That almost never happens

"Bryan doesn't drive a 1M" (bryantakespictures) 01/21/2015 at 12:19 • Filed to: CEL

3

10

The check engine light in my wife's car lit up, so she got the code checked at Autozone. They told her the codes were probably due to a loose gas cap and guess what?

The gas cap was ACTUALLY LOOSE!!!! She tightened it and the CEL went off.

CB > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M 01/21/2015 at 12:27

2

If this is such a common issue, why don't we just have a fucking gas cap light?

As Du Volant > CB 01/21/2015 at 12:33

1

A lot of them now say "CHECK GAS CAP" in the dashboard display, but it took 4-5 years of pissed-off customers for the automakers to figure it out.

The Gray Adder > As Du Volant 01/21/2015 at 12:42

1

ODBII readouts should be built-in as standard equipment. Let the consumer know exactly what's going on with his or (especially) her car. Why does this have to be a state secret, you know, like what the regular cable TV rates are when you call customer service and all they give you are the promotional rates?

Sometimes more regulation is better.

CB > As Du Volant 01/21/2015 at 12:44

0

"Hey, people keep complaining about the fact that the check engine light goes on when the gas cap isn't on tight, and that it's costing them a lot of money."

"How many people have complained so far?"

"1,298."

"Eh, wait for it to hit 5,000, then we'll do something."

-Probably not how it went

Mercedes Streeter > The Gray Adder 01/21/2015 at 12:45

0

Exactly!! Especially when even the most cheapest cars have some sort of info display. How hard is it to give a CEL readout on a tiny screen?

Staas > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M 01/21/2015 at 13:49

1

The reason they don't just have a gas cap light is because the code is caused by the evaporative emissions system detecting a loss in vacuum. This can be caused by a loose cap or a leak somewhere else in the system (vacuum lines, charcoal canister, hole in the tank etc.), so having a "loose cap" light could cause more serious issues to go ignored

TotallyThatStupid > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M 01/21/2015 at 13:51

0

Years ago, when we had our first and only CEL on our 2004 Matrix XRS (knocking on wood... so much knocking on wood), it turned out to be the gas cap gasket had split. Toyota replaced it, charged us half their normal diagnostic fee, and sent us on our way.

Car just crossed 145k miles with (still knocking on wood) no other CELs.

Bryan doesn't drive a 1M > Staas 01/21/2015 at 14:21

0

Yup, that's exactly right. I think Ford basically fixed this problem by getting rid of the gas cap altogether.

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M 01/21/2015 at 14:27

0

Such a nice feature. It's amazing how something so seemingly small and insignificant can be so awesome.

Clay_T > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M 01/21/2015 at 16:41

1

I got a call from a girlfriend once:

"The light says check gas cap. What should I do?"

"Check the gas cap."

"I don't know how to do that!? Can you come and help me?"

"Just take the cap off and put it back on..."

[later] "It worked!"