Clever people who know about cars, any thoughts on why my car won't let me fill it up wiith diesel?

[MuffinMclay]

It does use diesel, BTW.

I went to fill it up last week and the whole process was mind-numbingly slow and the supply kept cutting out. I managed to get half a tank's worth and gave up. I assumed it was a problem at the petrol station.

I went back today (with a scarily empty tank), but a different petrol station,and the problem is worse. I managed to get £5 worth of diesel into it, before it cut out altogether (and it took a good 10 mins to do that).

A very helpful lady at the petrol station tested the supply and it was fine. I tried another pump, just to be sure, and nothing.

What is going on? Is this yet another horrendously expensive problem?

Very anoying. Dh is away for the weekend with his car, so I'm stuck at home with next to no petrol.

(Audi A6, if that makes a difference).

by petrol, I do mean diesel - I haven't put the wrong one in

Clearly it's in a bad mood - have you not been washing and waxing it and stroking it lovingly?

Am still on hols at the mo btw, but will be at group next Thurs. Any gossip I should know in the meantime?

did you get someone else to try and fill it up?

only, I had this problem once and complained loudly at every petrol station, bemoaned the fact that there never seemed to be pumps that were working and then I realised I hadn't been holding the nozzle far enough in (needed a strange sort of angle for this specific car) and then it worked fine

I saw this happen to a car on top gear and I think it was just something that some cars do, depends on the angle you put the pump in iirc. It cuts out when it thinks the tank is full.

sounds like some form of duff sensor! sounds like it needs to go to the dealership for a check over!

DH is an AA man and he said maybe you need to pull the diesel nozzle out of the car a little when filling up. Apparently depending on the angle of your tank the nozzel may be hitting the sides and setting off the "Im full" mechanism (my technical term not his lol). Hope it helps

If you were putting the metal bit at the end of the hose too far into the car, then you were causing it to cut out the delivery. If you bring it out a bit towards you then you keep the air supply as it needs to be and then you can carry on filling. Sorry if that isn't explained too well. Don't push it so far in is my guess. It's got to be enough to go in without spilling on you or the side of the car, but not too far. I'm not clever and I don't know about cars and I'm sure someone has just posted this answer much more consisely and clearly than me!

fis - I haven't been around for a couple of weeks (just finishing my hols) - did you start your new job yet?

It's an occassional prob. with lots of tanks..something to do with a vacuum being present, esp. if tank is quite empty. Try putting the nozzle only slightly in - wiggle things around. If really desparate, fill one of those plastic petrol carriers, and feed it in slowly through that nozzle.

It's what mechanics call "an intermittent fault". Which takes us nowhere.

I was right; they have!

does it sort put some in then it clicks and the fuel stops going in?

I have this sometimes with unleaded.

Pull the nozzle out as far as you dare and gently squeeze the handle - works for me!

Id say it is the way you are handling the erm.. .. pump.

I have had that with my car once. The pump think that the tank is full, so it cuts off.
Keep holding it in and change the angle?
Also try getting it as deep in as possible.

That usually helps....

Still talking pumps and cars.... btw

yes I have CSWS. It's terrifying! (work Mon to Wednesday at the moment!).

or..put the pump gently so it breaks through auto-cover ( that is on a spring) and let lots of air into the tank..equalises pressure, lets air in (petrol is under pressure in a tank)..and so clears the vacuum.

and SSN is just being mucky.

OK, will try putting the nozzle in less far (well, will send dh out to try when he gets back on Sunday - there are only so many times I want to make a fool of myself at a petrol station). I did try taking it out and putting it back in again, but that didn't help.

But I can't believe that my technique was any different to previous (successful) times when I've filled it up.

CSWS - hope you're having a great holiday. M&T was very quiet indeed. Most regulars were awol. There was some gossip (but you probably know it already). Someone had had a m/c over the summer, and I felt awful turning up with a bump. See you next week.
I have never washed or waxed the car in all the time I've had it (as is probably glaringly obvious).

SSN

MM - let the petrol fumes out, and the air in!! Leave the nozzle in for a couple of minutes, prior to pumping. As it were.

Pan, mucky? Look, me and you said pretty much the same thing. I am no car mechanic, i dont have the vocabulary but I tried to be helpful!

Pan - got it now! I didn't quite understand with the technical jargon first time round (auto-cover, springs etc).

Perhaps I shall find a quiet petrol station this afternoon and experiment with different techniques.

SSN - I was being playful! > should have done the bit.

thats ok Pan!

on my car(mondeo) you have to put the nozzle in at precisely the right angle or nothing happens at all, I think it has a funny angle into the tank and the pump thinks its full when its not, a good wiggle helps, although it took me ages to get the hang of it.

Wimped out of trying again this afternoon.

I'm going to send dh out on Sunday evening to have a go, with clear instructions to wiggle and be gentle.

Ooh - I think I might have heard a rumour about who's pregnant - does she live very close to me?

for m/c - any clues as to who?