So me and my car are new to this site--been meaning to join forever--it just took this problem I have no idea to fix, to get me to do it.

4 days ago, the Check Engine Light came on. Pulled over, checked everything under the hood--all good. Hmmm.

At the pump today to fill up and my gas cap--no, not the door flap--the black cap that clicks when you tighten it-- will not budge. Not one millimeter. I skin my knuckles. I drive home. Pipe wrench just chews up the plastic outer plastic. I look closer as I bleed and on the bottom of the cap it says and I'm paraphrasing here:

If the cap won't release and the check engine light is on, the cap is mis-threaded.

Okay. Cool. But how do I release it so I can put gas in my car?

 

You need to force it...

Yes a pipe wrench will work but unless you cover the jaws the hardened steel teeth will really chew up the plastic.

If you have the time and the tools you can make a wooden wrench like the old style wheel cap wrench ...something like these...

Best of luck...

Motor on!

 

Yup...just have to get it off...
If you can't, have a shop try...they might need to cut it....
And and a cap that is not sealing WILL turn on a check engine light....a slight vacume is applied to the rank to check for leaks...no seal, and it fails an emissions test, and a light turns on.

 

Bring it to a shop (within gas range) and have them get medieval on it. They'll get it off.

 

Hop you can get it off, the older ones clicked a little bit more and where green on the bottom, the newer design ones click once have a blue seal and a black base. Also have a little more writing on them. Good luck you might have to get some channel locks out and get medieval on it alright. Here is what it looks like off.

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/16117222391/






Good luck.