Ody won't start on hill with low fuel?

SoloTSi97 · Nov 11, 2005

Twice now our '05 Touring has refused to start when parked facing downhill when low on fuel. Both times, letting the van roll onto level ground has allowed it to start. I'm not talking San Francisco hills here, I'm talking about our driveway, up which my 5yo son can pedal his training-wheeled bike.

In both cases, the low fuel chime had sounded between 10 and 15 miles earlier. In both cases, we drove straight to a gas station and filled the tank with just over 18 gallons.

Now, the owner's manual claims the van has a 21-gallon tank, so that means we had nearly 3 gallons left in the tank. That's 60+ miles of range, so we were decidedly not out of gas.

Anyone else have this problem? I'm taking it in to the dealer next week anyway and plan to mention it to them. I'm just curious to see if it's a common problem or not, since we've never had this problem with any other vehicle.

-Bob H.
'05 Touring R+N

6spdtl · Nov 11, 2005

Its perfectly normal due to gas "pooling" in the tank. Many members have complained that the low fuel light goes off to soon, now we know why. The tank is pretty large thus a couple of gallons of fuel will just form a shallow pool at the bottom, which, as you have discovered, is not enough to reach the gas pump intake at all angles.

lelandstanford · Nov 11, 2005

You can start the engine after the van slided down the driveway.

William Wiles · Nov 11, 2005

The calculated volume of the gas tank is 21 gallons, not the amount of usable gas in the tank. You can't fill the tank completely with fuel, it needs room to expand and contract without forcing fuel in the EVAP system. The only solution is to not drive it till empty. This is also hard on the pickup and fuel pump.......

OdyPa · Nov 12, 2005

The best way to burn up a fuel pump is to have it run with no gas running through it. Gas acts as a coolant for it. I don't know what the Ody one exactly cost to replace, but your looking at big bucks. If you can afford an Ody, you can afford to keep gas in it.

Odypain · Nov 12, 2005

Uphill/Downhill?

Solo-Bob,

Have you tried parking uphill when you're low on fuel? Suggest you keep a couple of gallons safely stored in a gas can at home for times like this.

When our 'get out and push soon' light comes on I can put about 17 gals, no make that gallons, in the tank. I've never had any trouble starting even after 60 miles with the light on but it's table-top flat here.

This problem is not uncommon for any vehicle. Gas tanks are contoured and where the pump inlet is relative to the fuel remaining determines how much you can use. You may have no problem for another 40 miles facing uphill but why risk it.

The alternative solutions are parking elsewhere (inconvenient), building up a berm in your driveway (expensive), or moving (for this?).

Good luck mentioning this to your dealer as there's nothing they can do about it and after you leave they'll have a good laugh.

Refuel on,

wild willy · Nov 12, 2005

Reminds me of a friend I had when I was about 16..He ad a pinto that would not start if someone was sitting in the Passenger seat. When he took his driving test...He had to ask the cop to get up off od the seat or the car would not start.

Odypain · Nov 12, 2005

WW,

Did this Pinto have four legs or a slot for quarters?

I think the examiner would be more worried about the exploding gas tank from a rear end collision.

On second thought... I think that friend was you, LOL.

No shame no gain.

Titan · Nov 12, 2005

William Wiles said:
The calculated volume of the gas tank is 21 gallons, not the amount of usable gas in the tank. You can't fill the tank completely with fuel, it needs room to expand and contract without forcing fuel in the EVAP system. The only solution is to not drive it till empty. This is also hard on the pickup and fuel pump.......

I NEVER run less than 1/4 tank on any vehicle for this very reason. Fuel pumps do better over the long haul when they stay submerged in fuel, not sucking air!

wild willy · Nov 12, 2005

Odypain said:
WW,

Did this Pinto have four legs or a slot for quarters?

I think the examiner would be more worried about the exploding gas tank from a rear end collision.

On second thought... I think that friend was you, LOL.

No shame no gain.

No it was not me....I did not have a car at 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20

But, I would have proudly driven that Pinto!!!!

yatesd · Nov 12, 2005

I NEVER run less than 1/4 tank on any vehicle for this very reason. Fuel pumps do better over the long haul when they stay submerged in fuel, not sucking air!

But you'll get better gas mileage without dragging along all of that weight. Not to mention the additional stopping and starting when you refill.

I get gas when the light goes on.....it doesn't run out, it is always replaced with fresh stuff every week, and I am saving gas.

Titan · Nov 12, 2005

yatesd said:
But you'll get better gas mileage without dragging along all of that weight. Not to mention the additional stopping and starting when you refill.

I get gas when the light goes on.....it doesn't run out, it is always replaced with fresh stuff every week, and I am saving gas.

I'm getting low 20's in town, upper 20's to 33 on HWY. I guess a few extra pounds don't hurt me too bad. Any money I might save by having less weight will be more than offset by the cost of a new fuel pump prematurely. I rarely get fuel more than once every couple of weeks, except for long trips. Then, we need the rest break anyway. Nevertheless, your statements are still true....

clovenhead · Nov 12, 2005

I had the same problem in my 05 Touring. Not sure if it would be the same in my 06 Touring since we have moved.

I had about a 6 or 7 degree slope in my driveway. The car would run out of gas while warming up with 4 or 5 gallons of gas in the tank. Of course I mentioned it to Honda. There response was a glassy eyed stare.

On the same driveway some other vehicles I have owned would take a few more cranks to start when they got down to about 1 gallon of gas.

I'm sure there is a design choice made that leads to this situation. Maybe Honda could explain it, and it may be the result of a reasonable trade off. I just hate when they ignore you when you try to understand the reason for something.

As far as others here telling you what you can afford, gas, etc. They should remember that Honda flouts that you can get 580 miles per tank of gas. I think it would be reasonable to expect that the car would start in your driveway after only traveling on a large percentage of your fuel.

Wilburdog · Nov 12, 2005

SoloTSi97 - I experienced the same thing last winter & wrote the following on this forum: "Another interesting note: with Tank #3 (68.7 Litres); my van was backed up & parked on a driveway with a bit of a grade (15-20%). I started it in the morning to defrost the windows (-15°C). After about 15 minutes I noticed the van quit. It ran out of gas. I coasted the van to a level spot & it started. When I previously parked the van for the night the low fuel level light was not on. So beware of parking on steep grades when the fuel tank is near empty." My Canadian EX model has a 79 Litre fuel tank (79-68.7 refill = 10.3 L remaining in the tank when it quit). Since running out of gas I try to remember to park on a slope 'front first' instead of backing up. So far so good.

egads · Nov 12, 2005

It never ceases to amaze me the rationalizations people come up with for being cheap.

Atchie · Nov 12, 2005

egads said:
It never ceases to amaze me the rationalizations people come up with for being cheap.

I would probably call it procrastination. If my low fuel light came on, there is no way I would bring it home without getting some gas. I guess I've learned that you never know what may happen at home and will have to run out. Having young children, they always seem to get very ill late at night (and usually on Sundays

). We have had to load up a kid or two and haul them off to the hospital two towns away---believe me, this is not the time to be stopping to filler up.

Got gas?

yatesd · Nov 12, 2005

It never ceases to amaze me the rationalizations people come up with for being cheap.

Could you please clarify? Waiting to fill up the tank when it is almost empty, is simply the most efficient way to operate the vehicle. That is why people generally prefer vehicles with a decent range between fill-ups.

If someone drives low mileage and has the potential of having water in the tank, then it may be an issue. I have read the warning in the Honda owners manual, and tend to get gas fairly soon after the light comes on. Personally, I have never had to replace a fuel pump in any vehicle.

egads · Nov 13, 2005

I wait for the light to come on myself, I just have no delusions that doing so saves me anything but a stop at a station. It is also a general comment on all these folks who buy $30,000 minivans and then worry about running the AC.

yatesd · Nov 13, 2005

I wait for the light to come on myself, I just have no delusions that doing so saves me anything but a stop at a station.

I agree....my only reason for waiting to fill up is to avoid unnecessary stops. I added the possible effect on MPG in there for Titan's benefit (our official gas mileage guru).

Odypain · Nov 13, 2005

Suthun' Gas-pitality

For those that routinely get close to having the low fuel light come on and then complain then they run out on a grade, all I can ask is...why? Is the smidgeon of MPG savings running near empty versus full worthwhile? Are you expecting prices to drop so you'll save a quarter? Are you holding out for some QVC additive that will increase MPG tenfold? I can't imagine it's human nature to be this lazy and prolong refueling but lack of understanding the psyche is why I sought a degree other than psychology. Shocking news folks; your Ody's need and will continue to need even beyond the duration of ownership, of all things… GAS!

Let a few hurricanes drift your way and you'll truly appreciate the availability of gasoline, as in not knowing the next time it'll be available. These quad-state (La, Fl, Ms, Al) lessons would teach you not to delve below 3/4 tank much less having an idiot light blossom. Growing up in the North, I was taught never to go below half a tank for fear of being stuck in a snow drift or some other parental reasoning. Now I know why.

Running out of gas simply illuminates a warning light only others can see all along, LOL.

Having got that off my petroleum free chest, I think it is reasonable to expect all but 2 or 3 gallons reserve to be useable, even on significant grades and that isn't possible. If we all got EPA numbers, we should be able to go 360 to 500 miles between fill-ups. Apparently that too isn't possible unless have an onboard leveling system. The Ody seems no more prone to running out early or on grades than any of the 27 previous vehicles I've had.

Face it; this is not a design flaw but a hardware problem. The nut that holds the steering wheel is a bit loose.

:heh:

Ody won't start on hill with low fuel?

SoloTSi97

6spdtl

lelandstanford

William Wiles

OdyPa

Odypain

wild willy

Odypain

Titan

wild willy

yatesd

Titan

clovenhead

Wilburdog

egads

Atchie

yatesd

egads

yatesd

Odypain

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