Fuel Neck/Cap Issue
Update: I ordered and received my new GM OEM cap from RockAuto (GT299, supposed to replace the original 22616291) and put it on today. It looks identical to the one the shop placed on the car a couple months ago. End result: the car does not leak fuel or fumes. I filled up gas today and topped it off pretty well, then did some healthy driving with plenty of turns that would have definitely sloshed out before. Not even a hint of fuel smell right by the cap when I got out.
The cap still feels loose after being tightened though. there is both lateral play, and in-and-out it feels as if the two plastic tabs are too far in and not quite putting full pressure against the flange. Hopefully this does not mean that this cap will likewise fail at some point when the rubber seal will no longer makes sufficient contact with the filler neck.
Possibilities as to why the first new cap failed and this one works:
I'm still using the too-short tether. I may make an extension for it out of insulated braided metal cable instead of trying to use the old tether from my old cap. If it leaks again, I will update. For now, I am happy the simple fix worked.
The cap still feels loose after being tightened though. there is both lateral play, and in-and-out it feels as if the two plastic tabs are too far in and not quite putting full pressure against the flange. Hopefully this does not mean that this cap will likewise fail at some point when the rubber seal will no longer makes sufficient contact with the filler neck.
Possibilities as to why the first new cap failed and this one works:
- First cap was defective.
- Second cap just hasn't failed yet as suggested in the above paragraph.
- First cap looks the same, but was actually designed for another year car.
- Both new caps came with short tethers (
), so when I saw this with the first one, I complained to the shop that replaced it. He took the old tether off my original (supposedly bad) gas cap and transferred it to the new cap. The tether is held on with a collar that rotates freely in a shallow groove around the outside of the cap. The collar on the old tether is slightly thicker, and is a bit harder to put onto the new cap and it doesn't rotate all that easily. It is possible that this collar was restricting the natural movement of the cap and somehow causing it to bind or not tighten completely. - While transferring tethers, the mechanic damaged the new cap with the flathead screwdriver he used to pry them off and on.
I'm still using the too-short tether. I may make an extension for it out of insulated braided metal cable instead of trying to use the old tether from my old cap. If it leaks again, I will update. For now, I am happy the simple fix worked.
The part store gas caps are designed to fail so you go in there to buy another one. I can take a picture of my gm replacement and post it on here if you would like to compare it
I believe the original factory cap had the tether attached on the top of the handle, and the replacement has the spinner for the tether under the cap
Last edited by chrysler kid; Aug 3, 2014 at 01:47 AM.
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From: Bucks County, Pa.
This is one of the few things Joyzee still checks (besides the OBD 2 plug in), and will INSTANTLY fail you for this even if everything else is PERFECT.
Pennsyltuckey on the other hand is another story all together, since they have 'privatized' inspections which we MUST pay between $40.00 and $100.00 A YEAR for, depending on where one goes and what specials are running on this service.
They can be REAL Gestapo about inspection, and look for the smallest minutiae detail to fail you for, hoping that you will opt to get it fixed there resulting in more profits for them.
They also test drive your car, and do not allow you to sit in the passenger's seat during this ride, so one is at the mercy of them again purposely breaking something either inspection related, or otherwise (rear end, clutch, etc.).
Seems like a BLATANT conflict of interest to me.
Tejas does not fail you for this??
This is one of the few things Joyzee still checks (besides the OBD 2 plug in), and will INSTANTLY fail you for this even if everything else is PERFECT.
Pennsyltuckey on the other hand is another story all together, since they have 'privatized' inspections which we MUST pay between $40.00 and $100.00 A YEAR for, depending on where one goes and what specials are running on this service.
They can be REAL Gestapo about inspection, and look for the smallest minutiae detail to fail you for, hoping that you will opt to get it fixed there resulting in more profits for them.
They also test drive your car, and do not allow you to sit in the passenger's seat during this ride, so one is at the mercy of them again purposely breaking something either inspection related, or otherwise (rear end, clutch, etc.).
Seems like a BLATANT conflict of interest to me.
This is one of the few things Joyzee still checks (besides the OBD 2 plug in), and will INSTANTLY fail you for this even if everything else is PERFECT.
Pennsyltuckey on the other hand is another story all together, since they have 'privatized' inspections which we MUST pay between $40.00 and $100.00 A YEAR for, depending on where one goes and what specials are running on this service.
They can be REAL Gestapo about inspection, and look for the smallest minutiae detail to fail you for, hoping that you will opt to get it fixed there resulting in more profits for them.
They also test drive your car, and do not allow you to sit in the passenger's seat during this ride, so one is at the mercy of them again purposely breaking something either inspection related, or otherwise (rear end, clutch, etc.).
Seems like a BLATANT conflict of interest to me.
