A-130: DIY to fix "Tighten Fuel Cap" message
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
A-130: DIY to fix "Tighten Fuel Cap" message
There’s a lot on azine about this already and it's fairly straightforward but I thought I’d put together a formal step by step DIY because I was a bit confused when it first started happening!
Symptom: The “tighten fuel cap” message displays on your MID repeatedly. You are sure your fuel cap is tight to 3 clicks (or whatever is says) but the message still pops up intermittently then goes away randomly. This happens periodically (and for me the frequency it happened increased with time)
Fix: In the 07-08 models this is a known problem. Here is the official release from Acura. Essentially, a sensor that talks to your car’s computer is faulty. The sensor is part of the EVAP canister purge valve. To fix it you need to replace the EVAP canister purge valve.
What you need:
Step 1: Make sure you didn’t just get out of your car 3 min ago and your engine is still hot. Wait a bit for your engine to cool down!
Step 2: Remove your engine cover. There are 4 contact points for your engine cover to the car. There are 2 clips you need a flat head screw driver to get at (circled in red) and the back two just pop off when you pull on the engine cover.
Step 3: Once you locate the EVAP canister purge valve you need to remove 2 nuts (and washers) with a 10mm socket. The bottom nut is tad bit harder to remove because it is in a tight spot so be patient. Take your time so the nuts and washer don’t fall into the engine bay accidentally!
Step 4: Remove the sensor and the hoses one at a time. I put the hoses directly on new part so I didn't mix them up.
Step 5: Put everything back together and give your car a couple miles to reset itself and the “tighten fuel cap” message should go off and hopefully never come back again!
Symptom: The “tighten fuel cap” message displays on your MID repeatedly. You are sure your fuel cap is tight to 3 clicks (or whatever is says) but the message still pops up intermittently then goes away randomly. This happens periodically (and for me the frequency it happened increased with time)
Fix: In the 07-08 models this is a known problem. Here is the official release from Acura. Essentially, a sensor that talks to your car’s computer is faulty. The sensor is part of the EVAP canister purge valve. To fix it you need to replace the EVAP canister purge valve.
What you need:
- EVAP canister purge valve (P/N 36162-RDV-J01)
- ˝ hour of your time
- Flat head screw driver
- 10mm socket
- Pliers to pinch and move the hose clips.
Step 1: Make sure you didn’t just get out of your car 3 min ago and your engine is still hot. Wait a bit for your engine to cool down!
Step 2: Remove your engine cover. There are 4 contact points for your engine cover to the car. There are 2 clips you need a flat head screw driver to get at (circled in red) and the back two just pop off when you pull on the engine cover.
Step 3: Once you locate the EVAP canister purge valve you need to remove 2 nuts (and washers) with a 10mm socket. The bottom nut is tad bit harder to remove because it is in a tight spot so be patient. Take your time so the nuts and washer don’t fall into the engine bay accidentally!
Step 4: Remove the sensor and the hoses one at a time. I put the hoses directly on new part so I didn't mix them up.
Step 5: Put everything back together and give your car a couple miles to reset itself and the “tighten fuel cap” message should go off and hopefully never come back again!
The following 27 users liked this post by RxWorld:
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satorie (05-07-2017)
#3
Safety Car
iTrader: (5)
thanks for putting this up! i've been getting this message a lot more recently.
so my question...is the part itself (design flaw) fixed with this part number, or is this the same exact part that is faulty and it will just be a matter of time before it is faulty again?
in other words, will i have to do this again in a few years?
edit: just looked this up. this part is 90 bucks, so i may just leave it and delete the message whenever it comes up. it goes away after time anyway
so my question...is the part itself (design flaw) fixed with this part number, or is this the same exact part that is faulty and it will just be a matter of time before it is faulty again?
in other words, will i have to do this again in a few years?
edit: just looked this up. this part is 90 bucks, so i may just leave it and delete the message whenever it comes up. it goes away after time anyway
Last edited by sockr1; 08-07-2014 at 12:24 AM.
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#8
Perfect timing. My vehicle is currently at the shop getting some work done & this is on my list. I did email my service advisor the Service Bulletin. Will find out tomorrow if they covered it under "good will".
#9
Suzuka Master
I just did my last month, it does get annoying lol. I asked dealer ship how much for the fix and the quote I got was $275 plus tax. I laugh and walked away.
#10
Instructor
Thread Starter
thanks for putting this up! i've been getting this message a lot more recently.
so my question...is the part itself (design flaw) fixed with this part number, or is this the same exact part that is faulty and it will just be a matter of time before it is faulty again?
in other words, will i have to do this again in a few years?
edit: just looked this up. this part is 90 bucks, so i may just leave it and delete the message whenever it comes up. it goes away after time anyway
so my question...is the part itself (design flaw) fixed with this part number, or is this the same exact part that is faulty and it will just be a matter of time before it is faulty again?
in other words, will i have to do this again in a few years?
edit: just looked this up. this part is 90 bucks, so i may just leave it and delete the message whenever it comes up. it goes away after time anyway
That's a good question whether you'll have to replace it again. I mean you can safelysay you'll be good for at least another 5 year very minimum. It'll just getmore and more annoying if you leave it
#12
King of NYC
iTrader: (6)
Great writeup, but $90 part to fix a dummy light. Ouch. Kinda like having to buy TPMS sensor for aftermarket rims just to get rid of the warning. I wish there was an easier way. A good example of how sometimes more technology is less helpful.
Newer cars are able to disable a lot of annoying things at the dealer. Then again the dealer will charge you 1/2hr. labor, lol.
Newer cars are able to disable a lot of annoying things at the dealer. Then again the dealer will charge you 1/2hr. labor, lol.
#13
I was going to look up a fix for this last week, but completely forgot to. I just happened to hop on here and BAM!!!! here it was, right on the first page. Welp, time to go get the part and finally get this done. Thanks for putting this up!
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#18
2nd Gear
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Northern VA
Age: 82
Posts: 2
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Tighten Fuel Cap message
Thanks for posting https://acurazine.com/forums/third-g...essage-915682/. I've gone through 4 fuel caps before I found this. Ordered purge valve today.
#22
Senior Moderator
Has anyone looked into this valve and see if it can somehow be cleaned or fixed instead of just replaced? I've had this issue since I bought the car and yeah it's annoying but is it worth $90 bucks to fix? My only concern is the light will come on during my smog test and I'll fail because of a stupid light. (Also stupid California emission laws..) CEL = insta-fail regardless of what it relates to..
#23
Suzuka Master
there is NO CEL related to this issue.
#24
Senior Moderator
#25
#26
Suzuka Master
it's must be something else for you then, look at the TSB for symptom "WITHOUT SETTING ANY PENDING OR CONFIRM DTCs". Mime at the point its so bad that stay on for couple of days and yet no CEL.
#28
Thanks guys just ordered mine from a Honda dealer online, part number same for our TL. It was $85.01 plus shipping, cheapest I could find. PM me if you want details, they aren't a sponsoring dealer on the forum so I believe the rules are I can't post info. Dealer was 30 miles from me, had it shipped anyways since they didn't have it in stock. The false message coming up finally is constant enough to warrant the $100 fix, annoying! Car has 90k miles and little things starting to act up I guess to be expected, machinery doesn't last forever with daily usage, overall still been the best purchased new car I have ever had.
#29
I got the part today and installed. Little tricky with my bubba hands but I got in only dropping the tiny nut once, lol. Hoses were pretty well seated but took a deep breath and kept working them until they broke loose. Took for a test drive and no more tighten gas cap message popping up. Like mentioned above I was shipped a Denso part but the one on the car was made in Mexico, the new one sent was made in Japan. Hopefully never has to be changed again as long as I own the car. Thanks for the great post with all the directions, quick easy fix and probably save $100 doing it myself versus the dealer.
#33
Suzuka Master
No. The symptom above does not trigger cel.
#38
#40
I replaced the EVAP canister purge valve 3 days ago and the message still hasn't gone away. Only shows on the MID, no CEL. I have a hard time believing its the gas cap but I'll try replacing that next. Anyone know if it will pass a OBD emissions test with this message?