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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / General Car Topics / December 2006Does 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 >Had an interesting occurence with my 1998 Buick Century with only 38K miles >on it. [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > >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. >> Had an interesting occurence with my 1998 Buick Century with only 38K miles >> on it. [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > 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... >>Had an interesting occurence with my 1998 Buick Century with only 38K >>miles [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > 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 >>>Had an interesting occurence with my 1998 Buick Century with only 38K >>>miles [quoted text clipped - 40 lines] > > Ed > Ed: > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > 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! >> Ed: >> [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > 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?? 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 >> Ed: >> [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > > Ed |
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