its been on for several days and i've already filled up once. anyone know if this will ever turn off or does the dealer have to do this?

 

The dealer told me that it's either the seal is broken or the gas could be low grade.

 

If this is the light that occurs when the gas cap isn't put on corretly after a fill up then this needs to be reset by the dealer.

 

Maybe so, maybe not. Several months ago mine worked loose and gave me the light. A few days later it cleared itself.

 

There is an electrical contact switch on the fuel cap that needs to make contact.
You'll hear a click when you get it. That should turn off the light. (it is possible to turn to far and miss the contact point)

 

thanks will try all suggestions.

 

It depends on the year of the software.

up to 2003, the SES light would come on and have to be reset by the dealer.

In 2004 the software was "fixed" and the light would never come on.

In 2004 they had to recall all the cars and fix the software.

It is not a contact on the cap. There is actualy an air pump that pressurizes the tank to check the seals. If it can't make pressure (or is it vaccume?) it reports the fault. The "click" in the cas cap is to let you know that you got the cap twisted far enough.

3 driving cycles with the tank sealed is supposed to reset the SES light.

I would suspect that if the newer cars have a "gas cap" light separate from the SES light, they would work the same.

John

 

Rule # one.......DO NOT FILL UP WITH THE CAR RUNNING.

As stated above.....the emission system pressurizes the tank and will fault if you fill up while running the car. VERY common problem on all BMW/MINI's