I went to my usual gas station today but used a pump I hadn't used before. I couldn't get the tank to open to accept the nozzle. I tried different angles but nothing worked. I moved to a different pump and was able to fill the tank. Has anyone else had this happen?

 

Have to ask. Was that a diesel pump by any chance?

 

...you took the words right out of my mouth....but was afraid to say it for fear of insulting narnia.

 

No!

 

Ooooooh! I would love to have a TLX with twin turbo diesel!!!!!!!!!!! LOL

Sorry, Narnia, for hijacking your thread!!!

 

First and really only thing that comes to mind.

Agreed as Narnia seems to know her stuff

 

There is a 'ring' around the trap door in the filler neck. When you insert the nozzle, it must depress/move this ring to open the trap door. I don't know why some trigger it easier than others, but 90% of the time it's not a problem.

Also, it seems like some nozzles provide such a tight fit that the fuel flow keeps shutting off (as if it the tank were full). I found that pulling the nozzle back 1" helped it to fill more smoothly without kicking off.

 

Thank you sir!

Colin, the ring was locked, it wouldn't open at all so I wasn't able insert the nozzle.

I was just wondering if anyone else experienced this. If it happens again I'll take my car over to the dealer.

 

(I think) You misunderstood me. I was addressing two separate issues. The first paragraph was your situation and the second and additional data point.

For you, I'm talking about the segmented ring in front of the hatch/trap door. This ring moves side to side and up-and-down. This ring must be "moved" in order for the hatch to open. Inserting the nozzle normally causes this ring to move and allows the trap door to open. However, if you manage to get the nozzle past the ring and not move it (ie going straight in), it won't allow the door to open because it hasn't been "triggered".

 

I've pumped gas several times now and can't say I've had this problem. Of course more than half those times, I used the same pump. lol.

 

I have had this problem with my '14 RLX at one Shell station. Probably the same no-cap filler. I tried it again there with the same problem. No problem at other stations.

 

I've only filled up twice since I bought it, once at Chevron and once at Shell and didn't have any issues. I have to confess the cap-less gas tank port is a first for me.


I really need to get this car out on a road trip. It's been almost 4 weeks and I don't even have 500 miles on it.

 

R. White, did you have this problem at all the pumps at the Shell station or just one particular pump?

Maybe this happens when the nozzle is slightly thicker, or the shape is irregular.

I've used other pumps at this station and didn't have this problem, so I'll just avoid this pump going forward.

 

purty car tho

 

Two different pumps at the Shell had the same issue. The nossels there seem be a larger diameter than others in my area.

 

Only saw the issue the first time I filled up. I was persistent and it slid right in. Now after 2500 miles I haven't had an issue.

 

I've had the same issue 3 times at 2 different stations all on same day. Went to 3th station and nozzle went in with no trouble.

Situation happened late on a Sunday night and not at highly populated area, luckily worked at 3rd station.