Filling up with gas... PROBLEMS

[eclaire]

I have been having this problem with my Mini since I first got it. It is a 2004 MC and on and off, when I try to fill it up with gas the pump will click off like my tank is full even though Ii KNOW it is not. If I try ro keep filling it, the gas will overflow.
I've taken it in and of course the dealership said there was no problems. I have tired different gas stations and nothing works. It will just decide that after a few hours it will take the gas.

Anyone else experience this????

[cooper_s_flyer]

... I utilize the "slow speed' of filling after the initial click and all is well. Also, pulling up on the spout until it is almost visible in the filler neck works wonders. Full tanks plus approximately 1.3 gallons (filler neck and very top of tank) are possible this way.

Wierdly, I found that Chevron, Shell, and Texaco have the least problematic pumps.

[eclaire]

At least I'm not the only one... However I have found myself stranded for 6 hours about 115km away from home. Not fun.

[BigGerald]

I used to have to do this with my jeep wrangler... the thing would take MAYBE 3 gallons of gas before it shut off... the tips coopersflyer gave work well (especially the light squeeze "technique"), but be careful not to overfill the tank...
Sorry bout your problems.. good luck!

[RenaultF1]

You are definitely not the only one. I ended up switching gas stations for my regular fill-ups and since then when I'm around home I don't have the problem. When I travel I try to use either Mobil, Shell or Irving...I'm yet to find an Exxon station that works properly.

Oh and the tips above, definitely work if you run into an uncooperative pump.

[fireresq7]

I have had problems with this too. I have a 2003 MC S and It looks like my MC is the one that decides when she's hungry. I have sometimes spent an hour going from gas station to gas staion with no luck. Not to mention spending like .08 cents at each gas pump, then my credit card company thinks I stole my card!!!

Some people tell me it's the build up of pressure and you need to release it some how. What I usually do is everytime this happens, I have to either wait 2-3 hours till the MC decides to fuel up...or sometimes it does it on the second try at a different gas station.....it's a crapshoot really. Now I try to fill the tank at half. Sucks if you're on a road trip. I can't believe Mini won't acknowledge this.

I mean, is there a recall on this?Breather valve maybe?

~Rory

[William Courant]

Think this must be a characteristic of the design of the fuel tank/filler tube with the number of people commenting on this. All cars do this to a certain degree but the Mini seems paticularly sensitive to this. The fuel nozzle cut off is indeed activated by pressure. As the pollution guys don't want people topping right up (they say it causes pollution) most of the nozzles are set to go off before the tank is actually full to capacity. What works for me on my 03 Mini Cooper is pump away until the nozzle clicks off, count off 10 seconds and pump again, count off another 10 seconds and pump again. At this point the tank is full to the brim. Don't know why this works, I suppose something to do with giving the pressure built up during the intial fueling time to subside a bit.

Hope this helps

[DaFlake]

Don't push nozzle all the way in. This is what works for me.

[PPE]

Some pumps are a little tricky, this is just the nature of their makes. You'll find that if you change petrol stations enough you will find that some are very easy to use while others can be a real pain.
I've found this with driving all over the country, even in our other car (a Toyota) I've had these problems. It has nothing to do with the car and more to do with the model of gas pump.

Rich

[Madeira Jon]

I always place the pump on its side. All my cars have the problem regardless of make.