Connect Fuel Tank Never Fills Up!

[Simonb2795]

Hi all,

Two posts in a day, some kind of record for me......... Joined today to chip in on a Ka thread as I have just picked up a new one myself but also own a Fusion and a Transit Connect.

On the Transit front - LWB, 59 plate which I use to ferry around radio controlled trucks to model shows up and down the country, at peak twice a month. Now I know it had a hard life up until I took it on and its last role was running parts and post between Perry's dealerships. However, it runs well and take me, the wife and our toys about the place in surprising comfort and is very economical.

HOWEVER, I have never been able to fill up the tank. I can have the tank showing as almost empty on both the dial and the trip computer, take it to a petrol station (have tried different ones) and no matter what I do, I can only ever get about 2/3 of a tank of diesel in before the pump clicks off as if tank is full. Now the litres I have got in would tie up with this but without running the van on empty until it stops, I can't be certain whether the readings are false and there is more in the tank than shown or whether there is an epic air bubble in the tank or whether the sensor in the pump nozzle is getting false reads from some sort of fault.

Has anyone else had this sort of issue? I know it wont be limited to affecting Transit Connects but figured it best to keep in topic for now. Perry's have taken a look and as always with first looks, can't see anything at fault but something isn't right!

Cheers

Simon

[troy45]

Might be worth looking into any common issues with restrictions in the filler neck or fuel tank stub, that would cause the filling fuel to back up the neck and trigger the fuel nozzle to click off.

[Simonb2795]

Hi Troy45,

Yes I have been reading up a bit more on this and it seems to affect all sorts of vehicles and not be limited to diesels. A lot of people recommend turning the handle by 45 or 90 degrees to effectively cheat air/fuel pressure system in the nozzle that reads as full. Next time I want to fill up I will take a good look at the fuel gauge and try and then cheat the nozzle to then get the amount of fuel in that I think should go in and then take it from there. If it works then it is a cheating fix but at least it would be cheaper than getting the false read investigated in depth. Assuming I don't end up spraying diesel all over myself mind!

[jeebowhite]

You probably need to check for obstruction in the filler neck.