Questionmy driver information center displays "gas cap" and the service engine light is on. I replaced the gas cap but it still shows "gas cap". how do I check the codes to find out what is causing this.
AnswerHello,
You did not supply the year and model, but the codes are not going to tell you anything more than what you know right now. The codes are general and do not give you an exacting cause. If the vehicle is 1994 or newer, a service gaage (not a dealer) can attach a Tech II scanner to the vehicle's computer to give you pin point accuracy on exactly what the problem is. Otherwise you end up chasing ghosts replacing perfectly good components that were not the problem.
You did not say if this problem just started or if it had been going on for a while. There could be a plugged vent hose or something else going on.
The check engine and fuel cap are related telling you thee is some sort of emissions problem. With the check engine light illuminated, fuel mileage and performance will suffer and it is not just a matter of getting the light out. The problem needs to be repaired first.
Personally, I would prefer just an emissions light came on without telling the driver a general diagnoses, because like what happened to you, you spent the money on a fuel filler cap that you did not have to spend because replacing it did not fix the problem.
This may be a minor repair, but it needs to be properly diagnosed first.
Good luck.
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