Filling up while running
 

My '02 SE throws the evap system SES everytime I gas up while the car is running. It's done it twice now. I reset with the scanner and all is well until I stop at the gas station. Is this somethin I just have to live with and change my fill up routine or do I have a problem? Thanks.

You should turn off the car when pumping gas. In most states that is the law. Probably what is happening is the computer is seeing the gas cap off while the car is running.



At the next fill up turn the car off and see if the SES light comes back on.

yes it will trip an SES light if you leave it running. and you can just reset it.


But...... why ? Why do you leave it running?
in fact most stations should tell you to turn it off.

It's a bit illegal in nearly every state to my knowledge. Warmer though.

why in the hell would u leave it running when pumping gas?

I fill my cars while they are running, because is cold or hot, and usually if someone is sitting in the car. I've never had a problem.
But now I know what to expect... Thanks for that.

I wonder why it's recommended or required by law to turn off the car?
It could be an emissions issue, but the "rule" has been around forever.

For the simple reason your car is creating static electricity from all of the moving parts in the engine but also the electronics that are turned on can cause electric charges which with one spark can blow up the gas station.

my dad has done it for years and i have allways told him not to. But i dont think its that bad i mean hes been doing it now for ohh lets say 30 years now still NOT a good idea just because some thing never has happend does not mean some thing wont happen

I couldn't resist and decided to waste a significant portion of my life to do some web searching. This is the best website I could find (after a couple hours);
http://www.pei.org/static/#links
You have to check it out. There's a video link to a car fire starting from a static charge. And guess what! The fire went out! I'm pretty sure I saw this on a investigative TV show; the best thing to do with a gas fire is shut the gas flow off at the nozzle or the pump.

This website also talks about the cell phone myth and recommends shutting off your car (but I think they're a little lame with the reasons why).

I've heard of too many people getting their cars stolen while getting ready to/and pumping gas because they left it running for me to ever do that.