Help gas gauge does not work right and is not taking gas well!!!

[spflick]

hey there i have a 98 mercury sable dohc 24 engine and i went on vacation and i fill up when i got there and i drove 220 miles on full and then it would drop to 3/4 of a tank at 250miles and then i went to fill it up and i took four gallons and clicked off then it was like it was full but got another 10 gallons in it just pumpin slow over the time of 45 minute i finally got full. whats going on with my car why does it not fill up like it use to and my gauge ?? i have tryed different speeds on the pump handle and i have tryed moving the handle in and out nothing seems to be working. tonight it would only take four gallons total and i had about 200 miles and i know its not full. if you have any info i would greatly appreacate it if yoou could help, i dont have alot of money to play with. thanks spflick

p.s. this both happened at the same time

[RickMN]

Have you put any additives in your gas lately? Sometimes the foil seal on those bottles can get stuck in the fill tube and make filling really hard. Also, there's a vent tube that comes out of the tank and goes up to the filler neck to release pressure on fill up. You might want to check that too. The gauge problem is more perplexing though. I'd say it sounds like a bad sending unit (which is not good news because it's part of the fuel pump assembly and $$$), but you said both problems started at the same time. Hmmm, have to give this one some more thought.

[spflick]

hey thanks for the reply how do i know which tube is the oh that goes back up to the fueling area?
and yes i put fuel injector cleaner in it but i opened it and threw the foil out and there was not any on the bottle, (lucaus tune up in a bottle). if the fuel gauge does not work i dont care just need to be able to fill it up. but i dont understand why they both accord at the same time!! i will tinker with it tomorrow thanks again spflick...

[shorod]

Seems like the slow filling tank could be due to a fault in the Evaporative Emissions purge solenoid, but don't know how that would possibly effect the fuel guage.

The OBD-II protocol, which your 1998 has, is pretty thorough in monitoring the EVAP system. You may want to see if your local chain auto parts store has a scan tool that will access component parameters and see if there are any faults of the EVAP system. Not all faults will cause a check engine light.

Also, there have been others on this forum complaining of similar problems with filling the tank. You may want to search the forum to see if any of them have found solutions.

-Rod

[spflick]

hey thanks for the replyies, i have never thought about getting the check engine light to see if there are codes! i will let you know what i find out! thanks again shorod!!!!! spflick
p.s. the check engine light is not on!!

[spflick]

ok so i went to autozone and there were no codes stored where do i got form here!!!!

[shorod]

If you can locate someone with a professional scan tool, get into the datastream mode and monitor the Fuel Tank Pressure. Remove the fuel cap and see if the tank pressure drops.

While the scan tool is connected, go into the component parameters and check the EVAP components for reported faults.

Or, if you are comfortable working on your car and playing with the electronics and components, you can check the EVAP purge solenoid for proper operation. Also, you could replace the fuel tank filler tube and check valve. You'd also want to inspect the canister vent hose and canister vent solenoid for correct operation.

-Rod

[spflick]

hey there i just had this problem happen to be i uses to beable to fill up with the nozzle on the fast pace fill and know i can bearly get it in drizzleing it and with it pulled it out and all the way in.. what i have dont

removeled the filler tube to see if the flap was stuck. not stuck, i also bett on the tank.
i have also to see if the computer was montioring the evap system took the gas cap off and did not thow a ses light. 15 miles to work and 15 miles back!!! (this conserse me)

found the vent siliondid or what i think its the vent silendoid and it is all rusted out and is this connected to the evap purge canister???

also came with this problem is the gas gauge does not go blow full untill i have 200-220 on it and the losest it goes know is 3/4s of a tank!!!!

could there be a vaccum holding the gauge and not alouing me to fill up because the car thinks that ist full?
\
you help would be greatly appreacited

[shorod]

There is an evaporative vapor valve mounted on the fuel tank that, if stuck closed or not working properly, could contribute to the symptoms you descrive. This valve allows vapors and tank pressure to vent to to evaporative emissions canister. There's also the purge solenoid that may not be working properly. Additionally, there is a vapor canister located in the rear of the vehicle that could possibly cause what you describe. If there is a pinch or restriction in the vent line, that could cause difficulty during refueling as well.

The evaporative emissions canister purge valve is located in the engine compartment (passenger rear of engine compartment on cowl) and has a red wire and a gray/yellow wire going to it.

-Rod

[spflick]

hey guys, thanks again for all your input!!! i took it to preferred auto and to come to find out that the tank was over fulled!!! witch would cause the gauge to read different!! the had puted the tank and the was a ton of gas in it about 7/8 on gauge and about that in the tank! so they put it all back to gether and had me drive it to a quarter and then fill it!!! well took eleven gallons on the high fill speed and the gauge reads full!!! thanks again!!!
spflick