Hello everyone.

I've been stumped by this problem for some time, but it's getting worse and I need some advice.
Initially (~1 year ago) when I filled up, the gas pump would click off every 2 or 3 gallons and would do this until the tank was fuel. In the recent weeks, probably more like 3 months, the gas pump will click off every gallon and gas will just spew out of the filler tube. I have to combat this by stopping the pump every 3/4 gallon and let the gas settle and then start again, so it takes like 10 minutes to fill up.
I've done a little research and what I've found was changing the charcoal canister or changing the contents of the canister would help. My problem is I'm not sure where this canister is, how to go about accessing it, if I need to replace the whole thing, etc. My workshop manual wantwa very helpful for me on this topic.
I have changed the fuel pump assembly when my fuel pump was going bad about 2 years ago. Not sure if something I did could have started this problem.
I usually watch videos on YouTube for my DIY needs, but haven't found anything helpful for this problem.

Any help or advice will be greatly appreciated!

Truck: 2003 ranger XLT 2wd with extended cab.

Edit: I took the bed off a while ago when I had this problem initially and blew in the smaller vent hose connected to the filler tube and I was getting good air flow. I thought I paid attention to not mash this line with the bed, but could that be something? The tube seems pretty stout, not sure if it could get kinked if just malpositioned or something?

 

Its the Vent hose

It allows air out as gasoline goes in
If air can't get out then pressure builds up in the tank as the gas goes in and that air pressure eventually blows back out the Filler tube

EVAP canister could also be clogged but its Vent hose is too small to vent enough air when filling the tank, so I would focus on the larger vent hose in or next to Filler hose

NEVER over fill gas tank, you will ruin the canister as liquid gasoline can over flow into it

 

Thanks for the reply!
i may need to replace the whole tube assembly then.
I don't overfill it, but it has been spewing out due to this problem. Would that cause the canister to go bad too?

 

No, overfilling does, but the blow back wouldn't hurt it
The reason gasoline blows back out the filler is because gasoline is IN the filler when the air pressure builds up

If yours has a separate vent hose(some have vent hose inside filler hose) then try to feel that hose as it runs up into the tank, may be kinked
Also check the vent hole at the top of the filler, the idea for the vent is that its hole to vent out the air is above the nozzle end when filling so air can escape around the nozzle as you fill the tank, so you should feel air coming out as you fill the tank

 

Okay this helps! Thank you, I will look at my gent hose after work!

 

So I finally got around to looking at the vent hose and filler hose position. Right now the vent hose is coursing on the side of the filler hose and I thought I might be able to twist both hoses so that the vent hose is on top of the filler hose, but that doesn't seem possible.
I took a video of the gent hoshose coursing to the tank and couldn't see any kinks, but the video was taken blindly with my arm as far as it could go.
My next step to take the bed off and possibly replace hoses?

 

Just as a heads up, around 1998 or so there was a new restriction put on "fill up speed", basically it restricts the speed that gasoline can be pumped into the tank
Gas pumps can still pump at normal full capacity, but the newer filler and vent hoses won't let you use full capacity any more
You should be able to pump at 1/2 to 3/4 setting on pump nozzle, but at wide open it will back up on you.
This doesn't read like your problem, just a heads up

You can see where the vent connects to filler, thats how the air escapes

Yes, you could remove the 4 front bed bolts and then loosen the 2 rear ones about 1/2 way
Remove filler screws
Then lift the front of the bed up and prop it up with 2x4's or ??

The Charcoal canister should be located just behind the gas tank in 2003 I think

The EVAP system puts a slight negative pressure at the canister to suck fumes from the tank while engine is running, canister vent is closed at this time
When engine is off the Vent on the canister will open, but it takes a few minutes, this allows fuel in the tank to vent, on a hot day, but the fumes have to travel through the charcoal "filter" before escaping, this captures most of the fumes, and they are pulled out to the engine when you start driving again.

After driving a bit, when you stop to get gas you should hear a WHOOSH of air when you remove the gas cap, if you don't then EVAP system has a problem, you have to have been driving 20min at least for that