2000 Honda Odyssey Check engine light caused by gas cap

Just had a dealer tell me that our check engine light was caused by a gas
cap not adequately tightened. After paying a pretty hefty service fee (we
have always tightened the cap 10 - 20 clicks) it has happened again. Has
anyone else had this problem? If so, what did you do, and was it covered
under warranty?

 

It can sometimes be a little bit of crud caught in the purge solenoid.

There are dozens of causes for check engine light to appear. Some are
trivial, like a loose gas cap, some are more important. Many Hondas
have a simple way of reading the fault code
http://www3.telus.net/public/johnings/faq.html#retrieve
I don't know if yours does or not. Some dealer charges for pulling a
code are highway robbery, especially when the standard procedure is to
reset the ECU and wait to see if it recurs before doing anything.

 

If you are clicking it 10 times and you are still turning on the
light, then that ain't it. (One or two clicks is all that's needed.)
Either the cap is defective or there is a leak somewhere else. Either
way, it should be covered under the extended emissions warranty if it
hasn't expired - not sure if it was 50 or 100K in 2000.

 

what was the code they gave you?

i thought that mighta been the case with my 98 civic, but once i bought
a code reader, i found out it was an oxygen sensor. it was lazy at
first, then just went titsup.

 

The code Honda gave me was P1456 Evap Leak at Tank

 

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Will 'topping up' set that code when the evap canister gets pumped full
of liquid gas?

Are you 'topping up'?

'Curly'

 

No. In fact the light came back on a couple of days later on the same tank
of gas, at about 1/2 tank full

 

This is an emissions issue, and they will fix (new cap) free. Happened to
me. Once light starts comign on, it will contunue, even if reset.
Usually takes a few engine cycles before light comes on.

 

What kind of code reader did you get, cost?? Can it reset the check engine
light?

thanks.