I was driving my XJ6 this mornig. I started sputtering and stalled out at a red light. I thought maybe I was out of gasoline in one of the tanks. I switched to the other tank, and it continued to sputter and stall for awhile. I stopped at a filling station and filled the low/empty tank. It stalled two or three more times on the way home. I parked the car in my driveway and opened the bonnet. After four or five minutes gasoline began pouring out onto the ground by the front passenger side tire. It was being expelled from the fuel canister under the right front fender. I plugged the hose and had someone open the gas tank covers to release pressure which instantly stopped the flow of gasoline spilling out. Not sure what is going on here, but it seems a little dangerous. I checked fuses and hoses... and took it out for another drive this afternoon, and it no longer stalled out. Anyone else have this happen or know how to remedy???

 

Just getting familiar with these cars myself but it sounds like you're having a problem with one of the fuel tank solenoids and it's causing the right tank to get overfilled with the overflow making it into the evap system and possibly the intake manifold causing the sputtering and running rough.

 

i had a situation where my tank wasnt switchin over when i tried to go from left to right. my mechanic said it was a miracle that what happened to you didnt happen to me.

he replaced the changeover mechagnism i think and i been fine

 

I agree that an overflowing tank is a likely cause.

This may help:

Fuel Tank Switchover Checklist, Series III XJ6

Cheers
DD

 

Great article Doug! I will definitely check the solenoids and the switch.