[GGnoRE]

Hi guys,

I filled up at a Chevron in Richmond two days ago and yesterday, the Malfunction indicator came on. I took my car to the dealorship, and we found the fuel cap was very loose (not tightened at all). To fix this, they said they will need to scan the ECU for the bug and wipe it, all of which will cost me about an hour worth of their labour. Or, I will have to drive with the malfunction indicator always on. Do you guys think it is worthwhile to go back to that gas station and speak to the manager?
I find it ridiculous that the onus would be on me to double check the tightness of my fuel cap after I visit a "Full Service" gas station.

[subordinate]

This is why I fill up myself (Even though I have pos)

[i-VTEC]

Which Chevron?
I fill up at Cambie / Garden City they were pretty nice.
Shell on Lansdowne / Garden City is not bad too
Esso on Westmin / Garden City is horrible, I went home, parked, saw my gas door was 3/4 closed, and for fuel cap, they tend to just place on top. All other gas attendant would tight the cap when you can hear the click sound once or twice

[GGnoRE]

I always fill up myself too near my house in coquitlam which is much cheaper than Richmond, but didn't have enough gas to make it home that time.

[Szeto]

i always check if they close it properly...

[LSF22]

I assume this is at 3 and blundell?

I usually go to 5 and Steveston and they're pretty nice

[Energy]

Just drive with the CEL on. It should go away by itself after a couple of full driving cycles.

[RCubed]

Disconnect battery, wait, then reconnect battery. It should clear it.

[MindBomber]

I'm not sure if this will work on your car specifically, but usually if you disconnect the negative battery terminal for a minute it will clear all ECU codes.

Edit: Posted at same time as RCubed.

[Bahhbeehhaaaa]

OP do you still have the receipt for the gas you purchased? If you do, take it to the gas station and have a talk with the manager. Hopefully u still remember the dude who filled up your tank! best of luck!

[SumAznGuy]

I'm not sure if this will work on your car specifically, but usually if you disconnect the negative battery terminal for a minute it will clear all ECU codes.

Not all cars are equal. Nissan's require about 20 minutes with the battery unplugged. If it is a Honda, it doesn't take too long.

OP, it's really not a big deal. Just tighten the cap and drive the car with the CEL light on. After 3 cycles, the light will turn off by itself if there isn't any other faults.

[GGnoRE]

Alright, thanks for the advice guys.

I will try unplugging the batteries for a while after I get off work today. If that doesn't work, I will just drive it around for a few more days and hope it goes away.

[freakshow]

You could also buy a $30 obd tool online to clear it.. and you have the added bonus of being able to diagnose your own issues without paying dealer fees..

[Bahhbeehhaaaa]

+1 to freakshow

[hchang]

I think you should drive it for a bit and it should go away.

If you really want to you could go back and speak to the manager contingent you can prove you were there.

My dad got his car filled at the petro canada on 3 and williams a year and a half back and they tore off the whole gas cap. I came and spoke with the manager and they agreed to pay for the damage.

[SumAznGuy]

You could also buy a $30 obd tool online to clear it.. and you have the added bonus of being able to diagnose your own issues without paying dealer fees..

On some cars, a 5 cent paper clip can read the codes for you.
On Nissan's, there is a pattern with the key and gas pedal that will put the ecu into diagnostics mode.

And with the new smart phones, you can get a BT OBD reader and get info on your phone when you drive. :woot2:

[smoothie.]

find someone on rs with a reader that can clear it for you. (if the stock and newb meet wasnt cancelled i couldve done it for you there)

if its just a simple gas cap it should go away in a few drive cycles anyway.

[Bahhbeehhaaaa]

On some cars, a 5 cent paper clip can read the codes for you.
On Nissan's, there is a pattern with the key and gas pedal that will put the ecu into diagnostics mode.

And with the new smart phones, you can get a BT OBD reader and get info on your phone when you drive. :woot2:

:ahwow:
Technologies these days.. thanks for bringing that up!

[doma]

There are a lot of car retarded people on this car forum....

[Phil@rise]

Not everybody is as automotively awesome as you Doma.

[CP.AR]

one of the attendants at No.3 and Blundell was hitting on my gf and scribbled his number on the back window (it was dirty). I never go there anymore

[Neva]

Not all cars are equal. Nissan's require about 20 minutes with the battery unplugged. If it is a Honda, it doesn't take too long.

OP, it's really not a big deal. Just tighten the cap and drive the car with the CEL light on. After 3 cycles, the light will turn off by itself if there isn't any other faults.

Follow this man's advice. A cycle being turn engine on, drive it for a decent amount (ie to/from work), repeat.

[eurochevy]

pump ur own gas u lazy ppl

[Phil@rise]

pump ur own gas u lazy ppl

richmond is all full serve

[smoothie.]

i still pump my own gas in richmond.

they never argue

[Great68]

richmond is all full serve

I'd used to still pump my own gas, particularly in the Mustang where the filler opening is sized for the old leaded gas pumps and doesn't provide the feedback pressure for the automatic nozzle stop. Otherwise the jockeys would spill gas all over the back bumper and valence.

[Jsunu]

I usually pump my own gas. It is just so much quicker, bam in and out instead of waiting for the attendant to do it for you.

[1exotic]

That's why I always do self-serve I don't want some scumbag touching my car

[GGnoRE]

Since I have the reciept, I went back after work to give them a heads-up.

I ask for the manager and someone comes to speak to me. I explained to him what happened and surprisingly, he tried to argue that gas doesn't leak even when the cap is not tightly closed. Wth? Then, he asks me to show him the gas cap in my car (obviously I tightened it by now?) Not knowing what to do, he calls his owner and the owner says come back tomorrow. In the end, no apology was given which was all I had really expected.

[belaud]

i still pump my own gas in richmond.

they never argue

I had a middle age phillipino attendant hit on me while I pumped my own gas

"oh hhey there....you have such big arms...pumping your gas...mmm.....so young unlike me, i am old man, but you are so big..."

Chevron on no.5 & bridgeport.

Decided to just let them do the job after that...

[monkeywrench]

I had a middle age phillipino attendant hit on me while I pumped my own gas

"oh hhey there....you have such big arms...pumping your gas...mmm.....so young unlike me, i am old man, but you are so big..."

Chevron on no.5 & bridgeport.

Decided to just let them do the job after that...

LOL that phillipino guy creeps me out.

[eurochevy]

richmond is all full serve

you can always say no thank you and just get out of ur car

[Energy]

^ I always do that. Don't want some guy spilling gas on the side of my car or hitting my quarter panel with my gas cap or the fuel filler.

[Volvo-brickster]

MaxiScan® MS300 CAN OBDII Code Reader | Princess Auto (http://www.princessauto.com/pal/product/8312621/Code-Readers/MaxiScan%AE-MS300-CAN-OBDII-Code-Reader)

It is on sale this week for $30 at princess auto starting June 5 :D

[Truenosan]

I had a middle age phillipino attendant hit on me while I pumped my own gas

"oh hhey there....you have such big arms...pumping your gas...mmm.....so young unlike me, i am old man, but you are so big..."

Chevron on no.5 & bridgeport.

Decided to just let them do the job after that...

LOL I know which guy you are taking about. He told me he missed me, since I usually fill up the company cars there. He's always singing too.

[Spectre_Cdn]

^ I always do that. Don't want some guy spilling gas on the side of my car or hitting my quarter panel with my gas cap or the fuel filler.

Ugh, this. A couple years ago, an attendant at the Steveston/5 Rd Petro-Can. knocked the fuel nozzle against my car's fuel door as he was turning around and left a 3" scratch.

Another thing that bugs me are the lazy-ass attendants that put the gas cap on top of the trunk; Honda paint is soft. :okay:
It only takes a little more effort to put the cap on top of the pump.

But I fill up at Point Roberts 90% of the time now, so full serve isn't really an issue now :fullofwin:

[Geoc]

I had a middle age phillipino attendant hit on me while I pumped my own gas

"oh hhey there....you have such big arms...pumping your gas...mmm.....so young unlike me, i am old man, but you are so big..."

Chevron on no.5 & bridgeport.

Decided to just let them do the job after that...
LOL That guy, he is the creepy as hell. He put his face right on my window and stared at me while he had the biggest grin on his face as I grabbed the reciept, started the car, and shifted into gear. It was the longest 30 second ever.

[Neva]

Since I have the reciept, I went back after work to give them a heads-up.

I ask for the manager and someone comes to speak to me. I explained to him what happened and surprisingly, he tried to argue that gas doesn't leak even when the cap is not tightly closed. Wth? Then, he asks me to show him the gas cap in my car (obviously I tightened it by now?) Not knowing what to do, he calls his owner and the owner says come back tomorrow. In the end, no apology was given which was all I had really expected.

it's not that gas leaks out it's that the pressure in your evap system doesn't get to where they should and throw a p04xx code which is the range of automatic diagnostic checks that run every cycle

[46_valentinor]

if you need an obd2 reader, i can meet up with you and clear it for you for free!
let me know! =)

[Shorn]

That's why I always do self-serve I don't want some scumbag touching my car

so.. why are all gas station attendants now 'scumbags'? they're working a job just like you and me.

i mean not wanting them to touch your car is one thing but calling them scumbags is a little disrespectful, since the majority of the gas attendants i've talked to seem to be nice, hardworking people.

[dangonay]

It would have helped if you actually told us what car you drive, as this will dictate what the best way to deal with your CEL would be.

Dis-connecting the battery is not the way to clear codes on late model cars. Codes are permanently stored, and will still be there even after a battery is dis-connected. The only thing you're going to accomplish is possibly having to set the time/date and/or radio stations or other memory functions, and on some cars you can set even more codes in various modules throughout your car.

Driving your car for awhile (several drive cycles) may also make the light go out on its own, but this isn't guaranteed either.

The dealer shouldn't be charging you one hour for something so simple, especially if you're under warranty. I'd go to the dealer and say "My CEL light is on, but I don't know why". Then let them diagnose your car under warranty and tell you the problem. If the tech sees a code for EVAP fuel system leak, he'll probably just clear the codes and tell you the gas cap was loose instead off wasting his time.

If you're out of warranty, get your own code reader (or buy some beer for someone who has one) and read, then clear the codes. Write them down (if there's more than one) and post them here and we can tell you if it was, in fact, the gas cap.


The general rule for Check Engine Lights is this: If your light is on, but your car is driving normally, then it's very likely a minor problem (like gas cap). If your CEL is on and your vehicle is running rough, has low power or some symptom you notice, then you should not drive your car for an extended period and get it looked at right away.

[TurboFC3S]

I had a middle age phillipino attendant hit on me while I pumped my own gas

"oh hhey there....you have such big arms...pumping your gas...mmm.....so young unlike me, i am old man, but you are so big..."

Chevron on no.5 & bridgeport.

Decided to just let them do the job after that...

haha wow.. does that guy still work there? Same thing happened to me years ago same guy FOR SURE lol.

When i went back there a second time he saw me and ran to my pump and was like "DO YOU REMEMBER MEEEEEEEEEEE?" and i was like... uhh... no... then he was like "BECAUSE I REMEMBER YOUUUU!" then he started to sing that over and over, creepy mofo lol

[sonick]

lol the gay filipino at No 5 road is hilarious.

[finbar]

if its just a simple gas cap it should go away in a few drive cycles anyway.

^ this

[ts14]

lol evn on my benz, i just disconnected the batt and the codes went away

[spoonek4]

The general rule for Check Engine Lights is this: If your light is on, but your car is driving normally, then it's very likely a minor problem (like gas cap).

Could be a minor problem but should still get it checked out before it turns into a bigger problem that needs bigger repair.

Seen too many people ignoring engine light issues or think a "TUNE UP" will fix the problem.

Filling up gas, checking tire pressure & checking fluid level is the very least amount of work that a car owner should do IMO.