medwar11

iTrader: (7)

Quick story: Wife and I drove Buick Rendezvous to Ohio. No problems. Got in the car to leave Ohio this morning (after letting it warm up for a bit) and noticed the SES light was on. Auto Zone read it as "small evap leak, probably the gas cap", checked cap and it was on. Got down road couple hundred miles and went to pop hood, noticed that it wasn't completely shut from the night before when I opened it.

So.. Could the hood not being completely shut cause a "small EVAP leak" code?

Car drove fine all the way to Columbia, SC (500+ miles).

Any ideas?

newton

iTrader: (4)

I had the same issue, code P0442.

I replaced my old gas cap with a new one and all is well.

BarneyMobile

iTrader: (4)

medwar11

iTrader: (7)

I thought about replacing the gas cap. Just thought it was a coincidence that the hood wasn't completely shut. But... wouldnt think that would cause it.

canadian z28

SES light comes on when a sensor is detecting something wrong with a computer controlled component or a sensor. The hood is not monitored on our cars. Get your cap checked to see if it holds pressure before you buy a new one. Could be a vent or purge solenoid fault? Get your evap system checked. If you do not have pollution testing... don't worry too much. It doesn't harm anything but the atmosphere.

SS#2906

iTrader: (53)

I would start with the Gas cap. Even thought the cap is on, it sometimes won't hold pressure during the self tests, which is why you won't see the SES light come on too often. Then move on the the purge solenoid.

fuseone

yea but most gas caps that throw a code wont throw a small evap leak it will show gross leak

medwar11

iTrader: (7)

Thanks for the input guys. Just a reminder, this is not my Camaro, this is my wife's Buick Rendezvous. Today I'm going to try to disable the light, and see if it comes back on.

autotrix

iTrader: (5)

It will come on again after so many drive cycles ( if a gas cap doesnt fix it ).
Look under the hood for a diagram of pcv/EVAP routing, do a good visual inspection on the evap lines. They are usually a hard black plastic material and they have a bright green cap over the test port. Check and make sure the cap is tight and the line isnt burnt or cracked anywhere.

These codes are pesky and sometimes a PITA to fix, although driveability shouldnt be affected.

myk

iTrader: (4)

They really ARE a PITA to fix. I mean, you have to really look at those lines and try find the damaged area if isn't something mechanical. I heard that dealerships hook up these systems to some sort of machine that sends smoke through the system, and the 'tech has to wait and see for the leak that way...

01WS6/tamu

iTrader: (37)

Small evap leaks suck. Unless you just see something obvious the only way I have ever had any luck solving them at work is using a smoke machine with UV tracer dye. Other than that good friggin luck.

fuseone

if you have use to a smoke machine use it because it will be alot easyer then

ghardester

Did you or your wife let someone at a gas station pump your gas and look under the hood? If so, they probably caused both problems. I can't pump my own gas in this state so I have to keep an eye on people who do, so they put the damn cap back on right.

01WS6/tamu

iTrader: (37)

WOW not to be off topic but can't pump your own gas WTF is up with that. Is it some kind of state law or something??

ghardester

Oregon and New Jersey. Illegal to pump your own. It's already been discussed on here, in some forums. Something about depriving someone of a low wage job. I don't mind, I just watch them carefully.

medwar11

iTrader: (7)

Update: I tried to disable the light, didn't work. Someone told me to disconnect neg. battery cable and turn headlights on for about 10 minutes. (not entirely sure if this should work) I cranked it back up and the light was still on. I'll try to replace gas cap next.

Thanks for the replies. BTW, no, nobody else pumped our gas.

fuseone

i dont know about discounting the neg and then turning on the lights did you try taking the neg cable off and pressing on the brake. or you could just let it sit wit hthe neg cable off for about a half hour.

medwar11

iTrader: (7)

Had a friend with a scanner delete the code today. Hasn't come back on yet.

gtarist

iTrader: (1)

It's possible your cap wasn't on tight, or is bad. I'd try that first. Had this on my pickup truck. Found that the last time someone replaced the fuel pump/sending unit they left a pair of pliers on top of the tank (nice Snap-Ons!). After thousands of miles of rubbing between the cab and the tank (I wondered what the hell that noise was) there was a small hole, not allowing the EVAP system to draw a vacuum. A little epoxy and my light has gone out!

ReFtheMC

iTrader: (6)

I hear about this issue almost rarely...