Cannot add more than about a gallon and a half of fuel to the tank

Tiny
BILHAR5
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 BUICK RENDEZVOUS
  • 3.4L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 110,000 MILES
I cannot add more than about one and half gallons of gas to my tank. Some say it is a solenoid, they also say its located on top of the gas tank.
Can you help me with this? Do I have to remove the gas tank to repair this?
Sunday, January 1st, 2017 AT 3:45 AM

10 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Have you checked for codes in the computer yet? That is our starting point. You could have a bad vent solenoid.
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Sunday, January 1st, 2017 AT 3:53 PM
Tiny
BILHAR5
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  • 7 POSTS
No, I do not have the computer read out as yet, but I do believe the vent solenoid is the problem. How do I find it?
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Monday, January 2nd, 2017 AT 3:02 AM
Tiny
BILHAR5
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
I should tell you about myself a little bit, I am seventy nine year old on Social Security with a small savings account. I have very limited income, so no I have not taken my car in for a computer read out. This car has many problems, I am working on the problem that is causing the most stress.
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Monday, January 2nd, 2017 AT 3:51 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
The canister vent solid is below center of vehicle near fuel tank. You do not want to waste money on bad guesses as well though. The vent solenoid should be normally open.
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Monday, January 2nd, 2017 AT 7:00 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
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I posted what the vent valve looks like.
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+1
Monday, January 2nd, 2017 AT 7:06 AM
Tiny
BILHAR5
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
So far my son-law has done the attempts to locate the solenoid and try to repair the vehicle. I will back it into my garage on a warm day and see if I can find it by your information. Yes I know I can waste money by not knowing the problem by computer read out, however there seems to be a great deal of consensus that it is the solenoid. I cannot find this repair on YouTube or any where else on line, so I am going to the local Library and look it up in a Chilton book or other repair manual. Thanks for your help, and I hope what your saying about location is correct, it will make it much easier to repair.
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Monday, January 2nd, 2017 AT 9:41 AM
Tiny
BILHAR5
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  • 7 POSTS
I will let you know if I get it corrected.
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Monday, January 2nd, 2017 AT 9:42 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
It should be there it is just a connector a couple of hoses and a bracket.
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Monday, January 2nd, 2017 AT 12:32 PM
Tiny
BILHAR5
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Well I went to the Library, and the solenoid is on top of the Gas Tank, Chilton says Remove the tank to repair. I have print out of all this info. This means a trip to a repair shop. That will have to wait, to many large expenses right now, beginning with Property taxes. Propane fill up $424.00 Car Insurance etc.
Thanks for trying to help me, I do appreciate it.
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Wednesday, January 4th, 2017 AT 3:45 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,513 POSTS
It could be you have a fill tube to the tank that has a kink in it.

Please let us know happens so it will help others.

Best, Ken
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Monday, January 9th, 2017 AT 12:14 PM

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