1995 Maxima won't start when hot until gas cap is loosened... help!

[jonnydclark]

Hi, Just joined today but i've been searching posts for a while. Looks like a great community.

My 1995 Maxima has been sporadically not starting... just cranks indefinitely. It happens after the car has been driving for 5 or 10 minutes and then is shut off briefly..... like at the post office. When I open the gas cap i hear a lot of rushing air (not sure if it is going in or out) and then the car starts. If I don't loosen the cap it takes like 5 or 10 minutes before it starts. I've only done the gas cap thing 3 times but it has worked 3 times in a row so I don't think it is conincidence.

Should I buy a new cap or is this a sign of a bad fuel pump or something? I recently replaced the TPS (code was tripped but didn't change anything)and fuel filter is about 1 year old. Any help or experience with this would be great.

Jon

[jltibbs]

Welcome to NICO!

Sounds like vapor lock. Are you throwing a CEL?

[NutriaforBreakfast]

Just a guess here, but you might check if the lines to your(EVAP emissions) charcoal canister is plugged. Or the canisteritself could be plugged up

[MaximA32]

It's definitely an EVAP problem. Check the canister for cracks around the EVAP purge control valve. Have you filled it with gas lately? Does the pump shut off automatically even though the tank isn't full?

[NutriaforBreakfast]

Heard a story about someone who had the EVAP canister fullof gas. It seems like it could happen but I dont know.

[jonnydclark]

Yes the pump shuts off automatically and when it is full. It seems to happen a lot more when the tank is empty. I've ordered a gas cap from Nissan and if that doesn't work I will look into the canister and evap system. Thanks for the tips.

Jon