2001 SSEi Check Gas Cap Riddle
02-19-2004, 07:33 PM
#11
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Westerville, Ohio 2000 Black SSEi
Posts: 6,127
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Hey, I just noticed your in Dayton. Where did you get the car? I have a scanner and can get the code cleared for you. As for the system, if you clear the code and put a faulty cap back on it, it should light again as far as i can tell. I'm not sure I believe the whole 200 starts thing. Anyone else chime in on this?
BTW I'm in Columbus.
BTW I'm in Columbus.
02-19-2004, 08:07 PM
#12
Senior Member
Posts like a Northstar
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Bellbrook, Ohio
Posts: 547
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
8-ball,
Thank you for your comment and offer. Purchased at King'* Auto Mall, SR73, south of Dayton, just NE of Cincinn. Place called Borcherding.
Hey, any more info on that shooter over there. We're driving to Martinsburg (north of Col.) this weekend. To be with our vette buds.
Thank you for your comment and offer. Purchased at King'* Auto Mall, SR73, south of Dayton, just NE of Cincinn. Place called Borcherding.
Hey, any more info on that shooter over there. We're driving to Martinsburg (north of Col.) this weekend. To be with our vette buds.
02-19-2004, 10:26 PM
#13
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Groton, CT _NEBF 05, 06, 07_
Posts: 2,703
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There'* like 4 different DTC'* that can be stored by the PCM in reference to this Evap System. The PCM runs certain routines at intervals to check the Evap System integrity. Chances are gas cap is not faulty, but maybe some other component in the Evap system is. These are the DTC'*: P0440, P0442, P0446, P1441. Try to get the scantool to see if any of these are set. I'm not sure about the 100-200 starts, sounds kind of flukey.
02-19-2004, 10:48 PM
#14
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Purgatory
Posts: 6,313
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by markwb
There'* like 4 different DTC'* that can be stored by the PCM in reference to this Evap System. The PCM runs certain routines at intervals to check the Evap System integrity. Chances are gas cap is not faulty, but maybe some other component in the Evap system is. These are the DTC'*: P0440, P0442, P0446, P1441. Try to get the scantool to see if any of these are set. I'm not sure about the 100-200 starts, sounds kind of flukey.
Heres a run down of the evap tests:
The EVAP diagnostic tests include the following tests:
Weak Vacuum Test
This tests for large leaks and blockages in the EVAP system. The FTP sensor detects low fuel tank pressure resulting from a large vacuum leak or a restriction in the vacuum supply to the fuel tank. The FTP sensor value should increase over a period of time. If the PCM does not detect in increase, a malfunction is indicated by setting DTC P0440.
Weak Vacuum Follow-up Test
This tests the EVAP system after the Weak Vacuum Test has failed. The FTP sensor looks for high tank vacuum over a period of time. If this occurs. the Weak Vacuum Test will Pass. If Weak Vacuum does not pass, the test continues through this ignition cycle.
Vacuum Decay Test
This tests for small leaks in the EVAP system. The decay rate is determined by measuring the change in fuel tank pressure (vacuum) over a period of time. If the decay rate is greater than a calibrated value, than another vacuum decay test will be initiated. If vacuum decay is still greater than a calibrated value, a malfunction is indicated by setting DTC P0442.
Fuel Vapor Build Pressure Test
This test is used to determine the vacuum leak size. When the vacuum has decayed to near zero, the PCM subtracts measured sloap from the vacuum decay to calculate to predict leak size. If the calculation indicates that a leak is present, the small leak test will fail.
Canister Vent Restriction Test
This tests for a restriction in the EVAP vent system. The FTP sensor looks for sufficient vacuum from the engine intake manifold. After a period of time and conditions have been met, then this test will pass. If the vacuum value is to high, a malfunction is indicated by setting a DTC P0446.
Purge Valve Leak Test
This tests for small leaks to the intake manifold. This is accomplished by sealing the EVAP system purge valve and vent valve, and allowing the PCM to monitor the FTP sensor. The FTP sensor value should not increase. If the PCM detects an increase, a malfunction is indicated by setting DTC P1441.
Check Gas Cap Message
The PCM sends a class 2 message to the Driver Information Center (DIC) illuminating the Check Gas Cap message when any of the following occur:
A malfunction in the EVAP system and a large leak test fails DTC P0440
A malfunction in the EVAP system and a small leak test fails DTC P0442
Weak Vacuum Test
This tests for large leaks and blockages in the EVAP system. The FTP sensor detects low fuel tank pressure resulting from a large vacuum leak or a restriction in the vacuum supply to the fuel tank. The FTP sensor value should increase over a period of time. If the PCM does not detect in increase, a malfunction is indicated by setting DTC P0440.
Weak Vacuum Follow-up Test
This tests the EVAP system after the Weak Vacuum Test has failed. The FTP sensor looks for high tank vacuum over a period of time. If this occurs. the Weak Vacuum Test will Pass. If Weak Vacuum does not pass, the test continues through this ignition cycle.
Vacuum Decay Test
This tests for small leaks in the EVAP system. The decay rate is determined by measuring the change in fuel tank pressure (vacuum) over a period of time. If the decay rate is greater than a calibrated value, than another vacuum decay test will be initiated. If vacuum decay is still greater than a calibrated value, a malfunction is indicated by setting DTC P0442.
Fuel Vapor Build Pressure Test
This test is used to determine the vacuum leak size. When the vacuum has decayed to near zero, the PCM subtracts measured sloap from the vacuum decay to calculate to predict leak size. If the calculation indicates that a leak is present, the small leak test will fail.
Canister Vent Restriction Test
This tests for a restriction in the EVAP vent system. The FTP sensor looks for sufficient vacuum from the engine intake manifold. After a period of time and conditions have been met, then this test will pass. If the vacuum value is to high, a malfunction is indicated by setting a DTC P0446.
Purge Valve Leak Test
This tests for small leaks to the intake manifold. This is accomplished by sealing the EVAP system purge valve and vent valve, and allowing the PCM to monitor the FTP sensor. The FTP sensor value should not increase. If the PCM detects an increase, a malfunction is indicated by setting DTC P1441.
Check Gas Cap Message
The PCM sends a class 2 message to the Driver Information Center (DIC) illuminating the Check Gas Cap message when any of the following occur:
A malfunction in the EVAP system and a large leak test fails DTC P0440
A malfunction in the EVAP system and a small leak test fails DTC P0442
02-20-2004, 08:42 AM
#16
Senior Member
Posts like a Supercharger
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Rogue
Originally Posted by GTP2SSEi
I've put tanks of 89 in my '97 Grand Prix GTP (when I owned it)and tanks of 89 in my '00 SSEi,with no detectable change in the way the car runs or performs....
02-20-2004, 05:50 PM
#17
Senior Member
Posts like a Northstar
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Bellbrook, Ohio
Posts: 547
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I applaud you guys! Thank you very much.
I took her in for an e-check today. They don't dyno test the engine any more. They check for codes. All they do is hook up scan tool.
Funny thing! Car passed just fine. They said there are no codes set. If there had been they would have dynoed to measure emissions. When I heard that I thought I would blow the gascap pressure test. Nope. The cap pressure tested fine. I told them what the computer was reporting. They tested the cap a second time. Said it held pressure and vacuum within specs.
I have an appt. with dealer Monday morning. I'll let all you nice folks know what they determined.
I took her in for an e-check today. They don't dyno test the engine any more. They check for codes. All they do is hook up scan tool.
Funny thing! Car passed just fine. They said there are no codes set. If there had been they would have dynoed to measure emissions. When I heard that I thought I would blow the gascap pressure test. Nope. The cap pressure tested fine. I told them what the computer was reporting. They tested the cap a second time. Said it held pressure and vacuum within specs.
I have an appt. with dealer Monday morning. I'll let all you nice folks know what they determined.
02-22-2004, 08:47 PM
#18
Senior Member
Posts like a Northstar
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Bellbrook, Ohio
Posts: 547
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Follup.
I cancelled my appt. for tomorrow morning.
Yesterday morning I fired her up expecting to reset the Check Gas Cap message.
The message had cleared. It has run for 2 days now with no message.
I guess that was about 20 starts. I guess the cap must have been a little loose to begin with but I swear I turned that cap down just like I've done with my '92 Bonne for the last 10 years. I did have a little crud on the face of the gas tube. I cleaned that off and cleaned the sealing surface of the cap. Maybe that did it. I guess the system was doing its job!
I'll let you know after I fill up for the second time tomorrow.
I cancelled my appt. for tomorrow morning.
Yesterday morning I fired her up expecting to reset the Check Gas Cap message.
The message had cleared. It has run for 2 days now with no message.
I guess that was about 20 starts. I guess the cap must have been a little loose to begin with but I swear I turned that cap down just like I've done with my '92 Bonne for the last 10 years. I did have a little crud on the face of the gas tube. I cleaned that off and cleaned the sealing surface of the cap. Maybe that did it. I guess the system was doing its job!
I'll let you know after I fill up for the second time tomorrow.
02-22-2004, 10:02 PM
#19
Senior Member
Posts like a Camaro
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Posts: 1,177
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by compyelc4
I applaud you guys! Thank you very much.
I took her in for an e-check today. They don't dyno test the engine any more. They check for codes. All they do is hook up scan tool.
Funny thing! Car passed just fine. They said there are no codes set. If there had been they would have dynoed to measure emissions. When I heard that I thought I would blow the gascap pressure test. Nope. The cap pressure tested fine. I told them what the computer was reporting. They tested the cap a second time. Said it held pressure and vacuum within specs.
I have an appt. with dealer Monday morning. I'll let all you nice folks know what they determined.
I took her in for an e-check today. They don't dyno test the engine any more. They check for codes. All they do is hook up scan tool.
Funny thing! Car passed just fine. They said there are no codes set. If there had been they would have dynoed to measure emissions. When I heard that I thought I would blow the gascap pressure test. Nope. The cap pressure tested fine. I told them what the computer was reporting. They tested the cap a second time. Said it held pressure and vacuum within specs.
I have an appt. with dealer Monday morning. I'll let all you nice folks know what they determined.
02-23-2004, 09:39 PM
#20
Senior Member
Posts like a Northstar
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Bellbrook, Ohio
Posts: 547
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The e-check procedure I went through last week does sound weird doesn't it? Maybe that is just a local deal, but all they did was tap into the ECM. That took all of 10 seconds!
I asked the guy why someone couldn't just clear his codes before he got there. He indicated that if the system had a serious problem effecting emissions the ECM would just reset the code on the next startup.
To me this just sounds like a slick way to do less for the same $19 every other year.
I would be interested in knowing if they changed this in your area too.
I asked the guy why someone couldn't just clear his codes before he got there. He indicated that if the system had a serious problem effecting emissions the ECM would just reset the code on the next startup.
To me this just sounds like a slick way to do less for the same $19 every other year.
I would be interested in knowing if they changed this in your area too.