Kept having the "Check Gas Cap" warning message come on despite knowing the gas cap was tight and sealed. Tried the easy fix of buying a new gas cap. I made the mistake of buying the Autozone version for $20 which apparently, Fords do not like. FYI, the "Ford" gas cap is double the amount.
Thought the problem was fixed, but then the Check Engine light started to come on (usually when the vehicle has less than 3/4th of a tank of gas.) Went to a mechanic to have the code read and it was something very general and inconclusive related to the emissions system. The mechanic then decided that the Evaporative Canister on the underside of the car (somewhere near the trunk area) was dirty/bad and I needed a new one. Cost was $342.36.
Car was fine for two weeks and then the stupid lights started coming on again. Check Gas Cap or Check Engine. Paid the mechanic to search for an exhaust leak but couldn't find any. Was told there was some sort of sensor in the gas tank that activates when the fuel is between 1/4 and 3/4 of a tank that could potentially trip the warning messages. Unfortunately, it requires dropping the gas tank which is something I really don't want to spend money on considering these lights do not affect the performance of gas mileage of the car in anyway. It is annoying though, as if I were to move to a state that actually had emissions standards, I would not be able to register my car since it would not pass smog if it continues to have exhaust warning messages.
Also, I do not think I will be able to resell the car with a problem like this where no one can seem to figure out how to fix it without throwing money blindly at all the red herrings.
Kept having the "Check Gas Cap" warning message come on despite knowing the gas cap was tight and sealed. Tried the easy fix of buying a new gas cap. I made the mistake of buying the Autozone version for $20 which apparently, Fords do not like. FYI, the "Ford" gas cap is double the amount.
Thought the problem was fixed, but then the Check Engine light started to come on (usually when the vehicle has less than 3/4th of a tank of gas.) Went to a mechanic to have the code read and it was something very general and inconclusive related to the emissions system. The mechanic then decided that the Evaporative Canister on the underside of the car (somewhere near the trunk area) was dirty/bad and I needed a new one. Cost was $342.36.
Car was fine for two weeks and then the stupid lights started coming on again. Check Gas Cap or Check Engine. Paid the mechanic to search for an exhaust leak but couldn't find any. Was told there was some sort of sensor in the gas tank that activates when the fuel is between 1/4 and 3/4 of a tank that could potentially trip the warning messages. Unfortunately, it requires dropping the gas tank which is something I really don't want to spend money on considering these lights do not affect the performance of gas mileage of the car in anyway. It is annoying though, as if I were to move to a state that actually had emissions standards, I would not be able to register my car since it would not pass smog if it continues to have exhaust warning messages.
Also, I do not think I will be able to resell the car with a problem like this where no one can seem to figure out how to fix it without throwing money blindly at all the red herrings.
- clutzattack, Palm Bay, FL, US