2002 Malibu check engine light on

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Mondo - 10 Jul 2005 20:35 GMT

Hello,

How can I check the check engine light codes on my 2002 Malibu?

Thanks

Edit: i went to Autozone and the guy there checked the code. It was
for the gas cap. He walked around the car and showed me the gas cap
after opening the door and said..."Here is your problem...the gas cap
is broken." He said "We have them here, they are $10."

I said..."Let me think about it."
He said "Let me think about it?". I said yes and drove off.

When I got home i removed and tightened the gas cap and the check
engine light went out.

Here is my problem other than the Autozone guy trying to push me into
buying something he should have checked in the first place. What in
the world does the check engine light have to do with the gas cap???

How about a light that says..."GAS CAP"???

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JP White - 11 Jul 2005 02:18 GMT

What in

> the world does the check engine light have to do with the gas cap???

Keeping a steady tank pressure and preventing fumes escaping is an
emissions item. Therefore if there is an issue the light goes on, by law.

> How about a light that says..."GAS CAP"???

That would prevent you from going to the dealer and paying them a fee to
diagnose the code, clear the light and tell you the gas cap is loose. It
would be relatively trivial for a car manufacturer to have a LCD readout
indicating the fault code, but they don't do it. The light is not for
your benefit, it is apparently for the benefit of the environment (and
the pockets of others).

The 'check engine light' or MIL is a federally mandated item. The car
manufacturers are under no obligation to be informative other than tell
you to get your engine checked when an emmisions 'related' fault occurs.

The upside of all this legislation is that at least we are able to read
the codes with an inexpensive code reader based on quasi-non-proprietary
codes and protocols and get a clue what's up without a trip to the dealer.

JP

Signature

JP White
mailto:jpwhite3@bellsouth.net

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Repairman - 11 Jul 2005 12:26 GMT

A lot of '04 and up vehicles are starting to have a gas cap light or
specific message about it being loose.
I guess they never thought about how many folks leave it loose or off when
it became a OBD issue.

Signature

John
"anything you say can & will be misquoted & used against you"
'01 FLHR ''Red"
'04 MXZ 600ho
'99 XC700
BRC mem

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---MIKE--- - 18 Jul 2005 23:25 GMT

I have a Prism (2001) not a Malibu but I had the check engine light go
on today. At VIP auto, they ran the test and said it indicated a fault
with the evaporative system (gas cap?). Another car there had the same
problem and indication. The weather here has been extremely hot and
humid the last few days. Could that be the cause?

---MIKE---

>>In the White Mountains of New Hampshire
>> (44° 15' N - Elevation 1580')

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Steve Cook - 23 Jul 2005 00:17 GMT

Re: 2002 Malibu check engine light on

Group: alt.autos.chevrolet.malibu Date: Mon, Jul 18, 2005, 6:25pm
(CDT+1) From: twinmountain@webtv.net (---MIKE---)
I have a Prism (2001) not a Malibu but I had the check engine light go
on today. At VIP auto, they ran the test and said it indicated a fault
with the evaporative system (gas cap?). Another car there had the same
problem and indication. The weather here has been extremely hot and
humid the last few days. Could that be the cause?
---MIKE---
In the White Mountains of New Hampshire
(44° 15' N - Elevation 1580')

Try being a Tech at a Gm dealer and having to stop and pull codes out of
everyone that comes in just to tell them to tighten it more.....Dont
know how much time Ive wasted doing this...
Steve

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---MIKE--- - 23 Jul 2005 18:43 GMT

>>Try being a Tech at a Gm dealer and
>> having to stop and pull codes out of
>> everyone that comes in just to tell
>> them to tighten it more.....Dont know
>> how much time Ive wasted doing this...

>>Steve

When I tighten the cap I always do at least 6 "clicks". Today I
replaced the rubber gasket (from an after market cap) and put a thin
coating of vasoline on the surface that the gasket contacts. If that
doesn't fix it I have an appointment with the dealer Tuesday AM.

---MIKE---

>>In the White Mountains of New Hampshire
>> (44° 15' N - Elevation 1580')

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---MIKE--- - 26 Jul 2005 18:12 GMT

When I left work on Monday, the light was out. I guess working on the
gas cap solved the problem. When I gassed up this morning, it was hard
to get the cap off!

---MIKE---

>>In the White Mountains of New Hampshire
>> (44° 15' N - Elevation 1580')

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