| Busted Yuppie |
Yesterday, I'm driving home from a day of skiing, basking in the glow of a fine day of good light snow for the Northwest and the (grrr) :mad: "Service Engine Soon" light comes on. The idiot book says it could be a loose gas cap (checked it, it's plenty tight), the CVT or an emissions problem. According to the manual, I don't have to worry much unless it starts flashing.
I do plan to take it back to the dealer for a reset but I'm wondering--any ideas for a quick fix to make this thing go off? :confused: |
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| njjoe |
BY-
I always go for the simplest solution first. Make sure the gas cap is on tight.
You can also head to you nearest auto parts store and have them read the codes. Most of the major chains will pull the codes for free. It only takes a minute or two.
-njjoe |
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| Busted Yuppie |
quote:
Originally posted by njjoe
BY-
I always go for the simplest solution first. Make sure the gas cap is on tight.
You can also head to you nearest auto parts store and have them read the codes. Most of the major chains will pull the codes for free. It only takes a minute or two.
-njjoe
Yeah, simple fixes=me too. I'll try the gas cap (again) and then if that doesn't make it go out, fill up the tank. (It's half full now.)
And then do like my son and go to the nearest auto parts for the free code scan. (Great idea, I should listen to him more often that I do!) |
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| wbeauregard |
BY,
I remember someone posted that once the gas cap is tightened you have to drive a certain distance before the light goes out. |
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| Eric L. |
If its not the gas cap, I would suspect that since you were driving in snow, moisture might have gotten into the EVAP system behind the gas tank - this happened to me once on my Maxima and I basically removed the hoses and blew them out with compressed air (in my case it was driving through a rainstorm). Light never came back.
It it not true that the light is ok if isn't flashing. Flashing means a misfire, which is a serious issue. But the light on means some other emissions issue from minor (gas cap, evap system) to major (bad O2 sensor or other engine sensor). |
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| Busted Yuppie |
So I drive it for three days with the light on, fill up the tank with gas, light goes out after an hour of driving to the ski hill, light comes on the next day, tighten up the fuel cap, light goes out a day later...and has stayed out for over a week.
Boo-yah! Love it when I fix a problem and have no idea what I did. I must be a genious! :D |
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| Eric L. |
quote:
Originally posted by Busted Yuppie
So I drive it for three days with the light on, fill up the tank with gas, light goes out after an hour of driving to the ski hill, light comes on the next day, tighten up the fuel cap, light goes out a day later...and has stayed out for over a week.
Boo-yah! Love it when I fix a problem and have no idea what I did. I must be a genious! :D
Must be a gas cap that wasn't tight enough. |
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| Lightninrod |
If it comes back on, consider getting the dealer to replace the cap.
Dan |
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| Busted Yuppie |
quote:
Originally posted by Eric L.
Must be a gas cap that wasn't tight enough.
quote:
Originally posted by Lightninrod
If it comes back on, consider getting the dealer to replace the cap.
Dan
I first started with two clicks and after the light came on, I've been cranking the gas cap three clicks past "closed." I even wiped the rubber gasket off with a towel in case there was something stuck on there. (Before I started driving a desk around all day, I used to be a mechanic. In my business, I dealt with o-rings and vacuum integrity much of my day.)
The thought occurred to me that if the light keeps coming on, I may have a dud gas cap and I'll have to take it in for replacement, but hey--thanks for validating my troubleshooting! |
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| Eric L. |
quote:
Originally posted by Busted Yuppie
I first started with two clicks and after the light came on, I've been cranking the gas cap three clicks past "closed." I even wiped the rubber gasket off with a towel in case there was something stuck on there. (Before I started driving a desk around all day, I used to be a mechanic. In my business, I dealt with o-rings and vacuum integrity much of my day.)
The thought occurred to me that if the light keeps coming on, I may have a dud gas cap and I'll have to take it in for replacement, but hey--thanks for validating my troubleshooting!
When I twist on my gas cap, I give it many clicks, probably at least 5 or 6 (however far one rotation of the wrist will allow) - you cannot overtighten it.
Years ago, Nissan used a similar type of clicking cap for the oil cap, but have cheapened it by using a normal cap in the current generation of engines. |
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| Gonzo |
| It came on for me once... I pulled the codes via the service manual and reset the light myself. Its been fine since. |
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