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Hi guys, new member here.
Car is a 99 Corolla, 180k miles.
Last time I got gas, when I started the car after filling the tank, idle rpms were erratic and low, and the car stalled out after a few seconds. I started it again (it started fine), tried driving around the parking lot, but it stalled again. I then found that I could keep it from stalling by reving it some, but it still stalled at idle. Let the car sit for a few minutes (turned off), started it, and it drove fine.
The previous time I got gas, it almost stalled a couple of times, but not quite.
Both fillups were from about 1/4 tank to full (but not overfull, no topping off)
Never had this problem before. No other driveability issues.
There are DTCs, but the car has had all of them for literally years without issue. They are EVAP codes (classic Corolla bullcrap – P0440, P0441, P0446) and the cat (P0420).
I did check the Evap purge solenoid by trying to blow thru it, and it wasn’t stuck open.
Any diagnostic hints?
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More likely it’s the tank pressure relief valve that you are talking about. It may be stuck open and allowing alot of fumes to flood the charcoal canister if it’s broken. I’m honestly too tired to look at your codes tonite, but regardless, if you are having EVAP code issues, and have an obviously broken EVAP part, it’s probably a solid start to replace it and go from there. Re-reading your post, you may be getting a vacuum leak thru this valve as well. Sorry man, my brain is soup tonite.
I’m by no means a pro on this issue…but this did happen to me once…when I got some “bad fuel” in my 99 Tahoe. What i did (and others can either confirm or shoot me down…honestly I’d like to know the proper way to this too) was siphon off some of the gas and put in fuel stabilizer then added a little of the gas back in in hopes of “mixing” the stuff with the fuel. Once I got it started and it ran for awhile and then drove it for awhile my problem was solved. I hope this helps. If I’m way off please comment fellow forum friends!
Well, hopefully it won’t come to siphoning gas… what a pain.
I did a couple more tests.
1 – Drove the car until it warmed up, parked it and turned it off, removed the gas cap for a few minutes, replaced the gas cap, started the car. Ran fine.
2 – The tank was near full, but I pumped in about a gallon of gas (until the pump clicked off). It then stalled repeatedly whenever I decelerated to a stop. After stalling maybe 6 or 7 times, the problem went away and it ran fine.
I found that the vacuum valve for the fuel tank / carbon canister pressure sensor (under the car near the gas tank) was rusted out and almost cracked in half. Ordered a new one. Maybe that will do it.
I will update this when I find the fix.
Yes, the fuel tank pressure sensor.
These corollas seem to use one pressure sensor for both the fuel tank and the carbon canister. It switches between the two using a three-way solenoid valve controlled by the ECM (this solenoid is the part thats rusted out and cracked). Looks like the way its cracked, the pressure sensor is always seeing atmospheric pressure.
The guys at Autozone told me it was probably the gas cap… seems like the guys at Autozone always say any problem is because of the gas cap or an O2 sensor lol
The best method for diagnosing those codes is with a smoke machine and a bi-directional scan tool.
If you suspect ‘bad gas’, there is a product you can use that is supposed to help remove the water. I believe Heat is one popular product.
It’s not the fuel tank pressure sensor as that is not connected in any way to the engine idle. It may be that the line going to the charcoal canister is the issue and you’re getting extra fuel into the engine via the purge solenoid.
My friends at Wells made this video that might help
Thanks for the replies guy.
@ Beefy – I agree with the pressure relief valve, that’s a good guess
@ college man – sadly the fuel filter on this car is not external… would need to pull the fuel pump. Even checking fuel pressure is a pain in the ass, as there is no schrader valve.
@ dreamer – I think I have a bottle of Heat laying around somewhere, I’ll throw that in next time I fill it up
@ Eric – thanks for the link, I’ll check that out
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