2001 Accent hard to start after refuel

My 2001 Accent runs fine but recently it does not start on first crank
every time I put gas in the car. It may take 2-3 tries before it
sputters to life. After the initial start the car resumes normal and
reliable operation until the next refuel.

Any ideas?

 

Chances are your purge control valve is stuck open. This causes the fuel
vapors in the tank to be pushed into the engine's intake when you refuel,
making the engine flooded.

 

Is the purge control valve the same as a fuel tank vent valve?

I should be able the follow the intake manifold and find the valve but
where exactly do I look to locate the valve?

Do I bother doing a vacuum test and a resistance test or just simply
replace the valve?

Thank you for your help.

 

The purge control valve should be located behind the intake manifold. It's
a small cylinder about 1" in diameter and 1" long with a vacuum hose coming
off either end.

I'd recommend just replacing the valve. In many instances, disturbing the
valve to remove it and check to see if it's open disturbs it enough that it
unsticks. An open purge valve is pretty much the only way that fueling can
affect how the vehicle runs.

If you do want to check the purge valve, see if you can blow through it
with the engine off. If you can, it's defective. Since the issue is
mechanical, a resistance check won't offer any useful information.

 

OK. I had the purge control valve replaced. The old part is removed
and I am able to blow through it. Guess I should have tried the same
with the new part to compare. Anyways, I will know the results the
next time I fill up with gas.

I did not reset the CEL assuming that this will eventually reset on
its own. Do I need to reset the CEL to complete a purge control valve
rep;acement?

 

Since you hadn't checked the diagnostic trouble codes prior, it's a good
idea to check them now. I'd expect you to have a P0441. If you have
anything other than that, you probably have an additional issue that needs
diagnosis and repair.

Another way to find out if you have further problems is to clear the lamp
(by disconnecting the battery for about 5 seconds) and then see if it
comes back.

The lamp will eventually clear itself if the only reason it was on was the
purge control valve. I'd expect this to take at least two days and up to a
week, depending on the type of driving you do. It isn't necessary to clear
the lamp for the vehicle to operate properly.

 

Checking the code costs me $85 each time. It is like adding insult to
injury because I pay that in addition to any repairs done. In the
past, the cost for scantests on my Accent has become a considerable
expense.

The lamp did clear itself after 2 days use. I am now able to refuel
and my car will start normally afterwards. The valve costs $120 and
$20 labor to install. Thank you for your help.