I have a 96 chevy cavalier that I had to get work done on last year for a new fuel line. Soon after that, the gas tank was leaking. Mechanic said there was no connection, 2 seperate incidents. I had him patch up the gas tank for cheap. So fast forward 12 months later and I can‘t get my tag because I can‘t get emissions because all of the sudden my check engine light is on. I took it to advance autoparts to have their computer read my car‘s computer for a reason and he mumbled something about emissions error and then immediately said it was the gas cap. I checked the gas cap and it was good and tight and nothing wrong with it. The other day I smelled gas inside my car. I can‘t help but wonder if the patch job that the mechanic did has worn out and my gas tank is leaking again causing my check engine light to come on? If somebody could please help with some advice. I am inbetween jobs right now and I need to get my tag and can‘t afford to have my car repaired.
There isn't a lot else you can do but get it repaired. If you have a code P0440 or close to it (eg. P0441 or P0442), your car is indicating a fuel and or vapor leak that needs to be fixed before the light will go out. If you smell gas, I would look there for the problem. Common causes are rusted out gas tank or filler tube, cracked tubes on or to the vapor canister, loose or damaged gas cap, getting gas with the engine running. etc
Mine turned out to be just that the new locking gas cap I had put on wasn't tight enough one time, and the light stays on until a mechanic turns it off or until the battery is disconnected for a few minutes (Careful! If you have a theft-deterrent radio system, you will lose your radio code if you disconnect the battery and will need to re-enter it. But you have that written down in your files, don't you?) My mechanic was honest, said the computer said Fuel system leak but to check my gas cap. He turned the light off, I drove 50 miles and came back, with the light now off, and everything was fine.
when you have an emissions error read from a check engine light it means that there is not the correct amount of pressure in the tank. 95% of the time this is from someone not tightening down the gas cap all the way. after it is reset and you tighten the cap it should not come on again. if it does then you are in the other 5% category and need to get it thoroughly checked out. hope this helps
