Does this make sense at all

Had an interesting occurence with my 1998 Buick Century with only 38K miles
on it.

It has been trouble free. Anyway, one evening I started the car and man was
it running exceedingly rough. Even trying to back out of the garage it was
sputtering (kind of like when a car diesels after you shut it off; but the
car was on). Additionally, at this same instance, my Check (or maybe
Service) Engine Soon Light came on, flashing for awhile and then steady on.

I have a CARMD so I was able to plug it into the car's computer. The error
code indicated a problem with cylinder #6 and could be fuel injector
problem. However, the web-site also indicated that sometimes a loose gas cap
can cause the light to come on.

I checked the gas cap. It did not appear to be loose but I opened it, took
it off, and then put it on again, being sure to tighten it so that it
definitely clicked twice.

I then started the car and it was completely normal. No rough running or
anything. After riding for 10-15 minutes the check engine light went off.
This was 3 weeks ago and I haven't had a problem since.

I guess my question is: could this have really solved the problem?? Would a
loose gas cap cause the car to run rough (I know it can cause the check
engine light to come on). ??

Mel

On Tue, 21 Nov 2006 16:07:43 -0500, "MZB" <moo (AT) noway (DOT) prudigy.net>
wrote:

Had an interesting occurence with my 1998 Buick Century with only 38K miles
on it.

I checked the gas cap. It did not appear to be loose but I opened it, took
it off, and then put it on again, being sure to tighten it so that it
definitely clicked twice.

I then started the car and it was completely normal. No rough running or
anything. After riding for 10-15 minutes the check engine light went off.
This was 3 weeks ago and I haven't had a problem since.

I guess my question is: could this have really solved the problem?? Would a
loose gas cap cause the car to run rough (I know it can cause the check
engine light to come on). ??

Mel

Heh heh... You have the evidence firsthand, and yet you come here
hoping that someone will tell you what you already have seen
firsthand. Amazing.

Yes. A loose gas cap can cause a car to run rough. (SURPRISE!)

Reason: Fuel injected fuel systems are pressurized. A loose cap
prevents the system from becoming sufficiently pressurized to function
properly. Subsequently the car suffers from fuel starvation,
resulting in rough running.

Ray wrote:

On Tue, 21 Nov 2006 16:07:43 -0500, "MZB" <moo (AT) noway (DOT) prudigy.net
wrote:

Had an interesting occurence with my 1998 Buick Century with only 38K miles
on it.

I checked the gas cap. It did not appear to be loose but I opened it, took
it off, and then put it on again, being sure to tighten it so that it
definitely clicked twice.

I then started the car and it was completely normal. No rough running or
anything. After riding for 10-15 minutes the check engine light went off.
This was 3 weeks ago and I haven't had a problem since.

I guess my question is: could this have really solved the problem?? Would a
loose gas cap cause the car to run rough (I know it can cause the check
engine light to come on). ??

Mel


Heh heh... You have the evidence firsthand, and yet you come here
hoping that someone will tell you what you already have seen
firsthand. Amazing.

Yes. A loose gas cap can cause a car to run rough. (SURPRISE!)

Reason: Fuel injected fuel systems are pressurized. A loose cap
prevents the system from becoming sufficiently pressurized to function
properly. Subsequently the car suffers from fuel starvation,
resulting in rough running.

""""A loose cap prevents the system from becoming sufficiently
pressurized to function properly........from fuel starvation""""
You have quite an imagination...

"Ray" <noemail (AT) donot (DOT) mail.me> wrote

On Tue, 21 Nov 2006 16:07:43 -0500, "MZB" <moo (AT) noway (DOT) prudigy.net
wrote:

Had an interesting occurence with my 1998 Buick Century with only 38K
miles
on it.

I checked the gas cap. It did not appear to be loose but I opened it, took
it off, and then put it on again, being sure to tighten it so that it
definitely clicked twice.

I then started the car and it was completely normal. No rough running or
anything. After riding for 10-15 minutes the check engine light went off.
This was 3 weeks ago and I haven't had a problem since.

I guess my question is: could this have really solved the problem?? Would
a
loose gas cap cause the car to run rough (I know it can cause the check
engine light to come on). ??

Mel


Heh heh... You have the evidence firsthand, and yet you come here
hoping that someone will tell you what you already have seen
firsthand. Amazing.

Yes. A loose gas cap can cause a car to run rough. (SURPRISE!)

Reason: Fuel injected fuel systems are pressurized. A loose cap
prevents the system from becoming sufficiently pressurized to function
properly. Subsequently the car suffers from fuel starvation,
resulting in rough running.

Wow, this is one of the worst guesses I have seen on the internet. I hope
you were trying to be funny.

The fuel pump provides the pressure to the fuel injection system. The fuel
pressure is regulated either by the use of a pressure regulator, or in some
of the newer returnless sytems by varying the pump output through the use of
electronic controls.

A loose gaas cap had nothing to do with the problem. It is much more likely
that there was a glitch in either the fuel control or ignition systems that
was cleared when the car was shut off and restarted.

Ed

Ed:

But I had restarted the vehicle a couple of times before doing the check/gas
cap thing.

But I didn't think a loose gas cap would make it run so bad, yet it cleared
up immediately after I did the gas cap thing.

Oh, well, maybe a coincidence. But I'd sure like to think the problem is
fixed. I've driven the car a lot since then and no problem

Mel



"C. E. White" <cewhite (AT) mindspring (DOT) com> wrote

"Ray" <noemail (AT) donot (DOT) mail.me> wrote in message
newsgl7m290odlgtfkrgt9dp1hgh9s2o273f6 (AT) 4ax (DOT) com...
On Tue, 21 Nov 2006 16:07:43 -0500, "MZB" <moo (AT) noway (DOT) prudigy.net
wrote:

Had an interesting occurence with my 1998 Buick Century with only 38K
miles
on it.

I checked the gas cap. It did not appear to be loose but I opened it,
took
it off, and then put it on again, being sure to tighten it so that it
definitely clicked twice.

I then started the car and it was completely normal. No rough running or
anything. After riding for 10-15 minutes the check engine light went off.
This was 3 weeks ago and I haven't had a problem since.

I guess my question is: could this have really solved the problem?? Would
a
loose gas cap cause the car to run rough (I know it can cause the check
engine light to come on). ??

Mel


Heh heh... You have the evidence firsthand, and yet you come here
hoping that someone will tell you what you already have seen
firsthand. Amazing.

Yes. A loose gas cap can cause a car to run rough. (SURPRISE!)

Reason: Fuel injected fuel systems are pressurized. A loose cap
prevents the system from becoming sufficiently pressurized to function
properly. Subsequently the car suffers from fuel starvation,
resulting in rough running.

Wow, this is one of the worst guesses I have seen on the internet. I hope
you were trying to be funny.

The fuel pump provides the pressure to the fuel injection system. The fuel
pressure is regulated either by the use of a pressure regulator, or in
some of the newer returnless sytems by varying the pump output through the
use of electronic controls.

A loose gaas cap had nothing to do with the problem. It is much more
likely that there was a glitch in either the fuel control or ignition
systems that was cleared when the car was shut off and restarted.

Ed

"MB_" <mel (AT) prodigy (DOT) invalid.net> wrote

Ed:

But I had restarted the vehicle a couple of times before doing the
check/gas cap thing.

But I didn't think a loose gas cap would make it run so bad, yet it
cleared up immediately after I did the gas cap thing.

Oh, well, maybe a coincidence. But I'd sure like to think the problem is
fixed. I've driven the car a lot since then and no problem

Mel

There is nothing about a loose gas cap that would set a code indicating a
miss-fire of a single cylinder. Did your check engine light flash, or was it
on solid? A flashing light would indicate a hard misifre. A solid light
would indicate an intermitent miss-fire. A loose gas cap would turn on a
solid check engine light.

If you want to satisfy yourself that the miss was not casued by a loose gas
cap, why not loosen the gas cap and wait for the check engine light to turn
on. If the miss retuurns, then that must be the cause and I am wrong.

Ed

Ed:

Originally, when it first came on, it was definitely flashing. The next few
times I started the car, it was solid.

What is a Hard Misfire??

Also, is this something that indicates a problem like a fuel injector or
some other problem that is likely to come up again? Or is this likely an
isolated occurence? Or can you just not tell?


Yeah, I've been tempted to try the gas cap thing again, but I guess I'm
happy with it riding well and don't want to tempt fate!

"C. E. White" <cewhite (AT) mindspring (DOT) com> wrote

"MB_" <mel (AT) prodigy (DOT) invalid.net> wrote in message
news:1L09h.27$Th4.1 (AT) newsfe07 (DOT) lga...
Ed:

But I had restarted the vehicle a couple of times before doing the
check/gas cap thing.

But I didn't think a loose gas cap would make it run so bad, yet it
cleared up immediately after I did the gas cap thing.

Oh, well, maybe a coincidence. But I'd sure like to think the problem is
fixed. I've driven the car a lot since then and no problem

Mel

There is nothing about a loose gas cap that would set a code indicating a
miss-fire of a single cylinder. Did your check engine light flash, or was
it on solid? A flashing light would indicate a hard misifre. A solid light
would indicate an intermitent miss-fire. A loose gas cap would turn on a
solid check engine light.

If you want to satisfy yourself that the miss was not casued by a loose
gas cap, why not loosen the gas cap and wait for the check engine light to
turn on. If the miss retuurns, then that must be the cause and I am wrong.

Ed

"MZB" <moo (AT) noway (DOT) prudigy.net> wrote

Ed:

Originally, when it first came on, it was definitely flashing. The next
few times I started the car, it was solid.

What is a Hard Misfire??

Check your owners manual. A flashing check engine light indicates a more
severe problem that could damage other components of the emmision system
(catalytic convertor). Whe I said "hard miss fire" I meant a cylinder that
was not firing at all. You can also have random miss fires that come and go.
THis will usually set a solid check engine light. Even if the code indicates
a "miss fire" it might not be a miss fire at all, but could be a weak
cylinder. The PCM monitors crankshaft speed and if one cylinder isn't
providing as much impluse as another, the PCM may interpert it as a miss
fire.

Also, is this something that indicates a problem like a fuel injector or
some other problem that is likely to come up again? Or is this likely an
isolated occurence? Or can you just not tell?

I can't tell. I'd suspect an ignition problem, but it could have been a
clogged fuel injector, or a sticky valve. Did you have any other syumptoms
(besides the check engine light and the obvious miss fire)? I thinking black
smoke, or an unusual noise. Did it happen early in the morning? Was it
raining? Did you recently purchase a different brand of gas? When were the
plugs last changed? How about the fuel filter?

Yeah, I've been tempted to try the gas cap thing again, but I guess I'm
happy with it riding well and don't want to tempt fate!

I can't blame you for that.

Ed

I got a check engine light on my Impala; and the scanner said loose gas cap,
but it turned on a couple of days after I bought gas and the car ran
perfectly.
Roy
"C. E. White" <cewhite (AT) mindspring (DOT) com> wrote

"MZB" <moo (AT) noway (DOT) prudigy.net> wrote in message
news:je99h.63$Th4.59 (AT) newsfe07 (DOT) lga...
Ed:

Originally, when it first came on, it was definitely flashing. The next
few times I started the car, it was solid.

What is a Hard Misfire??

Check your owners manual. A flashing check engine light indicates a more
severe problem that could damage other components of the emmision system
(catalytic convertor). Whe I said "hard miss fire" I meant a cylinder that
was not firing at all. You can also have random miss fires that come and
go. THis will usually set a solid check engine light. Even if the code
indicates a "miss fire" it might not be a miss fire at all, but could be a
weak cylinder. The PCM monitors crankshaft speed and if one cylinder isn't
providing as much impluse as another, the PCM may interpert it as a miss
fire.

Also, is this something that indicates a problem like a fuel injector or
some other problem that is likely to come up again? Or is this likely an
isolated occurence? Or can you just not tell?

I can't tell. I'd suspect an ignition problem, but it could have been a
clogged fuel injector, or a sticky valve. Did you have any other syumptoms
(besides the check engine light and the obvious miss fire)? I thinking
black smoke, or an unusual noise. Did it happen early in the morning? Was
it raining? Did you recently purchase a different brand of gas? When were
the plugs last changed? How about the fuel filter?

Yeah, I've been tempted to try the gas cap thing again, but I guess I'm
happy with it riding well and don't want to tempt fate!

I can't blame you for that.

Ed