INFO WARNING; "Tighten Fuel Cap"

[swat49833]

I had this warning, "tighten fuel cap" show up the other day. It was right after start up, and stayed for awhile. Pulled over and fuel cap not loose, however, removed cap and reinstalled. Still had warning, turned off car and restarted, still had warning, so drove home. Took half of the trip home (about 30 minutes) before warning finally went away. Anyone else see this yet???

[gomarlins3]

It happens on Hondas when the cap isn't reinstalled correctly after a fill up. Usually takes a few key turns and mile before it turns itself off after you reinstall the fuel cap. Happened to me once many years ago with another Honda. No worries.

[zoltiz]

Beats the crap out of CEL you get on most other cars. Had it happen to me once in a Scion on a long trip - good thing I had the Scangauge with me - otherwise would've been freaking out over nothing.

[Vash337]

yea, the rsx requires "4 clicks" to consider the cap "on right" otherwise it throws a cel

[swat49833]

Originally Posted by gomarlins3

It happens on Hondas when the cap isn't reinstalled correctly after a fill up. Usually takes a few key turns and mile before it turns itself off after you reinstall the fuel cap. Happened to me once many years ago with another Honda. No worries.

Ok thx. But just one question, does the car know if the gas caps are really loose or maybe even off?

Hey Bizzy, we are all aircraft mechanics. We love doing mods to anything we can. Also, I believe it wouldn't be too hard since the mod cell would be above the tank. With a simple added valve between the two would solve switching the two tanks, however if I could get away with it I would prefer gravity fed to the main tank from the added fuel cell...

[JnC]

Originally Posted by swat49833

Ok thx. But just one question, does the car know if the gas caps are really loose or maybe even off?

Yes. The evaporative recovery system (aka carbon/charcoal canister for capturing the gas fumes) is thinking that you have a vacuum leak. It should hold vacuum in the canister to recover the unburnt fumes from the fuel tank and intake system. To my understanding the fumes are pulled in for combustion the next time you start the car.

If the gas cap isn't on or loose, there's no vacuum for it to work. Since most of the time the lack of vacuum will be due to a cap (instead of a hole in that vacuum line) that particular sensor warning is associated with "loose gas cap".

[bizzybear]

been driving newer Honda's since 2006 and i always do 3-clicks to be sure... i never experienced this light/warning doing that... don't worry about breaking it b/c you won't by over clicking (tightening) it

Originally Posted by swat49833

Hey Bizzy, we are all aircraft mechanics. We love doing mods to anything we can. Also, I believe it wouldn't be too hard since the mod cell would be above the tank. With a simple added valve between the two would solve switching the two tanks, however if I could get away with it I would prefer gravity fed to the main tank from the added fuel cell...

was this the wrong thread for this?? sounds like it belongs in another thread from a while back lol...

[swat49833]

Originally Posted by JnC

Yes. The evaporative recovery system (aka carbon/charcoal canister for capturing the gas fumes) is thinking that you have a vacuum leak. It should hold vacuum in the canister to recover the unburnt fumes from the fuel tank and intake system. To my understanding the fumes are pulled in for combustion the next time you start the car.

If the gas cap isn't on or loose, there's no vacuum for it to work. Since most of the time the lack of vacuum will be due to a cap (instead of a hole in that vacuum line) that particular sensor warning is associated with "loose gas cap".

Is it possible to get this same warning while running on fumes? I ask b/c The last couple of tanks I have ran damn near all the fuel out of my tank to get to my 500 plus miles per tank. I think the first time I put in 10.4 gals when we only have 10.6 gal tank. This last time I only added 10.1. Could it be sensing air in the system instead of fuel and sending a false warning, kinda like an air bubble?

[swat49833]

Originally Posted by bizzybear

been driving newer Honda's since 2006 and i always do 3-clicks to be sure... i never experienced this light/warning doing that... don't worry about breaking it b/c you won't by over clicking (tightening) it



was this the wrong thread for this?? sounds like it belongs in another thread from a while back lol...

Your right, my bad I was going over some long past post to refresh my memory when I answered someone else and I think I ended up posting wrong anyway.

[bizzybear]

i know the thread but i can't remember which one lol... if you find it send me a link and i'll move that part of the post over there for ya