04 caravan dies after fueling

[AveryDuke]

i just bought a 2004 caravan with 44K miles, 3.3L. whenever i fill up the gas tank it will go about 100ft or until a hard turn and then die. it will instantly start back up but seems to be surging as i accelerate and sometimes acts like it wants to die when stopped. please help the dealership could not find the problem because there is no light on.

[Bear]

Sounds like the fuel pump is not building pressure quickly after a shut down. Does it only happen after refueling, is the cap on tight, two clicks?

[AveryDuke]

it only happens after refueling and the cap is on tight. i am thinking that it might be a problem with trash in the fuel tank. it also continues to try to die after

[Bear]

Try dropping a bottle of Water Out. Dry Gas. HEET (iso-propyl alcohol) in the tank, if you have water (condensation) in the tank,it will give you poor running at low fuel levels.

[RIP]

If it's not crap in the gas I would suspect it may have something to do with the EVAP system and probably the rollover valve, that is if an 04 has one.

[jodos4633]

question-- you say it only is a problem after fueling, is this the problem? if it happens all the time even at low levels and mid levels suspect dirt and junk in tank. if only happens when you fill up... do you fill the tank up to filler cap - like rip said - would suspect rollover.

[mooncat84]

Originally Posted by AveryDuke

i just bought a 2004 caravan with 44K miles, 3.3L. whenever i fill up the gas tank it will go about 100ft or until a hard turn and then die. it will instantly start back up but seems to be surging as i accelerate and sometimes acts like it wants to die when stopped. please help the dealership could not find the problem because there is no light on.

Have you found a solution for this problem? I too, just purchased a 2004 Dodge Grand Caravan with 43K miles, 3.8L and the same thing happened to me when fueling. Filled up, Started the van, reset the trip computer, proceeded to take off from the pump and then it stalled just before getting to the end of their driveway.

Would like to here from others with this problem, please chime in.

[davsutto]

I also have an '04 Grand Caravan, 3.3L that stalls about 30 seconds to 1 minute after fueling.
Reported it to the dealer several times but got the usual dealer crap of "no error codes", and they "can't reproduce problem". I'm going to have to take the service manager to the gas station with me to prove my point. If anyone has found the cause, please let us know. The only thing I can see that *might* be an issue is the little flap that is supposed to close after you remove the fuel pump nozzle stays open - I assume it eventually closes, as it is always closed when I remove the cap to put fuel in. Other than that, I would agree maybe an ROV issue, maybe fuel pump (but why only after putting gas in ?), maybe crud or water in the tank, but again, why only after putting gas in - the fuel is going to slosh around while driving, and this problem only occurs within 2 minutes of fueling. It's never stalled any other time.

[tempfixit]

Welcome to AF. This is a old thread please start a new thread and you will possibly get better response.

Good Luck

[mooncat84]

This was solved for me by the dealer since it was under warrenty. They told me that it was a defective vent in the fuel tank that caused a vacuum leak and the only way to repair it was to replace replace the fuel tank. Knock on wood, it's been fine ever since.

[mooncat84]

" The only thing I can see that *might* be an issue is the little flap that is supposed to close after you remove the fuel pump nozzle stays open "

Our van does not have this flap or maybe stuck too but doen't seem to have any effect either way.

[hkmorgan87]

Wait, you don't all get your gas from the same gas station do you? Did the dealer check fuel pressure? You could possible have a bad pump.

If you suspect water or debris in your gas, you should replace your fuel filter. Your fuel filter coule possibly be plugged. Although this would msot likely not cause an intermittent problem like your describing.

The valve in the tank is a vent valve. On most vehicles this is replaced as a separate unit, but on vans, this is a part of the gas tank. That valve is not a common part to fail, I've worked at a dodge dealer for 2 years, and I've seen maybe a handful of vans, to have that problem.

Finally, a few tidbits.

Make sure you are not overfilling your tank. When the pump shuts off, DO NOT, put more gas in. There is a tube that runs from the filler neck to an emission canister, and if you overfill you tank, gas will run into this canister, causing a CE or MIL light, which might cause driveability problems like your having.

And, the little flap on the tank is not a vital component, it is there mostly to keep large debris out of your tank.

[mooncat84]

As it may not be a common problem, It was indeed the vent valve in my case and replacing the fuel tank cured the problem.

Originally Posted by hkmorgan87

Wait, you don't all get your gas from the same gas station do you? Did the dealer check fuel pressure? You could possible have a bad pump.

If you suspect water or debris in your gas, you should replace your fuel filter. Your fuel filter coule possibly be plugged. Although this would msot likely not cause an intermittent problem like your describing.

The valve in the tank is a vent valve. On most vehicles this is replaced as a separate unit, but on vans, this is a part of the gas tank. That valve is not a common part to fail, I've worked at a dodge dealer for 2 years, and I've seen maybe a handful of vans, to have that problem.

Finally, a few tidbits.

Make sure you are not overfilling your tank. When the pump shuts off, DO NOT, put more gas in. There is a tube that runs from the filler neck to an emission canister, and if you overfill you tank, gas will run into this canister, causing a CE or MIL light, which might cause driveability problems like your having.

And, the little flap on the tank is not a vital component, it is there mostly to keep large debris out of your tank.