I left my gas cap off and someone told me this may have caused my check engine light to come on. Well I filled the tank and drove it a bit, but the light is still on. I drive a 99 chevy malibu. Is the light supposed to turn off or do I have to get it reset??
2006-11-29 09:19:06 · 11 answers · asked by Tiffany C 5 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
thought I'd add that I checked the oil and all the fluids and everythings fine...the belts are fine, and my car has not been sounding or acting different. When I start my car all the lights flash on, this one just never turned back off....it didn't just click on while I was driving or anything...
2006-11-29 09:26:40 · update #1
yah disconnecting my battery will mess up my radio...it will lock, so I only want to do that if you guys are sure lol because I don't have a code for it.
2006-11-29 09:30:33 · update #2
Hi, I am an auto technician. If your check engine light was a result of the gas cap being off, the light will remain on until the code is cleared, or a minimum of 40 engine warm up cycles. Not to sound pessimistic, but there is a possibility that the new gas cap could be faulty, if it is not a quality one. There are a lot of variables, too. Assuming this is an Evap (fuel vapor control) problem, the outside temperature plays a role. If the temperature is too low, (roughly 40*f) the computer will not test the system, which could mean your light will go out, only to come back on in warmer weather, if the problem remains unfixed. Fuel level is important, too. The computer will not test the system if the fuel level is too low (under about 25%) or too high (over 80%). As for clearing the code... Disconnecting the battery is NOT recommended, because this erases a LOT of valuable information, including your radio, of course. The fuses aren't really a good choice, either. Your car probably has several going to the computer, so it's a guessing game. The light should be turned off with a scan tool. But first make sure you find out what codes are stored. If the problem is in another system, some of the information needed to fix the car will be lost when the codes are cleared. Some parts stores can do this for you, but they do not have access to all of the codes that may be stored in your computer. Your best bet, I must say, is to find a reputable shop that specializes in driveability and diagnostics, and have them diagnose it, and explain your options. I would be interested to hear the outcome, if you don't mind. Good luck.
2006-11-30 12:58:55 · answer #1 · answered by autotechnician 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The check engine light is the sign of a pollution control problem. A faulty or missing gas cap is a pollution control problem. It is my understanding if you remove the battery terminals for 30 minutes, the check engine light will reset. If everything is ok when you re-connect the battery, then you are ok. If the light comes back on, then it is something else. Recently, my 2001 Ranger had this happen, so I disconnected the battery, but the check engine light came back on the same day. This required a major tune-up in order to get the truck's computer to say everything was ok.
2006-11-29 09:33:01 · answer #2 · answered by MustangGT 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nothing to do with fluids. Flashing means you are misfiring and that's something that may be serious. A scan of the code at this point will just tell you what cylinder is misfiring and I bet there's more than one. Did you put lower grade gas? That and the heat could cause this. It could also be a bad fuel filter, bad spark plugs or bad injectors. Happens a lot as the weather starts to get hot out. I would go have the car checked out because there are many possible causes and it could get costly replacing parts that may not fix the problem. You might get lucky but it's best to have it taken care of and stop driving if it continues as misfiring can damage the engine easily.
2016-03-29 16:11:55 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Has to be reset. I don't know if you can do that yourself. I have a Snap-on diagnostic scanning tool that does it. I don't know if the $30-$50 ones from Auto Parts stores will do that or not.
I don't know if you disconnect the battery if that will work or not. It will temporarily mess up the computer and the security system on your radio. Both of which can be overcome but you must know the radio security code to make it work again. The computer will just have to run a while to reset the driveablility settings.
2006-11-29 09:28:25 · answer #4 · answered by Mark in NE Indiana 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1.Turn key to the "on" position but don't start car
2. Pull the PCM BAT and PCM IGN fuses in engine compartment
3. Wait approximately 5 minutes
4. Turn ignition off
5. Replace fuses
6. Start the car and then make sure the light has gone off
2006-11-29 10:29:13 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Try making sure the new gas cap is tight. If you don't hear 3 clicks it may be letting fumes out which will trigger check engine light.
2006-11-29 09:37:54 · answer #6 · answered by Kat H 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I did it and drove it around for about a day till it reset. sometimes it resets after you have started the car a number of times so also try that.
2006-11-29 09:25:36 · answer #7 · answered by zocko 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get it reset, most ODB2 vehicles once the Check engine light is triggered, it won't turn off until it is reset. Autozone will do it for free, or you can rent the tool from them for free and do it yourself.
2006-11-29 09:23:26 · answer #8 · answered by hsueh010 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If you did that and it is still on, take it to a mechanic - the oil could be low or some other problem that has nothing to do with the gas cap.
2006-11-29 09:22:36 · answer #9 · answered by teel2624 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Try disconnecting the battery for 15 minutes, then hook it back up. Mine came on while in New Mexico (the altitude, I think, did it), and it worked for me.
2006-11-29 09:27:06 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋