Here's a general automotive advisory.
I have had trouble filling the fuel tank on 2 cars now, and fixed them both the same way. Both my current '06 Ford Focus, and an '03 Subaru Forester that we no longer own developed problems with their fuel tanks. When filling, the pump would shot off automatically after only about .25 gallons. The Subaru was fixed under warranty, the explanation was spider eggs in the evaporative gas recovery system, which on most newer cars is a charcoal filled canister that traps fuel vapors as they are vented from the tank, was clogged with spider eggs. I thought the tech was full of crap and making some excuse for a poorly built car. A few years later, after the warranty period, we had the same problem again. I spent about an hour under the car following all the hoses and pipes to and from the fuel tank. I removed some hoses and found one of them full of a sticky white glob. I removed what I figured was the mythical spider nest and put everything back together. The tank filled fine after that. My Ford started to have the same problem a few days ago. I removed what appeared to be a vent hose from the charcoal canister and believe it or not a spider came walking right out of it. On the Ford the eggs were actually in the pressure purge valve on the canister. Once I cleaned and replaced the valve, the car filled normally.
So, if you are having trouble filling the gas tank on a newer car, spend a few minutes looking under the car, and around the fuel tank for easily removable vent hoses and valves and check for spider nests before you spend the money to have somebody remove the nest for you.
I have had trouble filling the fuel tank on 2 cars now, and fixed them both the same way. Both my current '06 Ford Focus, and an '03 Subaru Forester that we no longer own developed problems with their fuel tanks. When filling, the pump would shot off automatically after only about .25 gallons. The Subaru was fixed under warranty, the explanation was spider eggs in the evaporative gas recovery system, which on most newer cars is a charcoal filled canister that traps fuel vapors as they are vented from the tank, was clogged with spider eggs. I thought the tech was full of crap and making some excuse for a poorly built car. A few years later, after the warranty period, we had the same problem again. I spent about an hour under the car following all the hoses and pipes to and from the fuel tank. I removed some hoses and found one of them full of a sticky white glob. I removed what I figured was the mythical spider nest and put everything back together. The tank filled fine after that. My Ford started to have the same problem a few days ago. I removed what appeared to be a vent hose from the charcoal canister and believe it or not a spider came walking right out of it. On the Ford the eggs were actually in the pressure purge valve on the canister. Once I cleaned and replaced the valve, the car filled normally.
So, if you are having trouble filling the gas tank on a newer car, spend a few minutes looking under the car, and around the fuel tank for easily removable vent hoses and valves and check for spider nests before you spend the money to have somebody remove the nest for you.
