1997 F150...The plastic insert of the fuel tank filler tube has a small chip broken from it. This prevents a tight seal with the gas cap causing the check engine light to stay on. Dealerships want between $200 and $600 to fix!!! Give me a break, there has to be another way.

Does anyone have any ideas on what to do?

 

Welcome aboard Dan. It always is something small that will drive you crazy. The EVAP system on all new vehicles is touchy; filling the tank with the engine running, no gas cap etc. will give you a CEL. Since the tube is chipped I don't think it would be a good idea to start shooting glue down there , so it looks like a trip to the local junk yard is in order. Any U-Pull-It joint will have what you need for a few bucks, and it isn't hard to get at. You could get a filler tube from somebody like JC Whitney, but the sooner you fix it the better-you probably are getting performance degradation as well.

 

you can get the pipe from the dealer. there not that bad to put in. you dont have to install the whole thing. just the neck assm. the part that is broke. its no big deal to change. go for it. you just climb under and look at it. youlll know what i mean.