I just got a message that says "check gas cap" on the center of my dash. I checked it twice. Removed and inspected it. Still came on. Car is a '14, 4 cylinder, manual, 42,000 miles. It has about a half tank of gas. Weather is in the low 30's. Warm for this time of year.

What I did was put a little spray on grease around the gasket on the gas cap. Put it back on. Message did not reappear.

Is this a long term fix, or did I do something I shouldn't have done? Can I assume it's the gas cap gasket? Authorized Honda dealer is 45 miles away.

Thanks

 

After every fuel fill-up. just tightened the fuel cap at least 3 clicks. If you tighten it at least 3 clicks, you should not have the issue anymore; unless the gasket was bad.

 

I only go one click.

 

The 3-clicks (at least) is part of published Honda info. to techs/advisers.

 

Thanks, I'm used to my ex Fiesta, where it would have some hard to find vacuum leak that would take the dealer three trips to find.

 

Glad I found this. I have a 2013 Honda and just got a "tighten fuel cap" message for the first time today. I filled up last week, so I wondered what was going on. I tightened the fuel cap 1 click but warning remained. After reading this, I did 3 clicks and warning went away. Wow! In the past I've been doing only 1 or 2 clicks.

 

Check the gasket on the cap & also the rim of the filler pipe where the gasket seats.

The car is really measuring whether the fuel tank is airtight like it should be, and there's a bunch of other possibilities like the fill pipe connection to the tank, or the gasket around the fuel pump flange. If it continues, then you're in for an adventure of checking all kinds of rubber hoses & stuff.

 

Well, as I said, the problem went away after tightening 3 clicks. I was vaguely aware that I might have been in for some heartburn had it not. A punctured filler pipe came to mind, but I didn't remember any trauma.