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2017 acadia can't fill the gas tank (can't fill up/can't top off) solved

24K views 18 replies 10 participants last post by  Ddbyrer 
#1 ·
just wanted to share this, since my dealership acted like mine was the only car doing this when it clearly isn't.

From new, my wife and I wanted to know what kind of mileage our car was getting, and wanted to verify the DIC readout, so we drove from the dealership with a seemingly full tank of gas, and headed home. this was a bit of a trip, and we managed 35MPG. Great! so, with the gauge showing low enough I felt I could get an accurate fill up (around 3/4), I proceeded to the gas station to fill up my brand new car and verify the DIC only to be there for around half an hour and get frustrated that my brand new car wouldn't fill up. I tried 3 different pumps, tried moving the nozzle around, in/out, ect... to no avail. Back to the dealership I go... They couldn't figure it out, and said they needed to call GM, ok, fair enough. two days later I call them and ask what the deal is.

Apparently there is some kind of fuel level sensor besides the one on the sending unit that closes a flap in the filler neck when it think's the tank is full. mine thinks it's full when it isn't, and GM has already made a revised part (not sure wtf is going on, this car was (wait... where the hell is the mfg date on this car?) presumably just built not that long ago.

so GM knows this is a problem, and has a part to fix it if anyone else has this problem
 
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#2 ·
It would be great if you have a service bulletin number, or some other document citation to include in the thread.
 
#5 ·
Would not it be nice to get a ***** post from a first time poster who did not have to use foul language in the post. Wait!!! We did have one yesterday.

When I see a post filled with foul language I immediately discount what the poster is writing.

George
 
#6 ·
teetertotter said:
Always run the pump at slowest speed and let it shut off. It will be very accurate. Long story short. You can look it as to why.
sorry, I forgot to add, I did try running it slower. GM said this is a known problem with some of these cars. the flap at the bottom of the filler neck shuts and will not allow more fuel into the tank, so speed has nothing to do with it.
 
#7 ·
Isoldmysaturn said:
sorry, I forgot to add, I did try running it slower. GM said this is a known problem with some of these cars. the flap at the bottom of the filler neck shuts and will not allow more fuel into the tank, so speed has nothing to do with it.
Once you find that flap, please show it to us. The only thing I can visualize beyond where the nozzle gets inserted is either a deformed or misaligned fill neck (pipe). It's unfortunate no part diagrams are available on the popular part sites.
 
#8 ·
I'm repeating what the service advisor is telling me. it doesn't make any sense to me, either, but it's not the vent being blocked, and supposedly there's a flap to prevent over fuelling because if it wasn't there it would fill the tank and neck all the way and go out the vent. that's what he told me. maybe it's something different with the new capless filler neck, idk. I was planning on asking to see the parts if possible.
 
#9 ·
That's why gas station fuel dispensers are equipped with auto shutoff nozzles. :shrug:
 
#11 ·
I was all excited, they were going to show me pictures and the old part that failed, then it ended up being a dislodged baffle in the filler neck... So I guess make that 2 things it could be.
 
#12 ·
Just a guess... There must be a second flap in the new Acadia (There is no cap on the filler neck, just a spring loaded flap) that closes when either the tank is completely full or with the engine running. I was pumping gas the other day and jumped in and started the Acadia with the gas still pumping, the pump immediately stopped. I could not get another drop in while the engine was running. Once I shut off the engine, it would pump again.
 
#14 ·
my filler flap spring broke, so the flap would not close at all. I drove it for about 3 weeks that way until the parts came in and got it repaired. didn't have any problems while it was stuck open.
 
#15 ·
there is more than just a gas cap in modern cars which is what it sounds like you had a problem with.

there's at least (from outside in):

an outer flap to keep bees, birds, and small children out
an inner flap to keep the gas in
at least one baffle to (I'm guessing) keep the gas from coming back up the filler neck too fast
and some kind of flap at the tank end of the filler neck that closes when the tank is full.

the part I had a problem with was the baffle, but they thought I had a problem with the flap in the tank, which as far as I know is the only difference with the capless filler neck.
 
#17 ·
My dealer has solved this problem by replacing the sending unit in the gas tank. I have a 2017 SLT 4cyl FWD model and had the same problem, I could only get 430 miles or so on the range display and had to "jam" in the last 3-4 gallons of gas to get to 500 miles range per the brochure which damaged the canister and associated valve. The dealer initialed tried replacing the sensors, but the sending unit when replaced is what fixed the issue.

Bill Rapp GMC Buick in Syracuse NY did a great job, thank you!
 
#19 ·
Mine was doing the exact same thing.

Down where the tank cannects to the filler hose is a rubber hose. Disconnected the rubber hose and put a long screwdriver down in there and there is in fact what I originally thought was a check valve but appears now just an automatic valve that the computer controls. I was able to get mine open with the screwdriver and all is well now. I assume now it was just stuck. Might be worth a try first before replacement
 
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