# Check Engine Light says Gas cap not on correctly? Huh? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 23, 2007, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/check-engine-light-says-gas-cap-not-on-correctly-huh/416685 "2007-08-23T20:08:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2007, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/check-engine-light-says-gas-cap-not-on-correctly-huh/416685/21 "2007-08-25T22:07:17Z")
[QUOTE=DrDeth] So you were whooshing us, right? :rolleyes: Something considered very rude in GQ. Jokes aren’t so bad, but deliberately wrong answers are. [/QUOTE] I thought it was perfectly obvious that the suggestion was absurd and a joke, but you’re right that GQ is not the place for borderline whooshing (or junior moding, for that matter) My apologies. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2007, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/check-engine-light-says-gas-cap-not-on-correctly-huh/416685/22 "2007-08-25T22:09:48Z")
[QUOTE=DrDeth] So you were whooshing us, right? :rolleyes: Something considered very rude in GQ. Jokes aren’t so bad, but deliberately wrong answers are. [/QUOTE] I don’t see this as the equivalent of the kerfuffle we had a week or so ago. Just my opinion. **samclem** GQ moderator ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2007, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/check-engine-light-says-gas-cap-not-on-correctly-huh/416685/23 "2007-08-25T22:27:04Z")
[QUOTE=Rick] IMNSHO they are a couple of guys that own a shop, that are sometimes sorta funny. They are not overly bright, or well versed on cars. [/QUOTE] Well, as they both graduated from MIT, just perhaps they are not too dumb. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2007, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/check-engine-light-says-gas-cap-not-on-correctly-huh/416685/24 "2007-08-25T23:38:30Z")
There is a difference between intelligent and smart. They may well be intelligent, but they don’t strike me as terribly smart. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2007, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/check-engine-light-says-gas-cap-not-on-correctly-huh/416685/25 "2007-08-26T02:16:25Z")
[QUOTE=samclem] I don’t see this as the equivalent of the kerfuffle we had a week or so ago. Just my opinion. **samclem** GQ moderator [/QUOTE] If he had included the line "_After the black tape, they gave the real answer (this is something you need to get taken care of, take it to a mechanic). "_ then there’d be no issue at all, however, now would there be? Click & Clack do sometimes give very wrong off the cuff answers in the interest of making a joke. So, I could see them giving such an answer- _and_ not clarifying. Both **Rick** and I were “taken in”. No, it’s not as bad as driving **Qadgop** out of GQ, sure. Ther just plain isn’t any reason not to clarify the joke. Put a gap then the rest in tiny print at the bottom, sure. Or do it “Hollywood Squares” style as **Tuba** suggested (give the joke answer _then_ the right answer). But I just don’t see the purpose here for posts which are just poor attempts at humor, I mean there are many other Forums where that is not only OK, but encouraged. GQ is becoming more and more like MPSIMS every day. Do we need another MPSIMS or do we need a place were dudes can get a correct answer? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2007, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/check-engine-light-says-gas-cap-not-on-correctly-huh/416685/26 "2007-08-28T02:08:37Z")
[QUOTE=DrDeth] No, it’s not as bad as driving **Qadgop** out of GQ, sure. [/QUOTE] I still _read_ a lot of posts in GQ. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2007, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/check-engine-light-says-gas-cap-not-on-correctly-huh/416685/27 "2007-08-28T02:11:54Z")
I go away for a month and the whole joint falls apart. Interesting tidbit about the key test. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2007, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/check-engine-light-says-gas-cap-not-on-correctly-huh/416685/28 "2007-08-28T07:12:44Z")
[QUOTE=Qadgop the Mercotan] I still _read_ a lot of posts in GQ. [/QUOTE] But we need your advice and wisdom. Please. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2007, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/check-engine-light-says-gas-cap-not-on-correctly-huh/416685/29 "2007-08-28T07:46:56Z")
Hey, in defense of the car talk brothers, those guys are highly entertaining, and funny as hell. Please don’t slander them here. They host a radio show: nothing more, nothing less. You want a real opinion? Take your car to a mechanic. ---
**Author:** ![powerjacob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f05b48/32.png) [@powerjacob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/powerjacob)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2007, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/check-engine-light-says-gas-cap-not-on-correctly-huh/416685/30 "2007-08-28T17:16:49Z")
Regardless of what the two guys on the radio say, I have more information. It is quite apparent that the guy who told me what the problem was gave me the wrong impression. I have since taken it to have another diagnostic. The code it read was P0441 which is an EVAP small leak/no flow condition. Probable cause: 1. Defective or loose fuel cap (this is most likely where I thought they were talking about the gas cap. Sorry for any confusion.) 2. EVAP canister or hose cracked - not connected 3. Purge or vent solenoid defective 4. Vacum leak at engine The person I talked with seemed to know quite a bit more than the guy I got my original information from. Again, sorry for any wrong information I relayed here. So… Now what? ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2007, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/check-engine-light-says-gas-cap-not-on-correctly-huh/416685/31 "2007-08-28T17:24:58Z")
[QUOTE=Rick] They are entertainment, no auto repair. [/QUOTE] What bugs me about those guys is how they make it seem as if they are answering the questions cold, while in actuality they have days to research the answers. If you call the 800 number, you get a taped message asking you to describe the problem, and are told that they will get back to you if it is going to be on the show. ---
**Author:** ![powerjacob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f05b48/32.png) [@powerjacob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/powerjacob)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2007, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/check-engine-light-says-gas-cap-not-on-correctly-huh/416685/32 "2007-08-28T17:30:44Z")
I’m glad everyone has opinions about these guys, but we’re getting a little off the subject. ---
**Author:** ![Omegaman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e480ec/32.png) [@Omegaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omegaman)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2007, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/check-engine-light-says-gas-cap-not-on-correctly-huh/416685/33 "2007-08-28T18:34:55Z")
[QUOTE=powerjacob] Regardless of what the two guys on the radio say, I have more information. It is quite apparent that the guy who told me what the problem was gave me the wrong impression. I have since taken it to have another diagnostic. The code it read was P0441 which is an EVAP small leak/no flow condition. Probable cause: 1. Defective or loose fuel cap (this is most likely where I thought they were talking about the gas cap. Sorry for any confusion.) 2. EVAP canister or hose cracked - not connected 3. Purge or vent solenoid defective 4. Vacum leak at engine The person I talked with seemed to know quite a bit more than the guy I got my original information from. Again, sorry for any wrong information I relayed here. So… Now what? [/QUOTE] Well the info I supplied you with before was for the purge soleniod. Did you check it? ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2007, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/check-engine-light-says-gas-cap-not-on-correctly-huh/416685/34 "2007-08-28T18:47:22Z")
[QUOTE=Rick] Christ did they really? :rolleyes: Assholes. [/QUOTE] Actually, I agree with them- my check engine light has literally been on for five years. I took it in the first time it came on and they could not find any reason for it coming on, and have never had any problem with the car whatsoever. ---
**Author:** ![powerjacob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f05b48/32.png) [@powerjacob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/powerjacob)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2007, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/check-engine-light-says-gas-cap-not-on-correctly-huh/416685/35 "2007-08-28T19:48:48Z")
[QUOTE=Omegaman] Well the info I supplied you with before was for the purge soleniod. Did you check it? [/QUOTE] Sorry, I had not realized it was the same information you supplied me with until I did a little further research. Thanks for the info. I’ll be checking into it shortly. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/check-engine-light-says-gas-cap-not-on-correctly-huh/416685.md?page=1)