Check Engine Light (1 Viewer)

[3C's]

He didn't run out of gas. If he was on E he likely had 2 gallons left. Even if he runs out I can't see any way that affects evap. Maybe some miscommunication along the way. Or maybe an employee just trying to explain in whatever way why the evap system would fail at 80k, since that shouldn't happen. Hopefully it's only a purge valve if anything. Those cost like $50 and are easy, i.e. no more than an hour labor (took me 10 minutes).

 

[VA703]

low air in tires

 

[The General]

Who knows what's wrong but I think I'll be getting a new car in the next year or so. Don't feel like going down the repairing stuff on this car every 6 months route.

For people interested in car mysteries / figuring out what is wrong. I used to love listening to "Car Talk" with those 2 brothers. Here is some clarification to stuff brought up:

The car has a reading that tells you how many miles until you are out of gas. My said "0". The separate fuel gauge shows totally empty when the read out says "0". There is a little buffer there but I don't know how much. About 5 miles is the most I have ventured past that point.

I don't ever fill the car up past the point where the pump clicks. Who knows how accurate the pumps are perhaps a bit extra sneaks in there.

I did also have a message come up a few weeks ago that I had only seen one other time saying "check gas cap". Tightened the cap restarted car and was good to go. Forgot about that.

The guy who checked me out said it was something with evaporation and emissions sensor. Said it was the "best" code to get for false positives.

I speculated about the almost running out of fuel, the car not turning over last night immediately after refilling perhaps messing with the sensor. Total guess and I'm a car idiot. Just seemed to be a big coincidence.

Also learned that the CHECK ENGINE LIGHT will blink. That means "oh ####" you better pullover right now.

Thanks again for the advice and keeping me entertained while sitting at the dealership

 

[Henry Ford]

Who knows what's wrong but I think I'll be getting a new car in the next year or so. Don't feel like going down the repairing stuff on this car every 6 months route.

For people interested in car mysteries / figuring out what is wrong. I used to love listening to "Car Talk" with those 2 brothers. Here is some clarification to stuff brought up:

The car has a reading that tells you how many miles until you are out of gas. My said "0". The separate fuel gauge shows totally empty when the read out says "0". There is a little buffer there but I don't know how much. About 5 miles is the most I have ventured past that point.

I don't ever fill the car up past the point where the pump clicks. Who knows how accurate the pumps are perhaps a bit extra sneaks in there.

I did also have a message come up a few weeks ago that I had only seen one other time saying "check gas cap". Tightened the cap restarted car and was good to go. Forgot about that.

The guy who checked me out said it was something with evaporation and emissions sensor. Said it was the "best" code to get for false positives.

I speculated about the almost running out of fuel, the car not turning over last night immediately after refilling perhaps messing with the sensor. Total guess and I'm a car idiot. Just seemed to be a big coincidence.

Also learned that the CHECK ENGINE LIGHT will blink. That means "oh ####" you better pullover right now.

Thanks again for the advice and keeping me entertained while sitting at the dealership

Best guess: Buy new gas cap. Replace existing gas cap. Problem fixed. You have a bad seal on your gas cap, and your car reads this as the same thing as having an evap issue.

 

[[icon]]

Last night I was almost completely out of gas, the miles left to empty thing was on zero for prolly 5 miles. I was living dangerously. After filling up I had to turn the car over 3 times for it to start which has never happened. Probably unrelated but who knows.

Enjoy the new fuel pump you'll be getting for christmas....

Upside is, they likely have to drop the entire fuel tank to get to it, so you'll prob have any sediment cleaned out of the tank... which is nice.

evap<>fuel pump.

I hadn't read the thread completely so missed the evap comment... however if he keeps running his tank down to fumes, he's going to be buying a fuel pump sooner than later.

 

[3C's]

Last night I was almost completely out of gas, the miles left to empty thing was on zero for prolly 5 miles. I was living dangerously. After filling up I had to turn the car over 3 times for it to start which has never happened. Probably unrelated but who knows.

Enjoy the new fuel pump you'll be getting for christmas....

Upside is, they likely have to drop the entire fuel tank to get to it, so you'll prob have any sediment cleaned out of the tank... which is nice.

evap<>fuel pump.

I hadn't read the thread completely so missed the evap comment... however if he keeps running his tank down to fumes, he's going to be buying a fuel pump sooner than later.

I have a tendency to run way too low on fuel. Gonna bite me some day possibly but as long as there's gas in there it should be fine. Pump should be cooled by gas running through it. Once it runs out though it's likely all over.

 

[Mr. Ected]

Who knows what's wrong but I think I'll be getting a new car in the next year or so. Don't feel like going down the repairing stuff on this car every 6 months route.

For people interested in car mysteries / figuring out what is wrong. I used to love listening to "Car Talk" with those 2 brothers. Here is some clarification to stuff brought up:

The car has a reading that tells you how many miles until you are out of gas. My said "0". The separate fuel gauge shows totally empty when the read out says "0". There is a little buffer there but I don't know how much. About 5 miles is the most I have ventured past that point.

I don't ever fill the car up past the point where the pump clicks. Who knows how accurate the pumps are perhaps a bit extra sneaks in there.

I did also have a message come up a few weeks ago that I had only seen one other time saying "check gas cap". Tightened the cap restarted car and was good to go. Forgot about that.

The guy who checked me out said it was something with evaporation and emissions sensor. Said it was the "best" code to get for false positives.

I speculated about the almost running out of fuel, the car not turning over last night immediately after refilling perhaps messing with the sensor. Total guess and I'm a car idiot. Just seemed to be a big coincidence.

Also learned that the CHECK ENGINE LIGHT will blink. That means "oh ####" you better pullover right now.

Thanks again for the advice and keeping me entertained while sitting at the dealership

You will enjoy not having a car payment!!! We have been without one for several years and it's wonderful!

Our state VA charges a personal property tax on vehicles, so having an older,less valuable vehicle has a savings there too!!

 

[17seconds]

It's amazing how this seems to happen about a week after you've had a service done.

Mine just went on last night.

 

[tommyGunZ]

How tough is it to install a new O2 sensor? My CEL has been on for months due to e O2 sensor. I have a Toyota 4Runner.

 

[3C's]

How tough is it to install a new O2 sensor? My CEL has been on for months due to e O2 sensor. I have a Toyota 4Runner.

Depends.

On mine it wasn't "hard" really just a PITA. Getting the sensor out was easy. Getting the cable disconnected not so much. You need a special socket to remove the sensor from the exhaust. Not expensive and you might be able to borrow tools from Advance or the like.

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

My car's CEL comes on for one reason and one reason only: Time for an oil change.

It literally says this in the manual. 'Check Engine Light: oil change and maintenance are due. Please have the car serviced. The service technician will reset the light.' It then stays off until 5000 miles later.

That seems a little goofy. My POS Impala has a separate indicator for oil change.