, too. I still have plenty of miles and time left on the warranty.

 

go to another dealer

 

Maybe your fuel gauge is reading empty when you are only 6 gallons less than full? But Im sure you would notice if you had to fill up that often.

 

Ahhh, it only takes POINT SIX gallons (less than one), not six gallons, before it stops. I regularly go around 400 miles between fill-ups. Once the gas pump shows .7+ gallons, I know I am in the clear. Thanks, though!

 

Here is a funny explination. A friend of mine had the exact same problem with a Durango (horrors). What happened, was this: Kids thought it would be funny to stick a Tampon in the filler nozel at a gas station. When my friend filled up, it forced the tampon into his fuel filler neck, but not past the lower baffel. As it sat there it began to absorb and expand (as they are supposed to do....) and thus kept him from fueling up.

We were able to see it by opening the top valve and peering in with a flashlight (not using a match... lol). Just an idea from experience......