2000 Toyota Corolla Fuel System Problems

COMPLAINT REGARDING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CARBON CANISTER ON THE 2000 TOYOTA COROLLA.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR WHILE ATTEMPTING TO FILL UP GASOLINE TANK AT THE SERVICE STATION, COULD ONLY GET IN 1 OR 2 GALLONS OF GASOLINE. THE CONSUMER WAS ASTONISHED TO DISCOVER IT WAS NOT A PUMP MALFUNCTION SINCE THE PUMP WOULD SHUT OFF. TRIED ANOTHER PUMP, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE CARBON CANISTER HAD FAILED. *BF *NM

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON MY 2000 TOYOTA COROLLA LIT UP SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR IN MAY 2003. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES - THEY DISMISSED IT AS A MINOR PROBLEM ALL 3 TIMES AND SIMPLY RESET THE LIGHT. EACH TIME, THE LIGHT WOULD LIGHT BACK UP WITHIN SEVERAL DAYS. IN SEPTEMBER 2003, I BROUGHT IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE CHARCOAL CANISTER (ADJACENT TO THE FUEL TANK, PART OF THE FUEL SYSTEM, USED TO GAUGE FUEL VAPORS) NEEDED REPLACEMENT, SINCE SOME GAS SPILLED INTO IT. THE JOB WAS DONE (~$300), BUT THE LIGHT CAME BACK IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN JUNE 2004, BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T PASS INSPECTION WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE CHARCOAL CANISTER WAS THE PROBLEM, "PROBABLY BECAUSE SOMEBODY TOPPED THE TANK OFF WHILE FILLING UP." HE ADDED THAT THE CHARCOAL CANISTER NOT ONLY HAD FUEL IN IT, BUT WAS, IN FACT, "FILLED WITH GASOLINE." THE LOCAL MECHANIC, ONCE AGAIN, DID THE JOB (~$300). THE LIGHT CAME BACK WITHIN TWO WEEKS. I NEVER TOP OFF THE TANK WHEN I FILL UP. MY RESEARCH HAS PROVIDED SOME LIMITED ANSWERS: CHARCOAL CANISTER IS LOCATED VERY CLOSE TO THE FUEL TANK. USUALLY, THE CODES RETURNED BY THE CAR'S COMPUTER ARE EVAP CONTROL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION EVAP CONTROL SYSTEM INCORRECT PURGE FLOW EVAP CONTROL SYSTEM VENT CONTROL CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION WHICH POINT TO A PROBLEM WITH THE SWITCHING VALVE THAT VENTS THE CANISTER. IF THE VALVE DOESN'T WORK, THE CANISTER ISN'T VENTED AND ENOUGH FUMES COLLECT TO CAUSE THE CANISTER TO STOP FUNCTIONING. MANY OTHERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. TOYOTA DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE ANY EXPLANATION ABOUT THIS, NOR HAS THE COMPANY TAKEN ANY ACTION. MEANWHILE, TO GET MY CAR BACK INTO "GOOD STANDING," I'M LOOKING AT YET ANOTHER ~$300 BILL. *JB

CAR STALLS AFTER FILLING WITH GAS. TOYOTA HAS REPAIRED TWICE. REFUSES TO REPAIR AGAIN. CLAIMS OWNER OVER FILLING ANK, BUT TANK HAS BEEN FILLED BY TWO DIFFERENT DRIVERS - BOTH TAKING CARE NOT TO "TOP-OFF" OR OVERFILL AND STILL PROBLEM SPORADICALLY OCCURS. ENGINE STALL OUT IS UNEXPECTED. MOSTLY OCCURS WHEN STOPPING OR AT LOW SPEEDS, BUT HAS HAPPENED AT FREEWAY SPEEDS LEADING TO A NEED TO TRY TO SUDDENLY PULL OVER TO THE BERM WITHOUT BEING STRUCK BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. TOYOTA CURRENTLY REFUSING TO REPAIR VEHICLE OR EXPLAIN WHY ORDINARY USE CAUSES THIS PROBLEM. AWAITING A RESPONSE