Fuel cap, check engine light?
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Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2000
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From: Houston, by way of every major city in America.
Fuel cap, check engine light?
My CE light came on immediately after a fill up yesterday afternoon. My question is to people who have had the improperly sealed gas cap. How quick did the light come on after cranking up the truck?? I filled up, put the cap on (thought it sealed?), cranked the engine, and the light came on within one second, maybe two? I'm waiting til a more decent hour to reset the computer(alarm goes off) I'm hoping that's all it is. If not, to the dealer,,,,sigh.,,,,98
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Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Lockport, NY USA
It usually take a few minutes of driving. What the EVAP system does is use engine vacuum to pull a vacuum on the gas tank to keep fuel vapor from leaking out into the atmosphere. If it can't do that because there is a vacuum leak (ie a loose cap) it will give you an engine code. Depending on how full the tank is it takes a few minutes to do this. If the tank was totally full it takes less time. It's worth a try clearing the code though.
-Jon
-Jon
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,506
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From: Puyallup, WA
I once left the cap completly off and just hopped in and started it up after filling the tank. I looked in the side mirror before I pulled out and saw the gas door wide open. Got out and just put the cap on, all the while the engine was still running. No CEL ever came on. It was maybe only a minutes worth of time total.
If the truck is running fine, I'd just clear the code and see if it comes back. If it does, then you should have it checked out. If not, then you're probably fine.
If the truck is running fine, I'd just clear the code and see if it comes back. If it does, then you should have it checked out. If not, then you're probably fine.
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Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2000
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From: Houston, by way of every major city in America.
I cleaned the sealing surface of the cap and the neck, and reset the computer. So far it has not come back on...."yet". Hopefully that's all it was?
On a side note: While the computer was clearing, I pulled off the sensor that bolts on top of the TB, and cleaned it out with throttle body cleaner. I'm guessing it was the IAC??? I've never seen an actual explanation of where it was located
It is a silver cylinder with an electric connection. Anyway....It cleared up a low idle problem I've been having for close to a year, and it stopped a recent bogging problem I had too. When you hit the gas, the truck would act choked up til halfway through first gear, and then open up like nothing ever happened. That seems to be gone, now. Not sure what it did, but it worked!!!! It accelerates smooth and strong again. I just hope the light stays off now.,,,,,,98
Thanks for the help, guys!!!
On a side note: While the computer was clearing, I pulled off the sensor that bolts on top of the TB, and cleaned it out with throttle body cleaner. I'm guessing it was the IAC??? I've never seen an actual explanation of where it was located
It is a silver cylinder with an electric connection. Anyway....It cleared up a low idle problem I've been having for close to a year, and it stopped a recent bogging problem I had too. When you hit the gas, the truck would act choked up til halfway through first gear, and then open up like nothing ever happened. That seems to be gone, now. Not sure what it did, but it worked!!!! It accelerates smooth and strong again. I just hope the light stays off now.,,,,,,98Thanks for the help, guys!!!