Had her out this weekend to enjoy some beautiful top down driving. Five minutes into it, the dubious "check engine light" appeared. Did the tighten the gas cap thing to no avail. Car is covered under warranty until January and I will take it in to be analyzed, but was just wandering what others have come across when this happened.

My initial feeling is an O2 sensor or something exhaust related.

 

It is usually the gas cap. Give it 5-10 on/off cycles to clear. Make sure when you tighten the cap that you do so from the outer edge of the cap and not the handle

 

why on the outer rather then the handle?

 

, but the clicks you get with using the handle (at least with my messed up cap) are false. Try tightening until clicks are heard using the handle, then try to tighten further with the outer rim. FWIW, I have only heard of this problem in association with 2002 models, but I may be wrong.

 

I have an 03 with the same problem...I remember reading to do the opposite though; I tighten the outer first until it's snug, then I use the handle to tighten 3 clicks. I haven't had the problem since I started doing that.

 

i have an 02 and have that same problem. i thought it was just me bkuz i have the worst of luck with everything. so after the first clicks it goes back to feeling as if it werent tightened and then it clicks again and then its fine

 

i have the same problem...if you tighten my gas cap it'll come to a point where it will click...if you push hard down and keep turning it'll tighten another like 2 full turns...then start clicking...


weird sh!t.

 

that should be under a warranty, it is defective because if you only do the first part you can smell the vapors.

 

On my way home from work today and the check engine light went off and didn't come back on. Damn gas cap was the problem. Well that is still better than having to worry about some possible emissions problem.

 

i had this issue as well a while back. I grip it on the outer edge and push as im turning and fully seat the cap. never had the problem again.