On my way to work today, my odometer area on my 2006 4 cyl started showing an error message "Check Gas Cap". When I got to my first destination, I opened the fuel door, removed the cap and cranked it back down. When I started it up, it went back to this error message in about 30 seconds. Could a gas cap fail in just 2.5 years? Is there something else to check?

My fuel level is about 5 gallons as the low fuel light is not on, but getting close. Thanks.

 

The cap CAN go bad anytime it wants to, but it sure seems unusual. I've never had a gas cap go bad & I've had some cars up to 220k miles.

That error is probably P1456 for EVAP leak - gas tank.
What it REALLY means is your gas tank isn't airtight like it should be. Check the gasket of your gas cap, & look for cracked hoses alongside the fuel fill pipe in the rear wheel well. You might have to remove a cover panel...

Other possibilities include a dozen vacuum hoses down around the gas tank, as well as a pressure sensor for the gas tank. Even a gasket for the fuel pump flange, where it bolts into the tank; but if that were leaking you'd probably smell gasoline around the car.

But isn't your car under warranty?

 

Well, I now have over 37K miles on my car, so I believe, even with the extension from the lawsuit, I am out of warranty.

 

Warranty is 36k, right? Have you been a 'good customer' at your friendly dealer? I figure it's worth a phone call to see whether they'll 'goodwill' the work?

People say that happens, but I've never had a problem that close to the end of the warranty. My problems (I mean my CAR problems)have all been way WAY out of warranty.

 

OK. Another unusual thing, I think. After stopping again and opening and closing the cap, I only turned the key two clicks, just to run the accessories. The message came back. Seems strange that any sensor could tell this problem without the car running????
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It stores the error from last time.

Your check-engine lamp is on, right? Go to AutoZone & have them read the check-engine error code. Get the actual number, not just the guys creative explanation.

It could be P1456 but if there's NO ERROR, then you might be looking at a crossed wire making that lamp come on without real reason.

 

No check engine light at this time. I am going to wait and see if the error goes away in the next few days. Some have said it can take 3-5 days after re-installing the fuel cap for it to re-set.
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I had this happen on my 2008 Accord 4 cyl. Checked the cap, resealed it and error message is still there. I understand that the dealer/mech may have clear that error. Without causing any problems, I take it that this is still safe to drive...I smell no gas.

btw, I have less than 15K on the car.

tnx

 

[quote]I understand that the dealer/mech may have clear that error.[/quote

i thought u could just pull off the battery cable for a few minutes to clear the error message, and if it doesnt come back on then you got the problem fixed. it worked for me.

 

Even my 2008 Accord(v4) gives me the same error, after a while it went away. I took it to dealer he asked me to come back when the error message is displayed. I have only 7k on it.