My 2007 RX350 had the alternator, battery, fuel cap, and purge valve replaced in April. Last week after my daughter filled the tank, the car wouldn’t start. I was able to get to the gas station 45 minutes later; I checked the gas cap first, found it a bit loose, tightened it, and the car started. I thought it was a fluke.
Yesterday, my car had about a quarter of a tank. I decided to fill up. The car was running a bit rough on the way to the station. The RPMs revved up higher than normal when I accelerated. When I tried to start the car, it wouldn’t start. I tightened the cap again, but the car wouldn’t start. I waited about 25 minutes, then tried. It was a little rough to start, but it did and I drove it home.
The car has been recently serviced, with no problems detected. No lights are on once the car starts. Any ideas?

 

When you fill up do you stop after the pump clicks off....looks like your soaking the charcoal cannister, this will cause your problem

 

I didn’t the first time, but over-filled the second time.

 

 

I replaced the evac canister w/ a Dorman, which is above the muffler, fairly easy to drop the exhaust from the hangers.....mil is off, so don't top off the tank, clicks off......done. Unlike diesel fuel that'll take a additional 3 or gallons....

 

is she shutting the engine off when she refills?

you do NOT want to fill while the engine is running, you will suck fuel up into the evaporation system

 

I do shut off the engine while refilling.
Today, my check engine light and VSC light came on.

 

Check the gas cap rubber ring, i had the same lights as a temp fix i went through my O ring kit and found a small thin O ring put it behind the stock ring, sealed tight .... no more light, have not replaced the cap yet lol

 

I have always been very bad about filling up my gas until it clicks and then giving it another pull of the trigger until it spills out but I didn't know it could kill my canister.

 

Are you sure she didn't put in diesel? Even a few squirts will cause lots of problems. Happens a lot to new drivers.

 

i replaced my entire gas cap a couple years ago. there are o-rings, and a one way valve, that need to be functioning.

 

@Felix Are you saying you had this same problem and you replaced the evac canister and it fixed it?
I'm not actually seeing a solution to the OP's problem - my wife's Lexus Rx350 is doing the exact same thing - tons of check engine codes and every time she fills it with gas (she never over fills it) it won't start for about 10 minutes. Won't turn over... after ten minutes, runs fine. The error codes say something about a large leak in the evaporation system - bought a new gas cap - no change.
What does "mil is off" mean? If you are just saying "you can't overfill it" I think my wife is ok - we did buy this used and don't know about the previous owner.

 

I'm use to topping off fuel tank's specailly on the deisel trucks I used to have & my car which I sold a few yrs ago. Now my wife's rx, I started topping it off which after a few times the mil/vsc came on, which turned out to be the evac canister. Replaced it & not topping off the fuel. It came on about 6 or so months later, warrantied the dorman canister, replaced the fuel cap, & no mil on, yeah. I find the Toyota evap system is very sensitive. Never had a problem w/ other vehicles......I'd also check the evap hoses from the engine to the canister. I also replaced the pcv as well....I just changed everthing, trans fluid/filter, tranfer case/rear diff fluid, coolant, p/s fluid, flushed out the old brake fluid. btw if & when you need pads/rotors, there is a thread 'bout a ''Cost effective bbk''

 

Thanks Felix!

 

First thing you need to do is find out what code is it showing. Then, you’ll know what needs to be fixed. Can’t just replace anything without finding out what’s causing the issue.