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Sedans Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable Check Engine Light (Gas Cap)
16 messages, Last post on Jun 04, 2009 at 6:34 AM
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I had my codes checked and nothing was showing the garage that cehck the codes said maybe gas cap. They also cleared all the codes but the light still stays on. My question is would a gas cap after market work? Or do you have to get one from ford? Another question is about the cap has anyone any idea what goes bad? Would adding a gasket help?
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Replying to: bpiri (Jun 25, 2007 6:22 am) I bought a gas cap at a local auto parts store for a few dollars that fixed the problem. For the check engine light to go off you must first fix the problem (eg. get a new gas cap). Then your car must go through a few cold start-up cycles, idle for so many minutes and run at highway speed for so many minutes. If you fix the problem then the light will go off after a few days driving. If you can't wait for the check engine light to go out the quick fix is to disconnect the (black) battery cable for a few seconds and then reconnect. That will clear out all of the engine codes from the computer.
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Replying to: jasmith52 (Jun 25, 2007 7:05 am) When u say hwy speed how fast and for how long?
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Evidently they keep the check engine light on for a few days so that you don't fail a smog test. From the owners manual... On board diagnostics (OBD-II) Your vehicle is equipped with a computer that monitors the engine’s emission control system. This system is commonly known as the On Board Diagnostics System (OBD-II). This OBD-II system protects the environment by ensuring that your vehicle continues to meet government emission standards. The OBD-II system also assists the service technician in properly servicing your vehicle. When the Check Engine/Service Engine Soon light illuminates, the OBD-II system has detected a malfunction. Temporary malfunctions may cause your Check Engine/Service Engine Soon light to illuminate. Examples are: 1. The vehicle has run out of fuel. (The engine may misfire or run poorly.) 2. Poor fuel quality or water in the fuel. 3. The fuel cap may not have been securely tightened. These temporary malfunctions can be corrected by filling the fuel tank with good quality fuel and/or properly tightening the fuel cap. After three driving cycles without these or any other temporary malfunctions present, the Check Engine/Service Engine Soon light should turn off.(A driving cycle consists of a cold engine startup followed by mixed city/highway driving.) No additional vehicle service is required. If the Check Engine/Service Engine Soon light remains on, have your vehicle serviced at the first available opportunity. also from the owners manual refering to smog type test... In some localities, it may be a legal requirement to pass an I/M test of the on-board diagnostics system. If your indicator is on, refer to the description in the Warning lights and chimes section of the Instrument Cluster chapter. Your vehicle may not pass the I/M test with the indicator on. If the vehicle’s powertrain system or its battery has just been serviced, the on-board diagnostics system is reset to a “not ready for I/M test” condition. To ready the on-board diagnostics system for I/M testing, a minimum of 30 minutes of city and highway driving is necessary as described below: • First, at least 10 minutes of driving on an expressway or highway. • Next, at least 20 minutes driving in stop-and-go, city-type traffic with at least four idle periods.Allow the vehicle to sit for at least eight hours without starting the engine. Then, start the engine and complete the above driving cycle. The engine must warm up to its normal operating temperature. Once started, do not turn off the engine until the above driving cycle is complete. |
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Replying to: bpiri (Jun 25, 2007 9:09 am) Thanks |
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As I stated before I got a new gas cap and had the gargre reset the computter. then my wife filled the tank and didnt tighten the cap. so the next day driving the light came on At the next stop I got out and checked the cap, and tighten it. the light was still on. so the next time I was near the shop I asked them to clear it n see if there was another problem. they check it and said that if the light comes back on I should take it to ford, because they dont have the equipment to check what is going on. Could anyone tell me what my nexty step should be? As of now the light is off!
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Replying to: bpiri (Jul 01, 2007 6:46 pm) If the light comes back on and the gas cap has been tight then you may have a problem. Remember though that if the light comes back on it takes several cycles to go off after the problem has been resolved. |
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Can check engine light mean that the transmission is about to fail in my 99 Taurus?
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Replying to: jnach (Jul 10, 2007 10:14 am) However since I am not a check-engine light expert I will stand corrected if someone "in-the-know" enlightens us. |
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