Check Engine Light

[twistwrench]

My check engine light came on at 750 miles. Actually, to be technically correct, it is a MIL light (Malfunction Indicator Light). Anyway, I got an appointment with my dealer in Devon, Pa. I live 100 miles away, and it took me a week and 450 miles later to get down there. Needless to say, the morning I left for the dealership, the MIL went out. It did have a code pertaining to the evaporative/purge system indicating a major leak (similar to a missing or loose gas cap). Does anyone see a pattern here? Obviously the cars are experiencing a problem with these solenoids/sensors/ switches. It would seem that the solenoids are sticking open at times, triggering the light. I'm sure that as more cars are having the problem, a TSB (technical service bulletin) or recall will be issued.

[The Silver Pellet]

"Check Engine Light" = some fault was found in the emissions systems.

So your car is mechanically sound, but it might be fouling up the air. A loose gas cap will cause the light on some cars, as will other problems as seen on this thread.

The bottom line though, is that your engine itself is still sound, but it "smells" too much for Uncle Sam. In other words, don't freak **- just get the dealer to straighten it out. (Luckily, my dealer isn't very far away, and also luckily, I haven't had a check-engine light.)

[Djinn]

Twistwrench - got ya beat - I am 140 miles away from the Devon Dealership. Funny, our check engine light went on at .... 750 miles too! Weird. Anyway, we did NOT want to make the trip, so we took previous advice on this post and purchased an OBDII/CAN compatible code scanner - hooked it up, it read as one of the fuel vapor leak codes, reset it, and haven't had a problem since (although its only been a week). We are now compulsively turning the gas cap 642 times after filling up ;)

Anyway, highly suggest this approach to anyone to see if check engine light is really a technical problem or temporary gas cap issue - saved us 300 miles on a highway.

Djinn

[Old smart]

One wonders how many of these "Check Engine Light" episodes can be due to overfilling the gas tank.

[RussBarnes]

Could be depending on where the sensor is to detect a defect in the fuel evaporative system. It also could be that the tolerance on the caps and the location of the valve in the filler neck is out of print and over time it gets better as the gasket/o-ring of the cap compresses.

[robotbill]

Recieved my car on 5 April yesterday 11 April at 450 miles the check engine light went on the car drove fine and I continued to do errands I already had a 10:00 am appt with the MB service dept for installation of some options, so I was not worried. This was the diagnosis: Client states check engine light is on current fault P0410/secondary air system is faulty Performed quick test/function tested air injection system/AI pump and switch over valve are operating/found loose wire at air pump/corrected wire problem/ran air readiness tests and function tests/cleared fault memory. No cost to me. Never did the car run rough or start up with any difficult. Had only one fillup with attention paid to putting the gas cap on snug. Still having a great time, I love this car!

[mvukovich]

Originally Posted by Old smart

One wonders how many of these "Check Engine Light" episodes can be due to overfilling the gas tank.

My wife just got home and said the engine light came on after putting fuel into the car. Gas cap is tight, she may have over fill it. How can you reset the light? Thanks

[Old smart]

Originally Posted by mvukovich

My wife just got home and said the engine light came on after putting fuel into the car. Gas cap is tight, she may have over fill it. How can you reset the light? Thanks

Some say that will go out by itself in time. Dunno.

[mvukovich]

Thanks, I'll let you know.

[robotbill]

Still worth getting it checked. In my case if you read my post from yesterday it was a loose wire, and I was very deliberate about the gas cap tightness and not overfilling.