You are in a hurry for an important meeting or a can-not-miss class. Suddenly, you notice that the gasoline level is low, so you have to pull over and stop by the gas station to fill up your gas tank.
When your fuel level is full and your fuel tank is fulfilled, you hop on your car and start the engine.
However, even with the tank of gas filled, the fuel gauge indicates the full amount of gasoline, your car stalls after getting gas, and it doesn’t move an inch no matter what you do. You feel blue, upset, and impotent at the same time.
If you are already in that scenario and want to find the causes and solutions for this incident, this article will help you out.
With all the info in this article, this issue will no longer bother you. Keep scrolling down for more!
Reasons Why Your Car Stalls After Getting Gas
Bad Battery
When your car shuts off after putting gas, corroded or dead battery might be the main culprit. Still, people usually forget to check their battery, especially when buying second-hand cars, as they think a battery usually lasts from three to six years.
However, some actions shorten the battery lifespan, such as forgetting to turn off the interior light or headlights, exposure to the direct heat and sunlight, parasitic drain, and leaving your car idle for a long period.
Broken Or Faulty Alternator
The alternator is another component you should check when your car doesn’t want to start after getting gas.
An alternator is a source of power that supplies electricity to your radio, electric steering, headlights, windshield wipers, power windows, radio, heated seats, and dashboard instruments. It even charges the car battery.
Therefore, when your car has a broken alternator or bad alternator, it will not respond to your commands regardless of how hard you try.
Contaminated Fuel
Low-quality or unclean fuel is the most common reason that leads to engine stalls after filling up gas.
When your car is filled with contaminated fuel or low-quality fuel, there are several errors, reversals, or pings in operation.
Besides, the engine is either stuttering or not working properly, and the worst-case scenario is that your car can’t rev up.
Damaged Or Broken Fuel Pump
Fuel pressure must be just right for a vehicle to start. The fuel injection system prevents any liquid fuel from being pumped into the burning chamber whenever the engine starts.
On the other hand, the pump has more miles on it than the automobile and hence is more likely to fail.
A bad fuel pump which won’t produce enough fuel pressure will cause the vehicle to stall even after refilling.
Safety devices like ECUs (aka Electronic Control Units) are standard equipment on automobiles. Thanks to an ECU, a malfunctioning gas pump may be turned off regardless of engine status.
Stuck Exhaust Gas Recirculation
Exhaust gas recirculation or purge valve is a component of EVAP (Evaporative Emission Control System), whose job is to cool down the engine and reduce hazardous emissions.
This device normally holds hazardous fuel vapors inside a cylinder-shaped container before emitting them into the environment.
For that reason, if the purge valve doesn’t work properly, the pollutants can not get out of the engine, which makes the car won’t turn over after getting gas.
Clogged Fuel Filters
The fuel filter’s job is to prevent the dirt or contaminants inside the fuel from getting inside the engine.
If this part gets clogged, the gasoline can not get into the engine’s cylinders to move your automobile. Therefore this is also the place you should check when your car won’t start after pumping gas.
Anti-Theft Feature Failure
The anti-theft feature is the last culprit that makes your car won’t turn over after getting gas. The purpose of these safety features is to make your vehicle immobilized if someone tries to steal it.
Still, sometimes it doesn’t work precisely and may disable your car, which prevents you from starting the car up.
What To Do When Your Car Won’t Start After Gas Fill Up
A car not starting after getting gas is not something that people usually encounter, but the frustration it causes is so severe. Therefore, there are some possible ways to resolve this issue.
A quick reminder that if you are in the worst-case scenario when these methods don’t work, you should call the towing company to tow your car to the nearest garage.
Take A Thorough Look At Fuel System
Fuel Filter
First, go to the rear of your car and check the fuel filter to make sure the flow of fuel is normal.
If the fuel filter is stuck, remove the plastic clips around the fuel tubes and loosen the bracket keeping it in position.
After that, replace the old filter with the new one and connect all the tubes to complete the installation.
To prevent the clogged fuel filter, you should examine it a couple of times every year.
Fuel Line
Take a look at the fuel line to ensure there is no leakage. Carefully replace that part with a new line if you find a crack on the line.
However, in case the rupture is on a steel pipe, it’s time you need help from a mechanic.
Fuel Pump
A fuel pump is also a part you should look at when your car won’t start right away after getting gas.
Yet, if the mechanic is not your area of expertise, we highly recommend bringing your car to the nearest garage.
Check Exhaust And Air
You need a code scanner to help you check engine to figure out any error codes. There is a connection port under your steering wheel.
Then the mass air flow sensor is where you should take a peek at it. If it is blocked, the information transmitted from it to the computer of the engine will be wrong, which causes the stall.
When the sensor is stuck, remove the debris and dirt. Still, if it is broken, replace it with the new one, but of course, the new sensor must match your car.
The next component you should examine is the catalytic converter. In case it is out of order or blocked, replace it with the brand new one.
Check Electrical System
We usually neglect the spark plugs when our car won’t start after filling with gas. You should examine the spark whether it is working; if not, replace it.
Besides, spark plug wires are also what you should pay attention to.
Then make sure your battery is still running by using a voltmeter. Last but not least, inspect car alarms or anti-theft systems and disable them if they are the core of stopping your car.
FAQs
Why Does My Car Sputter After Getting Gas?
Fuel pump, injector, or filter problems might cause a vehicle to sputter after refueling. These pieces are interrelated, so they will perform badly if they get clogged with dust, debris, and dirt.
Can Bad Gasoline Make My Car Crank?
The contaminants in the bad gasoline will force the fuel pump or fuel filter to work harder. Your vehicle stalls if these components are clogged by excessive pollution.
Does Low Gasoline Cause The Car To Stall?
Low gasoline doesn’t cause the car to stall, but the empty gasoline tank does. However, low levels of gasoline will affect the performance and drivability of your vehicle.
Conclusion
And that’s all reasons and solutions you can consider when your car stalls after getting gas.
Most of the solutions in this article can be done by yourself. However, seeking help from the mechanic when the situation is out of your control is not a bad idea.
Thank you for reading, and we hope you can apply this knowledge in your real life.