Car Won’t Allow Gas To Pump (Keeps Clicking) – Solved

Sometimes you’ll experience a gas pump that just keeps clicking rather than actually pumping the gas into the vehicle.

The clicking sound should only sound when the car is full of gas and not when you just started pumping gas.

Here’s how you fix that problem

Why Your Car Won’t Allow Gas To Pump and Keeps Clicking

The problem is one of two things:

1. the gas pump
2. or your car.

Now we’ll narrow the subject down a little.

4 reasons the gas pump just click once and then stop?

When a gas pump clicks once and stops, something doesn’t connect. These are some common causes of that issue.

#1 The payment terminal has issues.

If the gas pump you’re using clicks once and then stops, the problem could have something to do with the gas pump and its components.

The payment terminal could be experiencing intermittent software issues or hardware failure.

If this happens, you may have to go inside and have a cashier process your payment from the inside.

#2 There’s a problem processing your card.

Your credit or debit card could also be expired or low on funds. For example, if you have a prepaid debit card, the pump might stop after you’ve pumped enough gas to dissipate your balance.

You won’t get a warning in that case, and you’ll need to check your balance and start over with a different card.

The third problem is that your card may not be eligible for pump-side payments.

Some companies prevent cardholders from using their cards directly at the tank, and they must go inside and process the transaction with an attendant.

Take a deep breath, walk inside, and see if this is your issue.

#3 There is no gas.

Gas attendants should take measurements and then tag units when they’re out of gas. Unfortunately, that doesn’t occur nearly as much as it should.

Therefore, you might be the unlucky person trying to pump gas from an empty tank.

You can easily resolve the issue by going inside and asking the cashier to transfer the money you put on the gas tank to a different unit.

#4 Someone shut the pump off.

Your pump might have shut off because a gas station attendant decided that you should stop pumping gas. Perhaps, that person wanted to close the store and get all the drivers to leave.

Maybe you had been there for a long time and created a long line of waiting customers.

Don’t be too alarmed if you experience it. Your credit card will not be charged for any fuel you didn’t use if you process your transaction at the pump.

3 reasons your gas nozzle is causing the pump to click and stop

Having a gas nozzle click off on you constantly can be quite annoying, and you might wonder if there’s something you can do about it.

These are some of the reasons it might click on you repeatedly and some solutions for you:

#1 Your fuel tank’s neck isn’t straight.

If your filler neck hose is kinked or not straight, it will cause gas to splash up and touch the pump. Today’s pumps have safety features that cause them to cut off whenever things like that happen.

You can try pulling the gas nozzle back a few inches to avoid that from happening.

Otherwise, you can remove the filler neck hose to check for obstructions and such. Sometimes the ball inside the filler neck gets stuck and has to be removed manually.

#2 Your canister vent valve is shut.

The problem with your fueling may also come from your vehicle.

Newer cars have a special system to catch and eliminate vapors that emerge when refilling a tank. The system is comprised of hoses, valves, and a canister.

If a valve gets stuck shut for some reason, it will prevent the vapors from getting through, and that will cause enough pressure to signal the pump sensor and then stop it from pumping.

Your first step should be to have someone connect a scanner and check for the trouble codes.

From there, the mechanic can figure out the issue and then assist you.

#3 Your venting line is clogged.

You could also have a clogged venting line causing the nozzle sensor to go off and deactivate the nozzle.

In that case, you will need to remove the hose to see if something is stuck there.

Is it normal to wiggle the nozzle before it works?

It’s normal for men to wiggle the nozzle after they finish fueling. It’s a common behavior because it reminds them of when they use the restroom. However, you shouldn’t have to wiggle the gas nozzle before the gas will come out for you.

The nozzle or container most likely has a problem with it if you must wiggle it to get gas to come out.

Alternatively, it might be a safety feature on one of the new systems.

The feature might be in place to ensure that someone empties any residual gas stuck inside the nozzle before they fuel up. Pump technology advances every day, so don’t be surprised if you notice something like that.

What can cause the nozzle to not start pumping?

If your nozzle does not pump, it could be several things. The first issue to consider is that the cashier may not have assigned the gas to the right pump.

He or she may also have gotten busy and forgotten to assign the gas to any pumps at.

Walk into the store and let the attendant know that your gas won’t come out and they need to make an adjustment.

If you swiped your card at the pump, be sure to wait until your card is authorized before trying to pump gas. The system is connected to a network, and it needs authorization from your provider again before it pumps gas for you, which is normal.

Is the nozzle broken or is it my car?

The problem could be with your car, the pump, or the gas system or network. Take these steps to narrow down the problem:

1. Ensure that you’ve been approved.

Look at the screen on the gas pump display to ensure that you’ve been cleared for your debit or credit card fueling.

Typically, the newer systems display step-by-step directions on when to pull the nozzle, select the fuel, begin fuelling, etc.

You may have to run your card again or choose a different card if the screen isn’t responding, and the pump won’t disburse gas to you.

2. Check to see if the attendant turned the pump on.

You should also see your prepaid gas amount show up on the screen right before you start pumping.

That lets you know that someone has turned on the pump and assigned the funds you gave to them to that pump. You’ll have to walk inside and talk to the cashier if you don’t see any activity.

3. Check for signs of an empty gas container.

Sometimes, when only a few cents come out and stop the pump, it’s because there is no gas left in the container.

4. Pull the nozzle back a little.

Pull the nozzle back at least an inch and see if it continues to pour gas for you after that. You can also try turning the nozzle to the left or right to line it up with your filler neck.

5. Examine the filler neck.

Examine the filler neck and related hoses to check for damage or obstructions.

6. Take your car for diagnostic testing.

Use an OBD2 scanner to check your vehicle for issues with the evaporative emissions system.

7. Fix the issue.

Use the recommended repair or replacement advice the mechanic gives you. That person is probably right about your issue.

You’ll soon know why the gas pump keeps shutting off on you. Hopefully, the solution will be easy for you to resolve.

Automatic Fuel Nozzle | SafeRack’s Industrial Index