Old Library

We have been getting cars in with the evaporative system codes.  So far we
have been finding loose gas caps. On 97 OBDII cars the evap system is
checked for leaks. A loose gas cap can cause a check engine light to come
on and a unnecessary trip to the dealer.

Don

Just wanted to see if this has happened to anyone else on the list. I 
took a quick look at the archives but did not see anything.

My gas cap was stolen over the weekend. I noticed it last night when I 
went to fill up the tank. SO this morning on the way to work, the check 
engine light comes on. I drop it off at Sunnyvale VW before heading to 
work and the service rep diagnoses the problem right away as the gas cap 
missing causing the check engine light to come on. Not covered by 
warranty either - $93 with new cap included to reset the sensor.

So I will be investing in a locking gas cap since the 'stealth' cover 
for the gas cap can be opened easily if a would be thief knows anything 
about VW's. (Yes, it sounds ridiculous that someone would steal a gas 
cap but it happened once so it can probably happen again.)
Thankfully they did not pour anything into the gas tank.

Jonathan.

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At 02:33 PM 11/9/98 -0800, you wrote:
>Just wanted to see if this has happened to anyone else on the list. I 
>took a quick look at the archives but did not see anything.
>
>My gas cap was stolen over the weekend. I noticed it last night when I 
>went to fill up the tank. SO this morning on the way to work, the check 
>engine light comes on. I drop it off at Sunnyvale VW before heading to 
>work and the service rep diagnoses the problem right away as the gas cap 
>missing causing the check engine light to come on. Not covered by 
>warranty either - $93 with new cap included to reset the sensor.
>
>So I will be investing in a locking gas cap since the 'stealth' cover 
>for the gas cap can be opened easily if a would be thief knows anything 
>about VW's. (Yes, it sounds ridiculous that someone would steal a gas 
>cap but it happened once so it can probably happen again.)
>Thankfully they did not pour anything into the gas tank.
>
>Jonathan.
>
> Jonathan, If your car is newer it should a LDP. Leak detection pump.
When the car is started cold and during the first few minutes of driving
the LDP comes on to pressurize the fuel system. Of course with a missing
fuel cap the MIL will come on. After replacing the cap the Dealer must set
the readiness code. This can be a time consuming process and some dealers
could charge up to .50 TU. In my dealership whenever I have a car with a
loose fuel cap I just write up a phony repair report of a loose breather
hose clear the code and ship it. Am I wrong in doing this Yes. So is VW for
making this stupid OBDII system. I will give the customer the benefit of
the doubt with an explanation and remind him/her to listen for the click
when Habib tightens the cap.

Don
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