1999 S80 T6 Difficult to start after filling up

[Riba]

I noticed this a while ago but now I realised I can reliably reproduce it.

The car normally start fine, cold or warm. However just after filling up at the gas station I need to crank it at least 2-3 times before it fires up. It starts fine from then on. What might be causing it? Being in Kuwait, I always fill it up to the top, maybe I should be more conservative.

[majorcode]

Riba, In Arab countries normally gas station people keep filling the tank until gas pops out from the filling cap. Which is really bad bad bad for Euro cars in my experience.

Before filling let the car idle at least for 5 to 10 seconds.

I always refill gas on 40% left and asked the guy to take the pipe out as soon it clicked (Full). Then gas cap should be tight at least 3 times (Should hear three click sounds).

Finally check your fuel filter, if you do not know when it was last time changed....then change it ASAP.

cheers!

[Riba]

Thanks, I guess you just confirmed what I suspected all along.

On a unrelated note, yesterday I bought those damn plastic sliders on the window regulators. Price in Kuwait: $9 a piece. :-O

[jimmy57]

If this longer cranking and has to restarted a few times event only occurs after fueling then it seems your evap valve(also called a canister purge valve)may be stuck open. When you fuel the vapors are displaced into the vapor collection canister and the evap valve shoulkd be sealed and not allow those vapors to go to the engine. If the valve is snot sealed then the engine will be flooded with those vapors and will not run properly until the vapors can be cleared from intake and canister and burned in engine.
In North American markets and some others this problem would be detected and a warning lamp would be on. I do not believe Middle Eastern market cars have that feature in late 90's and early 2000's models.