2000 camry stalls on full tank of fuel

qar

I purchased this auto, without warranty, at 50k miles and at 52K after
filling the tank with reg gas, it sputtered and almost stalled. It has
gotten progressivly worse over the last 10k miles. The only time it does
it, is after a full tank of gas. At about 3 quarters of a tank it stops
stalling. The check engine light also came on the first time it happened.
The service dept at the toyo dealer advised it was excess fuel in the
overflow canister and to give it time to dry out. They advised the check
engine light would go away as well. The stalling seems to be getting more
intense and it now seems to be a safety issue. Are there other options to
speed this process. We drive about 5000 miles per month and try not to
fill the tank all the way up, and never past the first click. We are
tightning the gas cover until it clicks as well. Advise would be greatly
appreciated.

Daniel

Sounds like the diagnosis you got was correct.
If the prior owner kept filling the tank to the very brim to the point
of allowing fuel to saturate the evaporative canister (that is supposed
to hold only fuel vapor) that would account for your problem.
Letting it dry out slowly is news to me.
I thought they needed to be replaced - although this is an expensive
part.
Replacement is fairly straightforward though. Unbolt the old cannister
and replace the vacuum lines.
IIRC there is something over the cannister where removing it makes
access easier. (could be the air hoses or filter box - sorry don't
remember)

hbuck

>prior owner kept filling tank to the very brim to the point of allowing
fuel to saturate the evaporative canister
Daniel, are you talking about fuel entering one or both of the two smaller
holes in the filler neck besides the main hole ? I'm sure some or maybe a
lot goes down one of those when I put in a can of fuel injector cleaner.
Any harm in that?
I've only done it once.

qar

Thank you very much for your reply. I do have one follow up question. Why
wasn't the check engine light on when we purchased the vehicle? Could the
dealer have done something to make the light go away?

johngdole@hotmail.com

The fuel tank overflow check valve is another place to look because you
said the cause more likely after filling the tank. This is way it's
advised that we don't fill the tank past the first click from the pump.

That generation of Camrys also have bad canisters. But you did say it's
working when the tank is not full.