2000 sephia hard to start after filling gas

bc200ex · #1 03-23-2005, 02:27 PM

I'm trying to help a friend of mine with her 2000 sephia. Its got 140,000 miles on it and runs great except after filling the gas tank. When you go to start it after buying gas, it is hard to start and runs rough/wants to stall for 5 minutes or so then runs fine. I just put new plugs/wires in it, fuel filter changed about 10,000 ago and had a new timing belt about 45,000 ago. (Also bought a new gas cap and added fuel injector cleaner). This puzzles me because the car runs fine except for that first few minutes after buying gas. Has this happened to anyone else? Any help appreciated . . . . .

cbeck · #2 03-24-2005, 01:15 AM

maybe the fuel pressure regulator has gotten weak?

derrty_ent_derrty · #3 03-24-2005, 11:16 PM

there was a recall on this i think. check with a kia dealer

bc200ex · #4 03-29-2005, 03:41 PM

I checked on it and there were some recalls on '99 sephias having to do with fuel system but nothing on the '00. Still looking for help on this one.

cbeck · #5 03-29-2005, 05:00 PM

I'm about to fire a sh*t load of questions at you because this is one of the weirder things I have heard, and if anybody's gonna be able to help you, the more they know the better.

So...

What do you mean by "running rough"? a consistent low idle, just shaking, any black smoke comming out of the tail pipe at that time? What about if you give it gas while it's running bad.. does it bog, rev up, sputter on as it has been... do you get black smoke out the tail pipe then?

Have you checked the fuel pressure at full tank, half way and near empty? Are you driving it al the way to fumes before you go fill up? do you give it gass when you try to start?

And finally, have you taken it to autozone yet to check for any codes? Sensor problems have been known to cause all sorts of mess. (this last item is probably where I should have started the list)

bc200ex · #6 04-01-2005, 08:33 AM

after buying gas, (whether E, 1/4 tank, 1/3 tank before filling) you have to push the gas pedal when starting and it cranks for a while before turning over. For the next 5 minutes, it runs like it has a bad spark plug wire; hesitating, shaking, etc. but if you stay on the gas it will keep running. Gotta keep revving it up when you are slowing down or it will stall. 5 minutes later, it runs fine UNTIL you buy gas again. Haven't noticed any black smoke but haven't stood right behind it when she starts it. I'll check that out this weekend and get the code read this weekend.

bc200ex · #7 04-07-2005, 04:50 PM

no black smoke; still haven't had a chance to get code read. Here might be another clue - - if you take the gas cap off while its running, it will stall right away. We thought we'd be slick and leave it running the last time we put gas in it so it wouldn't be hard to start & stall but it dies within seconds after taking the cap off. None of my cars have ever done that.

norurb · #8 05-27-2005, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bc200ex

I'm trying to help a friend of mine with her 2000 sephia. Its got 140,000 miles on it and runs great except after filling the gas tank. When you go to start it after buying gas, it is hard to start and runs rough/wants to stall for 5 minutes or so then runs fine. I just put new plugs/wires in it, fuel filter changed about 10,000 ago and had a new timing belt about 45,000 ago. (Also bought a new gas cap and added fuel injector cleaner). This puzzles me because the car runs fine except for that first few minutes after buying gas. Has this happened to anyone else? Any help appreciated . . . . .

Did you figure out the problem? I have the same problem so I went to a mechanic and he told me it's caused by this:

As you can see the filler neck is distorted on the bottom area of the lip. My mechanic says there is a loss of back pressure which is causing weak fuel delivery.
So, I went to a local wrecking yard and picked up a spare gas filler neck. I haven't replaced it yet, but I'll report my findings when I can.

fastkia · #9 05-30-2005, 12:27 AM

cbeck maybe you can agree with me this sound like a case of a bad psv, ccv or even the canister could be full of gas causing it to flood. if psv is getting stuck open it will cause a vaccumm leak when gas cap is taken off. if ccv is stuck close not sure what would happen besides a check engine light hehe

cbeck · #10 06-02-2005, 08:26 PM

I agree

Canister makes good sense for sure. PSV (pressure saftey valve?) sounds good, i'll have to admit I don't know what that is though..

I wonder too... if perhaps the motor on the fuel pump could simply be weak such that it cant pull gas into it witout the added vapor pressure built up from having the cap on... Or could the pressure regulator (attached to the fuel send module) be bypassing somehow with a decrease in fuel vapor pressure?

One day I'll have to have a look-see at that thing and see how it works...

bc200ex · #11 06-10-2005, 01:15 PM

thanks for the help guys - - i haven't been on here in a while and just saw the posts. the car's still running fine except for when you buy gas. i'm going to look into some of the things you mentioned

bettywilson4 · #12 09-17-2007, 09:56 PM

I have the same problem (difficult starting after fill up). Now I just put in 3 gallons at a time and it starts better, but runs rought till I get moving and then it is fine

cbeck · #13 09-17-2007, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bettywilson4

I have the same problem (difficult starting after fill up). Now I just put in 3 gallons at a time and it starts better, but runs rought till I get moving and then it is fine

I'm still wondering about a dying fuel pump. did you ever have any luck, bc200ex?

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